Player Management
reprinted from USSoccer.com
By Esse Baharmast, Director of Advanced & International Referee
Development
Player management is the wonderful art of handling a match in
such a way that the majority of players and coaches wish to see
this referee over and over again. A referee who is capable of
managing the players is always in demand and is sought after for
the most crucial matches by teams and assignors alike.
How does a referee acquire such a great gift? Where can we look
to find several possible ways of accomplishing this difficult
yet rewarding task? We will give you some basic tools to
experiment with and with your own ingenuity you will find ways
to build upon these elements and create an art form of player
management that is unique to you.
The first step is to recognize and believe with all your heart,
that the game IS ALL ABOUT THE PLAYERS. This is the most
fundamental yet crucial piece of this puzzle. As referees, we
must know and accept that the game is not about us. Our job is
to provide a service to our customers (the players). Our
function is to provide a safe environment where players can show
their energy, creativity and skills. We do this by making sure
that the Laws of the Game are applied in a fair and consistent
manner with the Spirit of the Law as our guiding light. When a
referee uses this approach to the players and respects them as
the essential elements of our beautiful game, this positive and
service-oriented attitude comes across clearly and becomes the
building block of a good relationship.
The second step is to become A STUDENT OF THE GAME. That means
so much more than just taking a referee course. It means playing
the game, watching as many high level games as possible, taking
a coaching course, reading soccer publications and keeping up
with newest developments in our game. It also means spending
some time with referees who have been successful in their
careers to find out what type of advice they can pass on. The
more we study the game, the easier it becomes to understand the
nuances of the game and why players and coaches do what they do.
The next step is to learn to be a GOOD COMMUNICATOR. To be a
good communicator, means that you have to learn to listen and
filter through what you hear. During games, players will talk to
you and if you can sift through what is being said, you can get
good information that will help you prevent problems. It also
means that you can be friendly when needed and stern and somber
when the situation calls for it. A good communicator establishes
what is acceptable in the game very quickly and applies it
consistently and even handedly. Most referees think that their
only forms of communication with players are whistles and cards
but, they could not be farther from truth as the whistle and
cards are reactive tools. A preventive and proactive referee
uses body language, tone of voice, eye contact, or a quiet word
to let the players know that they need to settle down. This type
of referee recognizes a problem before it becomes too big and
diffuses it by good communication.
Finally it is the RESPECT, CARING FOR OTHERS and PASSION FOR THE
GAME that shows everyone that this referee is in the game for
all the right reasons. The referee who shows respect for others
will get their respect back in the long term. A referee who
cares for others is recognized as such by the players and even
when there is a genuine, human mistake (which believe it or not,
does happen!), the players will give the benefit of doubt to the
referee and move on without making their life more difficult.
Passion for the game is the fire that burns within and a referee
who has this will never tire of giving service to the game and
the players. This referee looks forward to every assignment and
every opportunity to be around the game, because they love what
they do. This is the secret of those who succeed.
Each game, remember the key elements mentioned here - good
communication, respect, caring for others and passion for the
game - and use them to evaluate your performance. Over time, you
can take these tools and use them to continually improve and
develop your own art form of player management. |
