Letter to the "Soccer Journal", the Official Publication of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. This letter appeared in the May-June 2008 issue.
"I read with interest the commentary on 'Officials v. Coaches' (Center Circle, November-December 2007). This is a serious issue because it is not just an issue between the coaches and the officials, but is becoming a worse issue between officials and players and their supporters.
I played since college until my knees gave out and have been a youth coach for about 30 years, a referee for more than 10 years and a referee trainer for almost five years. In addition, all my children played soccer in youth programs and in high school. They also tried college ball. I have seen a lot of change in the game, in officiating, in coaching and in supporters. I have been a player, I am a parent and supporter, I am a coach and I am an official. Thirty years ago you didn't see this erosion of relationship. So why is the relationship eroding now?
I believe it is because of several reasons. The foremost reason is that we still have many players, coaches, and supporters that do not understand the Laws of the Game, how officials try to allow the game to flow or how they are being taught to interpret the Laws.
Players think they know the rules because they have been playing for years. Some believe that because they are good players, they must know the game. But how often do I hear, "I got the ball first, ref." That may be true, but they also came in with their cleats up, which they do not realize or think about as a foul.
Coaches (high school, college, and professional) may read the Laws and may go through them extensively and generally know what the Laws say. This does not mean they understand the interpretation or the spirit of the Law. When a foul is or is not called and they disagree, were they watching for the foul or watching the general run of play? They may have missed what the official was watching for.
Supporters, in general, know next to nothing about the game and its laws. They do not understand offside and they especially do not understand 'advantage.' They are used to other American sports, where when a foul is called or committed it is sanctioned immediately. They do not understand why it is a foul one time and a play another.
My point is that a better job needs to be done educating coaches and especially players in what constitutes a foul or infringement of the Laws of the Game. It is not enough just to have read the Laws or to have had the Laws enforced upon us as a player. Educating coaches, players, and parents is the only way to begin to keep this relationship from eroding further.
Chris Burkett
Cortez, Colorado"
"I read with interest the commentary on 'Officials v. Coaches' (Center Circle, November-December 2007). This is a serious issue because it is not just an issue between the coaches and the officials, but is becoming a worse issue between officials and players and their supporters.
I played since college until my knees gave out and have been a youth coach for about 30 years, a referee for more than 10 years and a referee trainer for almost five years. In addition, all my children played soccer in youth programs and in high school. They also tried college ball. I have seen a lot of change in the game, in officiating, in coaching and in supporters. I have been a player, I am a parent and supporter, I am a coach and I am an official. Thirty years ago you didn't see this erosion of relationship. So why is the relationship eroding now?
I believe it is because of several reasons. The foremost reason is that we still have many players, coaches, and supporters that do not understand the Laws of the Game, how officials try to allow the game to flow or how they are being taught to interpret the Laws.
Players think they know the rules because they have been playing for years. Some believe that because they are good players, they must know the game. But how often do I hear, "I got the ball first, ref." That may be true, but they also came in with their cleats up, which they do not realize or think about as a foul.
Coaches (high school, college, and professional) may read the Laws and may go through them extensively and generally know what the Laws say. This does not mean they understand the interpretation or the spirit of the Law. When a foul is or is not called and they disagree, were they watching for the foul or watching the general run of play? They may have missed what the official was watching for.
Supporters, in general, know next to nothing about the game and its laws. They do not understand offside and they especially do not understand 'advantage.' They are used to other American sports, where when a foul is called or committed it is sanctioned immediately. They do not understand why it is a foul one time and a play another.
My point is that a better job needs to be done educating coaches and especially players in what constitutes a foul or infringement of the Laws of the Game. It is not enough just to have read the Laws or to have had the Laws enforced upon us as a player. Educating coaches, players, and parents is the only way to begin to keep this relationship from eroding further.
Chris Burkett
Cortez, Colorado"