United States Soccer Federation

1
United States Soccer Federation

• The 10 Bad Habits
• of
• Highly Ineffective Referees
• (by Dan Heldman)

2
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
1. Dont Show Up
Everyones Counting on You Teams Parents Coache
s Other Officials
3
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
1. Dont Show Up
Forces Everyone to Change Their Plans
4
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
1. Dont Show Up
Late Is Almost as Bad Suggests Lack of
Interest Planning Starts You off on Wrong
Foot (Cant Always Recover)
5
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
1. Dont Show Up
Pregame Preparations Suffer Pregame Suffers
Game Suffers Teamwork and Communications Player
Safety
6
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
2. Show Up Unprepared
Basic Equipment and/or Uniform Whistle Coin Bad
ge Pen/Pencil Flags
7
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
2. Show Up Unprepared
Borrow Stuff? From AR? Confidence
Declines From Coach? Fugeddaboutit!
8
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
2. Show Up Unprepared
Basic Game Information Start Time Substitution
Rules Ball Size Length of Half Local Rule
Exceptions
9
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
3. Show Up With Baggage
Chip on the Shoulder Game Beneath Me Should
Be in the Center Look Who They Gave Me as
ARs! (or, Look Who They Gave Me as a Center!)
10
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
3. Show Up With Baggage
Still Refereeing the Last Game Thinking Mainly
About the Next Game
11
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
3. Show Up With Baggage
Full of Complaints ARs Coaches Players Field
-- Lines, Nets, Corner Flags
12
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
4. Center Referee
Doesnt Mean Staying in the Center! Referee
Movement Diagrams (Typically Used by Assessors to
Map Referee Movement on the Field During 10-15
Minute Period)
13
Kick-Off Spot
14
Center Circle
15
Middle Third
16
From Top of PA to Top of PA
17
Uses Depth But Not Width
18
Uses Depth and Width, No Corners
19
Using All Parts of the Field
20
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
5. Inefficient Positioning
Not the Same as Mobility
Mobility Getting to Where You Want to
Be Positioning Being Where You Need to Be
21
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
5. Inefficient Positioning
In the Way (Too Close) Players Ball Receives
Passes (Scores!) Sees Trees But Not Forest
22
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
5. Inefficient Positioning
Too Far Away Inaccurate Decisions Cant Sell
Even Accurate Decisions
23
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
5. Inefficient Positioning
Play is Where the Ball Is? NOT! (Or at Least
Not Always)
24
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
6. Inefficient Whistle
Wimpy Monotone Not Practiced Used Too Much
(Unnecessarily) Not Seen as a Tool (Like Card)
25
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
7. Knowledge of Laws
Not Current Reading Lawbook ONLY for Entry
Course Reading Lawbook ONLY for Recertification
26
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
7. Knowledge of Laws
Ignoring Other USSF Publications Advice to
Referees Guide to Procedures Guide for Fourth
Officials Additional Instructions USSF Memos
Position Papers
27
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
7. Knowledge of Laws
Ignoring Opportunities for Additional
Training Upgrading Advanced Clinics Mentoring
28
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
8. I I I I ...
Lectures to Assistant Referees Coaches Captains
29
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
8. I I I I ...
Players Lines Them Up Checks Cleats
Individually Raps on Shinguards Measures Space
to Knee and Ankle Would Do Full Body Scan if
Possible
30
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
8. I I I I ...
Over-manages Restarts Looks for Right Blade of
Grass Sets Wall on Almost All Restarts Insists
on Whistle to Start
31
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
8. I I I I ...
Wont Admit to Mistake Enjoys the Spotlight
32
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
9. Projects Uncertainty
Hesitates in Announcing Decisions Changes Mind
Often Easily Persuaded Signals Unclear, Not Sharp
33
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
9. Projects Uncertainty
Seldom Calls Penalty Kicks Allows Players to
Decide Possession Throw-Ins, Goal Kicks, Corner
Kicks Fouls Calls Handling Fouls When Shouted At
34
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
10. Doesnt Understand Game
Player Safety, Fairness, Enjoyment Team
Tactics Feel the Foul
35
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
10. Doesnt Understand Game
Call Sorting Nothing Trifling Advantage Stop
Play
36
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
What Is the Solution?
Not fair to be only negative Every bad habit
suggests an answer
37
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
1. Dont Show Up?
Be there, on time
PLAN AHEAD
38
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
1. Dont Show Up?
Be there, on time
PLAN AHEAD
39
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
2. Show Up Unprepared?
Keep your things together Ready for Use Check out
Teams and League or Tournament Rules
40
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
3. Show Up With Baggage?
Do Todays Game Today Every Game is Worth Your
Effort Someone (Including You) Might Learn
Something Make the Best of What Is Available
(consistent with safety, fairness, fun)
41
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
4. Center Referee?
Dont Be Afraid to Explore the Field Develop Your
Fitness (Needs to Match or Exceed that of the
Players!)
42
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
5. Inefficient Positioning?
Back Away from the Ball Lift Your Eyes Up Avoid
the Center of the Field Keep Play Between You and
Lead AR If Caught, Stop -- Let Players Solve Your
Problem!
43
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
6. Inefficient Whistle?
Practice!
Practice! Practice! Practice! (Well, You Get the
Idea)
44
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
7. Knowledge of Laws?
Study!
Test yourself or a friend Ask! Have you asked
me a question? Research the Websites
USSoccer.com Start Building a Library
45
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
8. I I I I ?
You are NOT the Most Important Person Out
there! Be a Presence, Not a Spectacle If You
Dont Want the Coach to Referee, Dont Coach Let
the Game Go On Around You -- Step In ONLY When
Necessary and ONLY to the extent necessary
and ONLY for as long as necessary
46
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
9. Projects Uncertainty?
Be Firm Authoritative Signals Admit Mistakes, But
Not Too Many YOU Decide (Thats Your Job)!
47
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
10. Doesnt Understand Game?
Watch Games Play Borrow Coaching
Videotapes Understand and Respect Players
48
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits

• Questions?

49
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits

• Doesnt show up
• Shows up unprepared
• Shows up with Baggage
• Center Referee
• Inefficient positioning

50
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits

• Inefficient whistle
• Knowledge of the Laws
• I I I
• Projects uncertainty
• Doesnt know the game

51
USSF -- 10 Bad Habits
THANKS!