Effective Communication by Match Officials

1. Effective Communication by Match Officials Prepared by: James Keast, Chief Assessor 2006 Refresher Module Presented to the Halifax Dartmouth Referees’ Association Refresher module on May 4th, 2006 Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

2. Communication • Who do we need to communicate with? • What do we communicate? • When does this communication need to take place? • How should we communicate? • Communication and Game Management Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

3. Who do we communicate with? Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

4. Who do we communicate with? • Assistant Referees and the 4th Official • Coaches and other team staff • Players • Facility management • Spectators? Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

5. Assistant Referees & 4th Official Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

6. Assistant Referees & 4th Official • Arrival at the game • Pre-game instructions • During the game: • At stoppages • During active play • At half time • After the game Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

7. Arrival at Game • Arrive in plenty of time to do all your duties and to meet with the other officials • Its appropriate for there to be a social atmosphere with your fellow officials, be friendly and take the time to talk to each other • At some point the referee must make the transition to game time and this is best done with pre-game instructions Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

8. Pre-Game Instructions Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

9. Pre-Game Instructions • Some level of pre-game instructions should be done for every game • Cover the fundamental expectations around offside, ball out of play, substitutions, fouls, misconduct • We know everyone knows this but repetition helps – and this sets the tone for the game…. Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

10. … pre-game instructions • Cover any special substitution rules • Cover any special competition rules (does there need to be a winner?) • Discuss any expectations about the importance of the game, the key players etc. • Be sure to ask the ARs if they have questions • Remember to remind them to have fun Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

11. During Game Communication With ARs and 4th Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

12. During Game Communication With ARs and 4th • Standard flag signals • Eye contact at every stoppage • Eye contact during active play • Especially during tense moments • Subtle signals from the AR to the Referee • Communicating things the Referee has not seen • Verbal communication when necessary Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

13. Half Time Communication With ARs and 4th Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

14. Half Time Communication With ARs and 4th • Take time at half time to check with your assistants about: • How the game is going • Anything you need them to do differently • Anything you might have missed • Any problems in the game so far Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

15. Full Time Communication With ARs and 4th Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

16. Full Time Communication With ARs and 4th • Take time after the game to talk about: • How the game went • Any flash points • Be sure to ask if they have any suggestions about how you can improve • As an Assistant be sure to provide good constructive advice Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

17. Coaches and Team Staff Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

18. Coaches and Team Staff • Before the game • During the game • After the game Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

19. Coaches and Team Staff • Before the game • Introduce yourself and the assistants when you pick up the game sheets • Polite, friendly, brief (same for both teams) • Politely remind them where the technical area is • Remind them of any special rules Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

20. Coaches and Team Staff • During the game • Shouldn’t be necessary, but if there are problems, politely warn the bench staff, remind them they can give tactical instructions to their players but must behave responsibly • If you warn the bench, you must follow through if the behaviour continues or worsens Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

21. Coaches and Team Staff • After the game: • Return game sheets, game balls etc to the teams. • If the situation allows there is nothing wrong with answering polite legitimate questions about what you called – this is up to you • Officials should depart as a team Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

22. Players Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

23. Players • Before the game • During the game • After the game Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

24. Players • Before the game • Be friendly during pre-game checks • Introduce yourself and ARs to captain • During the game • Talk to players to facilitate game management (more later) • After the game Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

25. Spectators Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

26. Spectators • Generally avoid interacting with spectators. • Any spectators who are impacting game control (interacting with players etc.) or causing you a major problem, have the home team remove them. • This is especially the case in youth games. Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

27. Communication and Game Management Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

28. Communication and Game Management • Communication is critical to game control • Use your voice to calm players down when they are getting excited: • “easy”, “keep the hands down”, “no..” • Use your voice and arm signals for advantage Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

29. Communication and Game Management • If there is a major challenge but no foul sometimes it is appropriate to use your voice to indicate there was no foul: • “nothing there, fair challenge” • Tell them you saw a ball off the chest not arm… • Don’t over-use this Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

30. Communication and Game Management • Sometimes the players really don’t know what the foul was use or voice or some small gesture to tell them: • “you need to go straight up” • Indicate hand-ball if it is not obvious • Don’t over-use this Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

31. Never… Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

32. Never • Be emotional (appearing emotional is different) • shout at players or coaches • threaten players or coaches “next time….” • shake your finger at players or coaches or wave them away dismissively • embarrass players or coaches • When giving cards it is not necessary for them to come to you Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

33. Communicating without saying anything… Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee

34. Communicating without saying anything… • When walking, walk with purpose, upright and confident • When running, run like a Referee not a player: head up and in control • Give 100% effort – communicates that you care • Smile when it’s appropriate • It is ok for you to have fun • Use humour with the players and coaches, carefully Soccer Nova Scotia Referee Development Committee