Pre match chat with teams
- Thread starter MumRef
- Start date
socal lurker
RefChat Addict
Agree. The exceptions on that, in youth games, for me is if there is something unusual about the field (e.g., and overhanging tree),,, I'll typically tell the teams, not just the captains. And if it is playoffs, I may tell the teams the ROC for today (e.g., no extra time, straight to KFTM).
The thing I think is a mistake that some refs make is trying to tell players how they are going to call the game, which IMO helps nothing and can box the ref in negative ways.
RichardRef
New Member
When I played amateur (open age park football in Scotland) I rarely remember a refs pre match that I found insightful and necessary. On the contrary, it often made the ref seem busy and overly about himself.
With this in mind, once I started refereeing I avoid any pre match chats with full teams and just let my management of the game do the talking.
It’s very easy to come across poorly prematch and get players backs up unnecessarily.
With this in mind, once I started refereeing I avoid any pre match chats with full teams and just let my management of the game do the talking.
It’s very easy to come across poorly prematch and get players backs up unnecessarily.
santa sangria
RefChat Addict
Here we talk to the coaches very briefly - quick hello, team sheet OK, any questions, no, good. If it’s a bigger game with a ceremonial equipment check and line up, then the timing/instructions are agreed. I’ll whistle you out 5 mins before.
The captains? You are home, you are away, heads or tails!
The teams? Never.
The captains? You are home, you are away, heads or tails!
The teams? Never.
Keeday
Formerly known as 'Ref' on RefereeForum
Nothing to the teams, to the captains I keep it short such as "you guys are captains for a reason, you know your players better than I do so help me to manage them. We're all here for a game of football so if you want to play, I'll stay out of your way, but if you don't then I've got a job to do."
mctones
Member
We were warned on our ref course to avoid as much as possible outside of hello, have a good game, as otherwise if you say what you are looking for behaviour wise, how you will approach game etc then you are setting yourself up to be knocked down if you don’t follow through i.e don’t over promise and under deliver.
zarathustra
RefChat Addict
Nothing.
I have a very quick chat with the captain at the coin toss, that’s it.
I have a very quick chat with the captain at the coin toss, that’s it.
That's a dangerous approach in my opinion, the first time there is any kind of dissent and you don't caution for it your match control is at risk.
I get that point and can see it. However, I have found I’ve encountered very little from stating that early. Any I have received have been cautioned. Will look at for future! Thank you
Kes
I'll Decide ...
Why bother?
The players aren't interested in what you think or want. Complete waste of time.
I just have my (literally) 5 second spiel to both Captains in the middle before doing the coin toss.
@MumRef - when did anything you said before a match influence how the players behaved or spoke toward you?
The players aren't interested in what you think or want. Complete waste of time.
I just have my (literally) 5 second spiel to both Captains in the middle before doing the coin toss.
@MumRef - when did anything you said before a match influence how the players behaved or spoke toward you?
This. I say nothing to teams before hand about the game, just general small talk and even with the captains I barely say anything and just get straight into the coin toss. I used to give them a few words but their minds wander and none of them take it in. Let’s just do the toss and get on with the gameWhy bother?
The players aren't interested in what you think or want. Complete waste of time.
I just have my (literally) 5 second spiel to both Captains in the middle before doing the coin toss.
@MumRef - when did anything you said before a match influence how the players behaved or spoke toward you?
higdawgy
Member
I don't say anything special in 99% if my games, just your call, have a good one.
If I know that it's a high-level game between rivals that might have a bit of extra emotion in it, I will say something to the captains to the effect of "I know it's likely to be a bit spirited today, if you hear or feel one of your guys getting a bit over the top, help me out and try to bring him down so I won't have to get involved".
Before the grand final this year I said "I've got nothing special to say today lads, you never listen to me anyway". Both captains laughed and we shook hands in good spirits to start the match. Whether it made a difference or not, there were only a couple of yellow cards and one moment of dissent in the match.
If I know that it's a high-level game between rivals that might have a bit of extra emotion in it, I will say something to the captains to the effect of "I know it's likely to be a bit spirited today, if you hear or feel one of your guys getting a bit over the top, help me out and try to bring him down so I won't have to get involved".
Before the grand final this year I said "I've got nothing special to say today lads, you never listen to me anyway". Both captains laughed and we shook hands in good spirits to start the match. Whether it made a difference or not, there were only a couple of yellow cards and one moment of dissent in the match.
I've found that reminding captains of their responsibility to control their players does have some benefits during the game.
If a player is pushing their luck, I can call the captain over and say "Remember what we discussed before the game? Apply that to this player before I have to take action." It shortcuts the time you have to spend around an angry player and means that when you do call the captain in, you're not starting that process from scratch, you're already at step 2 at the process of making captains believe you will follow through on warnings.
If a player is pushing their luck, I can call the captain over and say "Remember what we discussed before the game? Apply that to this player before I have to take action." It shortcuts the time you have to spend around an angry player and means that when you do call the captain in, you're not starting that process from scratch, you're already at step 2 at the process of making captains believe you will follow through on warnings.
I often find the captains are the worst of the offenders, in the first place lol
Often true - but the same idea of it being a useful headstart still applies, perhaps even more so.
Call them over, say "Remember what we talked about before we started? This is an example of the kind of unacceptable dissent that I was telling you would need to be controlled" and you're already further down the line than you would be if you'd said nothing at the start.