1. Managing Dissent & Confrontation
Prepared by Paul Rejer

2. Dissent by Word or Action
Verbally or
through Action
disputes or protests an official’s decision
(Official = Referee, Assistant Referee, or Fourth Official)

3. When Do We Start to Manage?
Challenges to Authority
Before
During
After

4. 5 - Expressions of Frustration
Dissent Continuum
Emotional Response
Dissent (word)
Dissent (action)
Offensive, Insulting, Abusive Language & Gestures
Violent Conduct
List
5 - Expressions of Frustration
Write
Describe Each

5. Group Exercise 1
Sort these definitions of dissent into order of “weakest” to “strongest”….top to bottom (“weakest” being at the top) and give an example of each one.
Protest
Argue
Object
Ridicule
Defy
Question
Dispute
Confront

6. “A foul… you’re joking”
Question
“what was that for?”
Protest
“A foul… you’re joking”
Dispute
“That was never a foul, I never touched him”
“How can you give a foul against us when you never gave one against them?”
Argue
Confront
“Call yourself a referee? You should learn the game
Object
“I’m not having that… that’s ridiculous”
Defy
“No! You’re not sending me off. I’m not going”
Ridicule
“Get yourself some glasses ref?”

7. “Oh no, we’ve got you again have we
“Oh no, we’ve got you again have we? Well I hope you’re going to be better than you were last time?”
BEFORE
BEFORE
“Hey lads, look we’ve got that useless ref again today”
BEFORE
Refusing to acknowledge you or negative body language.

8. Continually asking questions to undermine your authority
DURING
DURING
Repeatedly moaning about decisions
DURING
Derogatory or dismissive gestures
DURING
Running towards the referee to object
DURING
Players surrounding the referee
DURING
Pressurising the referee to change a decision

9. AFTER
“You are the worst ref in the World”
“Thanks for nothing ref; you cheated us out of that game”
AFTER
AFTER
“Why don’t you do us a favor and retire”
AFTER
“Hope we don’t see you again this season”

10. Dissent
The public nature of the actions (who can see it, who can hear it)
Continually asking questions to undermine authority
Repeated moaning about decisions

11. Dissent by Action Harassing
Actions which convey aggressiveness toward an official
Running aggressively towards an official objecting to decisions
Invading the body space of an official
Players surrounding an official or following/chasing an official around
Pressuring an official to change a decision

12. Dissent by Action Harassing
Gestures made in a derogatory (but non-offensive) manner
Waving arms
Pointing
Clearly (verbally or physically) demanding a yellow or red card for an opponent
Throwing / kicking the ball
The goalkeeper leaving the penalty area to confront an official

13. Reality on and off the field of play
“I love Soccer but I’m not a great player so thought I’d have a go at refereeing. I never thought that it would mean everyone shouting and screaming at me each weekend…”
(15 year old referee)

14. MANAGING Dissent “Emotional Response”
You must deal with all instances of dissent
Cannot ignore, game control will be impacted
Immediate complaint about a call or non-call is not really dissent, let the players express their opinion – briefly
“Emotional Response”
If it persists or is repetitive, you must take action

15. MANAGING Dissent Early recognition and early action
Positive action – nip it in the bud early in the game
Use of the captains
Effective player management
Disciplinary action

16. Need to eradicate this behavior from the game
A scene that many referees are familiar with and which we are trying to eradicate from the game.
6 December 2018

17. Dealing with Confrontation
Remain calm and concentrated
Identify and isolate the main protagonist / aggressor
Move to a neutral zone
Maintain eye contact with the player
Show the appropriate card (when needed) with calmness and dignity
Be assertive

18. Key Responsibilities of the Referee
Apply the LOTG consistently
Be a Role Model
Treat the players with respect
Be calm, positive and confident
Communicate effectively
Use the Team Captain, if required, to help manage the players
Manage poor behavior including sanctions
Be pro-active: don't look for problems
Deal positively with challenges to your authority – DO NOT IGNORE IT
Consider a stepped approach to managing players

19. Managing the Players A Stepped Approach
This step approach is nothing new but an explanation should be used to highlight the dynamics/meaning of each step.
Step 1 – Quiet Word. A player may comment about a decision or make a half hearted appeal for a foul. This could be dealt with by the use of a quiet word.
Step 2 – Obvious Word. The first sign of any dissent should be nipped in the bud. A more obvious word where it is obvious you are offering advice to a player to all watching.
Step 3 – Public Rebuke. This is the stage where you might considering using the captain. If a player makes a audible comment to you or passes opinion about your decision making. If a player has had one or two quips then consider involving the captain. Of course if it’s the captain then you use the powers invested in you under the LOTG.
Step 4 – Yellow Card. Referees must not forget Law 12 and some aspects of law are opinion, some give the referee no choice.
Step 5 – Red Card. The ultimate sanction where you as the referee must be sure of what you have seen and deal with the situation with confidence & calmness.
NB. A Special Reinforcement needs to made that if a player commits an offence which is punishable with a caution or send off then there is no requirement to go through the stepped approach.
Public
Rebuke
Obvious
Word
This is the time referees should consider using the captain to more visibly get the message across
Quiet Word

20. Use of the Captain No status in Law
Consider if they will be helpful or not
Consider distance of Captain
“Thinking Time”
Explain to the Captain why you have involved them
State if no improvement or reoccurrence then misconduct likely

21. Group Exercise 2
As a referee, what has been the biggest challenge to your authority which you have faced?

22. Do You Recognize . . . Emotional Outburst Dissent by action - YC
Clip 1
Clip 6
Abusive Language & Violent Conduct - RC
Emotional Outburst – Public Rebuke
Clip 2
Clip 7
Dissent – YC (Prevention?)
Violent Conduct - RC
Clip 3
Clip 8
Minimum YC
(prevention)
Discussion Clips
Clips 4A & B
Clip 9
Dissent – YC (Ref positive management but player persistence)
Dismissal – Irresponsible Behavior
Clip 5
Clip 10

23. Summary - Dissent Practical Refereeing Preventative action
Don’t add “fuel to the fire”
Remain calm
Give player(s) space – neutral ground
Acknowledge and deal with it early