| As a youth soccer coach one of the most important | | | | effectively communicating with their team mates. |
| lessons you can teach your players and their parents | | | | Soccer is truly a team sport. In order for a team to |
| is to respect the referee. Whether you agree with | | | | be successful on a consistent basis, all of the |
| the referee's decision or not, he or she is the one | | | | members of the team must do their part while on |
| that has the authority to enforce the rules of the | | | | the field. That means positioning themselves to |
| game. | | | | support team mates either by being open for passes, |
| Too often on soccer fields across the country, you | | | | or marking opposing players on defense. They also |
| see youth soccer players who openly question the | | | | need to be talking with each other to let team mates |
| referee's decisions throughout the game. It does not | | | | know where they are, and pointing out opposing |
| matter if the ref's call was right or wrong, these | | | | players that may affect the ball handler. Neither of |
| player's never feel any call made to the opponent's | | | | these happen when a player is arguing with the |
| advantage was the right call. As a coach, you need | | | | referee during play. |
| to break this bad habit as soon as possible. This | | | | Arguing With the Referee Can Negatively Affect the |
| practice will only put your team at a disadvantage in | | | | Referee's Decisions |
| a couple of ways. | | | | While most referee's would not openly admit to |
| Arguing With the Referee Takes You Out of the | | | | allowing their opinion to be influenced, the truth is, |
| Play Physically | | | | some of them do. While some of the rules are very |
| Here's a scenario that is very common in soccer | | | | clear, some rules allow discretion by the referee. How |
| games, even at the higher levels of play; players for | | | | much contact is considered a normal part of play, and |
| opposing teams are battling for the ball, when | | | | at what point does it become a foul? That is a |
| suddenly one of the players falls. The player that | | | | referees decision to make. At what point does a |
| won possession of the soccer ball dribbles away | | | | player away from the ball in an offside position |
| toward the goal, while the player that has fallen | | | | actually violate the offside rule? That too is a matter |
| continues to lie on the ground, looking to the referee | | | | that is left to the referee's opinion. |
| to blow the whistle. | | | | Over the course of a game it is not unusual to see |
| The problem with the above scenario is, if there was | | | | judgment calls start to go against one team or the |
| no whistle, the referee did not see a foul. By | | | | other based on how the players, coaches, and even |
| remaining on the ground the fallen player has taken | | | | spectators conduct themselves during a game. Right |
| themselves out of the play, and in effect, made their | | | | or wrong, it does happen. The best course of action |
| team play a man short. Not only did they not get a | | | | is to teach your players to never argue the referee's |
| call in their favor, they have put their own team at a | | | | decisions. |
| disadvantage. Teach your players to always play until | | | | As a coach, part of your job is to question the |
| they hear the whistle. If they fall, even if they | | | | referee about decisions you do not agree with. |
| believe they were fouled, they should get to their | | | | However, this should be done with respect. Most |
| feet quickly to continue playing. | | | | referees will allow you to voice your opinion, within |
| Arguing With the Referee Takes You Out of the | | | | reason. However, if the argument continues, the |
| Play Mentally | | | | referee does have the power to give you a card for |
| Players that are actively arguing with the referee are | | | | misconduct, so use discretion. |
| not giving their full attention to the game. If they are | | | | One of the lessons you can teach your players as a |
| positioning themselves so the referee can hear their | | | | youth soccer coach is respect for authority. During a |
| opinion, then they are not thinking about their position | | | | soccer game, that authority is the referee. They |
| in regard to the active play. If the player is spending | | | | may be right, or they may be wrong, but the |
| their effort talking to the ref, they are not | | | | referee is always in charge. |