YOU DON’T COACH THE REFEREE

What we will talk about

• Facts about the game

• Facts about referees

• How concentrating on the referee’s performance affects your coaching

• How you negatively affect players

• How you negatively influence the referee

• How positive actions get results

• How to deal with a deficient referee

Facts about the game• A team wins by out scoring the

opponent.– Don’t blame the referee if your team

can’t score.

• The team that is most committed and best prepared, both tactically and technically usually wins.

• Luck (good or bad) can always be a factor.

Facts about the referee

• The referee is not an opponent.• The referee works best if he/she is

not distracted by outside elements.• Referees make fewer mistakes in a

game then your best player.• Although referees are expected to

start out perfect and get better with experience they are only human.

How concentrating on the referee’s performance affects your ability coach

• Miss opportunities to coach your players during the game.

• Miss seeing things that your players need to work on in the next practice.

• Look like a fool.

• Spoils your reputation.

How you negatively affect players

• Cause players to get cautioned for dissent following your lead.

• You teach them to take no responsibility for their actions. “It was just a bad call by the referee!”

• You teach players it’s ok to disrespect authority.

How you negatively influence the referee

• Referee loses concentration.

• On 50/50 fouls you lose.

• Your team behind by one, no added time.

• Could be the difference between a yellow or a red card.

Positive actions get results

• Support the referee’s decisions for or against you.

• Discipline your players before the referee has too.

• Assume responsibility for the outcome of the game.

• Be a positive role model.

How to deal with a deficient referee

• Always get the referee’s name before the game (when they get your roster).

• Make notes during the game on the referee’s deficiencies (not decisions).

• Never confront the referee after the game.

• Put your complaint in writing (be specific) to the proper authority.

Review

• What do we know about the game?

• What do we know about the referee?

• How do we negatively affect the players?

• How do we negatively affect the referee?

• How can we be a positive influence?

• How do we deal with deficient referees?