Abuse of Referees

but that isnt a good thing. Guys at that stage should really be limited to coaching new refs. Helping that way. Really hard to expect guys that age to be keeping up with players 20/30/40 years younger

I was refereeing an underage semi final in the LGFA the other week and the abuse I got was unreal.

No markings between the goals and team A felt they got a score. No reaction from the umpire and the keeper got the ball. In my view there was not a clear goal so I played on. They were shouting and roaring from the sideline about it and even had a go at the umpire because he didn't indicate a goal.

Less than 5 minutes to go, team A are 1 point behind. Team A's player was coming out with the ball and spilled it and fouled a player on team B clear as day but won the ball. I gave a free in for it and and one of the coaches exploded. Called me fucking disgrace because "She won the ball" and continued with such a tirade of abuse I had to stop the game to deal with it.

After the game he said "You're a wanker". I'm usually thick skinned about this stuff but I'm not giving up my time for this nonsesne. The issue was reported and the girls on the pitch didn't seem to surprised by it, but some people need to seriously cop themselves on with the way they behave at underage games. Honestly it'd be a great game if it wasn't for the adults.

I took up LGFA refereeing last year and hand on heart I’ve had more hassle from sidelines in LGFA than men’s football and I’d referee less ladies games. I don’t know what causes it, to be fair to the Meath board when a mentor is reported they implement bans but it doesn’t seem to deter it. My most recent one was putting a mentor out from the sideline for a challenge match. I even gave him the out of saying to him first to cop onto himself as it was a challenge but he kept at me and enough was enough. It’s obviously not every team and every line but it’s certainly more prevalent for me. On the other hand I find the players grand to deal with which makes the issues on the lines more puzzling

Yeah, ignorance in the rules and just ignorance in general. Referee's are always wrong.

Some of the doozie's I've had include a coach telling me that shouldering is allowed, it's a fair challenge when they're pulling on a players arm, one screamed "Ah ref" when I disallowed a fist pass into the goal. Constantly shouting "four steps" but not complaining when his own team got the same leeway.

I had a final there where the coach was on the sideline going mental. Not at me, this guy isn't abusive. I imagine it could be wrapped up as "passionate" but with all the instructions he was barking at the girls they hadn't clue what they were supposed to be doing. One of the girls at one point said, "Will someone tell him to shut up, every time he opens his mouth we get a free against us"

I rarely have a problem with a player and with them it's usually just out of frustration which I can understand. Players are much easier to deal with than the sidelines.

Getting coaches to do rules course could help but just make coaches have to do coaching courses every 2 years with a component of that course on rules. Too many start coaching and think because they played for years and grew up with game that they don't need a coaching course. Rules can follow through from the coaching course. Penalising coaches as well for their behaviour if it breaches the standards that you as a ref set down at start of game also helps.

Do you ever talk to the coaches before games to lay down the law? Or specifically, bring the two of them together and just explain that you didnt come here to listen to the two of them roaring at you for 70 minutes?

No. Not all coaches are problematic and it's not fair to tar them all with the same brush. Most of the ones that I deal with are no problem at all, but like everything else, there's exceptions. Usually I'll leave it until they say something and then I'll go over and put them back in their box. Most of the time that works as they just get a bit carried away. That might be useful for the ones that are known to be mouthy though.

I don't mind coaches shouting from the sidelines, so long as it's encouragement / instruction etc to the players. The odd "steps" or "push on the back" is to be expected. I have found recently though that I use a whistle in my hand rather than keeping it in my mouth during the game. Makes it easier to answer them in real time. IE. "on the ground ref" - "no, she played it away" and there's no argument. "steps ref" - "No, she had enough time" (I even heard the coach say "ah, ok" after that)

This I would consider the norm. It's the exception to this that is the problem. They're the ones that will do it regardless and they usually have form for it and no amount of talking to them or removing them form the enclosure will make a difference. CODA is the only way to do it.

I see that with Ladies Management too, far too much. Often (even in Championship) then there's no line umpires to enforce a rule to get back behind the line. In Camogie especially they'd be right on top of the action. It's so stupid

The issue is two-fold

(i) why is it wrong -

You are a 13 year old girl, you are soloing along with the ball - one of the opposition is tackling you. Opposition coach is on the pitch, shouting at the defender 'You have here Izzy, into her, get into here thats it' - so on the ball you are not just contending with the defender, you are also dealing with this adult who is on the pitch and shouting.

Its intimidating, and its making the pitch smaller for the players.

(ii) as an opposition coach - once you raise it as an issue, then there is tension. They think there is no harm in it (or else they wouldnt be doing it). And you are the problem for going to the ref complaining. Sometimes though, it just needs to be done.

One other point - at a younger age, when they have 16 year old refs - there should just be a blanket rule of coaches are not allowed talk to the ref, about anything - unless a player is injured.

Thats a fair point on player welfare.

GoGames aren't competitive in that the results arent published or anything, but you can still have coaches giving out if a decision goes against them.

Which county board are you incidentally?

I am in Dublin and there is certainly no such thing as silent sidelines.

Sligo.

In my experience in go games (I do some of them for my club) the home team provide the referee's and most of them are underage yes. However the adults on duty - IE the coaches of the home team in that instance have a duty of care to step in if anyone is getting mouthy towards the referee and put a stop to it.

Silent sidelines in the sense that you don't shout criticism to either the players or the referee's. The only thing to be heard should be positive comments only which i think is fine. Kids already know they made a mistake, they don't need the sideline shouting it at them too.