Referees...Coaches...Parents... It’s the players’ game!

Referees come in contact with thousands of youth players every year. Their ability to influence fair play is greater than most other adults.

Referees: What can they do to make the game of soccer better for the players?

1. Know the Laws and the rules.
2. Be professional; i.e. on time, in proper uniform, prepared, fit.
3. Study the game and the spirit of soccer.
4. Attend meetings, clinics, seminars.
5. Show respect to players, coaches, parents, and spectators.
6. Explain rules when needed.
7. Help less experienced referees.
8. Play the game to better understand it.
9. See evaluation from coaches/players
10. Be assessed regularly.
11. Smile, enjoy the game.
12. Be firm, fair, and honest.
13. Be consistent.
14. Accept only the number and level of assignments that can be done well.
15. Be neutral.
16. Know and use proper procedures.
17. Always remain calm.
18. Take each game seriously.
19. Implement good management techniques.
20. Show courage and confidence; avoid arrogance.

Coaches: What can they do to make the game of soccer more enjoyable for the players, and easier for the referee to manage?

1. Take a course on the Laws.
2. Be accepting of the referee’s decisions.
3. Remain clam.
4. Do not make loud offensive remarks.
5. Concentrate on coaching, rather than on the accuracy of the referee’s decisions.
6. Be a role model of fair play.
7. Be positive; avoid confrontation with any official.
8. During games, leave the decisions to the players.
9. Attend coaching classes to learn the most effective way to conduct practices.
10. Give good guidelines to parents.
11. Set high standards.
12. Be firm with parents at games.
13. Teach skills and fair tactics.
14. Discourage unfair gamesmanship.
15. Communicate with parents often in meetings and social gatherings.
16. Play the game and encourage parents to play and to referee.
17. Referee games.
18. Delegate responsibilities.

Parents: What can they do to make the game of soccer more enjoyable for their children... and other people’s kids too?

Parents daily modeling of fair play, conflict resolution and the “golden rule” encourages players to calmly play with skill on the field.

1. Be knowledgeable of the game.
2. Encourage fair play at home.
3. Be supportive; i.e. be sure the player attends practices; pick him/her up on time.
4. Attend games.
5. Be positive or quite at games.
6. Be respectful; expect your own children to be respectful.
7. Focus on good nutrition.
8. Volunteer to help the coach.
9. Become a referee.
10. Play the game of soccer.
11. Be calm and have good manners.
12. Support the coach’s and referee’s decisions.
13. Encourage communication between coach and parent.
14. Ask your own children to describe his/her role, what new skills have been learned.
15. Watch practices; focus on new strategies.
16. Find soccer videos, watch them with children.
17. Concentrate on praising other people’s children during games.
18. Read newspaper articles about older soccer player’s successes; provide models for your own children.

Soccer... The Game for ALL Kids!

What role should the referee, coach, and parents play?

Referees, Coaches, and Parents together have an enormous impact on the lives of thousands of youth soccer players in the United States. How can be best serve the interest of these players?

While each parent must be accountable for his actions and teach his own son or daughter to do the same, referees, coaches, and parents form a trio of role models from which any of our young men and women learn behaviors that will carry them into adulthood. Cooperation, respect, and maturity among the adults in soccer will encourage those qualities in the players.

Joint parent/referee/coach workshops offer perhaps the best opportunity for these role models to get together to learn more about developing skills to provide positive support for youth players.

Information taken from US Youth Soccer brochure, “We’re all in this together.”