Support The Refs

Have all the Committees you like; discuss the rights and wrongs of strike action ad nausea; thrash out a new code for handling disputes if you like.

Whatever lessons are learned, it doesn’t matter how you try to regulate proceedings in future, the single factor contributing to the unacceptable treatment of referees comes down to the attitudes of individuals.

Rules, investigation processes, communication etc., etc., etc. They all have a valid role but they won’t have any real affect unless you deal with the attitude problem.

Who’s attitude?

Just about everybody’s. Anyone who currently engages in behaviour at matches which would be considered a chargeable offense in any other environment.

Things may have settled down for the time being but don’t be fooled into thinking that people have learned their lesson. People have a built mechanism that drives them back to their old habits. Physiologists refer to this trait as ‘reverting to type’ and people won’t change unless they have a vested interest in following a new path.

Right now there is a sort of ‘safety in numbers’ belief supporting current attitude. Believe it or not these people actually think they are right and that we are the ones who are wrong. Therefore in their eyes, their behaviour is justified.

No doubt there will be those who wish to take a hard line. That’s fine where the situation warrants this approach but punitive measures run the risk of hardening attitudes so how do we deal with this?

Somewhere there has to be a strategy that dictates what type of measures will influence these attitudes and it is therefore these measures that will determine if any of the present (welcome) discussions bear fruit in the long term.

Here are a few thoughts.

Managers & Players

• Both should hold a recognised qualification on the laws of the game

• Players should be required in the early stages of their career to undergo introductory training to familiarise them with what people must undergo to qualify as a referee

• They should be given the opportunity to officiate trial matches under the scrutiny of experienced referees

• Players should have a their own truly professional body driving up standards of professionalism and ethics in order to get rid of simulation and other con tricks

Clubs

• Give serious thought to post match situations and develop a ‘cooling off’ environment to help alleviate match tensions

• Be open to referee participation in player fitness training sessions and closed door matches at the club

• Invite referee input to evaluation of training methods used to identify aspects of the training that are negative influences on attitudes

Media

• The media have a huge role in influencing fans and should seriously look at maintaining standards of objectivity and reducing sensationalising of incidents

• A ‘no holds barred’ cutting edge documentary aimed at fans, their behaviour and affect this has on individuals

Fans

All supporters groups should draw up a ‘positive supporting’ charter based on the positive coaching for parents initiative introduced recently by sportscotland

This site doesn’t claim to have ‘THE Answer’. It simply challenges current thinking. Changing attitudes is an exercise in dealing with social culture right across society and you can’t challenge this with rules and regulations.

You can only challenge it with actions.

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