Date:
To: District Three League
Coaching Coordinators
From: Louis Gagne, District Three
Coaching Director
Cc: Izzy Loth,
District Three Commissioner
District Three League
Presidents
Re: Acceptable and unacceptable
behavior for all level of coaches (Class 4, 3 and 1)
The
2001-2002 season has just started and again a disturbing and persistent
trend has already been identified, not only in our youth games – but in
CSAN games as well. It is apparent, after reviewing Referee Game Reports,
Referee Send Off Reports and from personal observations from several sources,
that the number of verbal confrontations between Coaches and Referees is
alarmingly high. Added to this, the number of players who are in verbal
confrontations has grown again. This is unacceptable behavior and is contrary
to the Codes of Conduct published in the CYSA 2001-2002 Team Manual that each
Coach should be in receipt of.
The
stated goals for Coaches are many, and NONE address arguing with the Referees.
Every one of these goals deals with the Coaches’ responsibility to teach Youth
Players about soccer using skill, reason, fitness and logic. Some specific
goals request the coaches to:
· Inspire
a love for the game and the desire to compete fairly.
· Realize
that you are a teacher (and role model) and that the soccer field is a
classroom.
· Develop respect for the ability of
opponents, as well as for the judgement officials and opposing coaches.
Nowhere
is a Coach asked to argue with a Referee for his / her team, parents or
especially, to win a game.
As
a role model and teacher of youth Players, it is expected that all Coaches will
refrain from exhibiting negative behavior by shouting and arguing with the
Referees officiating their games. The CYSA Rules of Play (
It
appears that many verbal confrontations revolve around Coaches and the
referee’s difference in opinions. Referees are trained to make calls based on
FIFA Instruction of the Application of the Laws of the Game. FIFA and CYSA
specifically recognize the decisions of the referee regarding facts connected
with play are final.
Continued
next page
District
Three is adopting a ZERO tolerance response toward any Coach confronting and
verbally abusing a referee before, during or after a game. Coaches will be
suspended per CYSA guidelines mentioned above.
The
District has instituted a two step program to monitor behavior. The first
immediate steps are instructions to Referees to record on the game card any
warning to a Coach regarding unacceptable behavior. The District will work
with local Club Coaching Staffs to counsel the offending Coach regarding the
negative impact of unacceptable behavior on Youth Soccer. This phase will be
accomplished, by the District Coaching Representative or his / her Club
Coaching Representatives, attending random games to observe first hand. This
action is also done, by the use of Referee Assessors and Referee Instructors,
to observe the referees.
The
second step of the plan is a training program currently under development. This
special program will re-enforce the Goals for Coaches and how to implement them
on the field. Other existing courses in the State Coaching Program or Referee
Program may be required to be taken.
1.
It is vital that all Coaches understand that they are the
focal point for their team and their actions, both positive and negative.
Coaches greatly influence the enjoyment of the Youth Players and Team Parents.
As stated above, it has been noted that a Coaches’ abusive language on the
sidelines, spills onto the playing field and increases the chance of Youth
Players being Cautioned or Sent Off for Dissent or worse – use of foul and
abusive language. Section
2.
Please review the Goals for Coaches on page 68 of the CYSA
2001-2002 Team Manual. This is the criteria by which District Three will judge
Coaches’ acceptable versus unacceptable behavior. Note: Page 69 is for the
Parents and Page 70 is for the Players as Coaches are held accountable for
their actions as well.
3.
Coaches should realize that just like the Youth Players, the
Referees are part of the Game. A negative comment during a game to a Referee
reduces the pleasure and heightens the tension for Officials, Players,
Spectators and other Coaches. These comments accomplish nothing except to
diminish the Good of the Game.
4. Understand the Laws of the Game and how
they should be applied. The USSF web site, www.us-soccer.com,
or now the District Three Referee web site, www.d3ra.com, provides
instructions to Referees on how the Laws of the Game are to apply during a
game. (You will not get this valuable insight if you just read the rulebook.)
5. Learn the proper way to protest a
Referees’ actions on the Field. EVERY Club in District Three has a Referee
Coordinator where you can register your comments regarding an individual
Official. Below is a listing of all the Clubs Referee Coordinators.
For
Livermore Referee Association, contact
Brian
Hufford (brihuff@yahoo.com) www.livermorerefs.org