Game Management
Paul Tamberino
ACC and Ivy League Supervisor of Officials
Co-Founder of the ELITE COLLEGE
SOCCER REFEREES
Player Management
• PLAYER MANAGEMENT IS KEY TO A
SUCCESSFUL GAME AND A
SUCCESSFUL CAREER.
• WHAT IS PLAYER MANAGEMENT, AND
MORE IMPORTANTLY, HOW DOES ONE
IMPLEMENT IT?
Definition of Player Management
• ALTHOUGH THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT
OPINIONS REGARDING PLAYER
MANAGEMENT, IT IS UP TO YOU TO
DISCERN WHAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU.
• THE FOLLOWING ARE PERSONAL
EXPERIENCES THAT I WOULD LIKE TO
SHARE THAT I BELIEVE WERE
INSTRUMENTAL IN BEING AWARDED FOUR
CONSECUTIVE MLS REFEREE OF THE YEAR
AWARDS DURING MY PROFESSIONAL
CAREER.
IS IT FAIR?
• A referee is a “judge” and just as a judge
in the judicial system must be fair, the
referee must be fair. Players must be
treated fairly, regardless of any past
history. This premise is essential to gain
respect.
RESPECT
• Players and referees alike deserve
respect. You cannot get respect without
giving respect. Players work hard at every
level and as guardians of the game, we
must give credit where credit is due.
Embrace the fact that these athletes are
there to play hard and to win.
PERSONALITY
• A person’s attitude, emotional response, and other
individual traits make up ones personality.
• Attitude. How do you approach the game? You should
enjoy officiating EVERY game you work. There are
others you will enjoy more, but all games should be
enjoyable.
• Emotional Responses. There are “reactions” and
“overreactions”. We witness many referees
“overreacting” to situations that only cause more
emotional upheaval. Referees need to remain calm in all
instances. This is not to say that you should not show
displeasure towards an undesirable action, but a referee
cannot have an extreme level of emotional response.
LIKEABILITY
• Many may say this has nothing do with player
management. As a reminder, this is based on
my personal experience. In my professional and
collegiate career, players and coaches “liked”
me.
• Why? Because of the traits listed above. They
knew that I was going to treat them “fair”, give
them “respect” and I had a great “attitude”
towards them and the game. I did not “overreact”
to situations but “reacted” to what was
happening and why it was happening.
COMMUNICATION
• Players and coaches desire
communication. There are numerous
thoughts on this, but in my experience,
talking to players most of the game is
beneficial. Body language plays a huge
role in communication.
How to Manage Players
• Is the player upset? Ask why.
• Is the player injured? Ask if he/she is
ok.
• Is the player angry? Calm him/her
down.
• Is the player frustrated? Encourage
him/her.
Case Studies
• You will be given a number. Your group will
congregate in a designated area with your team
leader to discuss a case scenario.
• Your group facilitator will give the conclusion to
the case study
• Group Facilitators:
• #1 Abbas Piran
• #2 Larry Stroud, Jr,
• #3 Jude Carr
• #4 Ayman Nabulsi
#1-Abbas
From the very beginning of the game, one of
the coaches is barking at every play (no
profanity). This continues the entire first
half.
• Do you take any action?
• If so, when do you take the action? And
what type of action do you take?
#2-Larry
In a competitive game, one of the coaches questions some
of the decisions of the referee. The other coach remains
quiet and only coaches his players. Halfway through the
first half, the quiet coach realizes that the referee is
being influenced by the barking coach. He approaches
you at halftime to raise his concern.
• What steps do you take?
As the 2nd half begins, nothing has changed. Now the
quiet coach begins to question decisions and now both
coaches are screaming at the referees decisions.
• What steps do you take now?
#3-Jude
In an intense game between 2 rival teams, a
defender is tightly marking the dangerous
attacker. Both are strong, physical players, but
both are playing within the rules.
• As the game progresses in the early stages of
the first half, you hear both players talking to
each other declaring that they are the best.
• Do you do anything at this point? If so, what and
how do you speak to the players?
#4-Ayman
In a game that is intense and emotional but
not very technical, the emotions run high
on the field and in the bench area. Play is
very fast but again, not very technical.
There are fouls but nothing “over the top”.
This continues for most of the first half
when in the ’35 a hard foul is committed
near the bench area.
• What action do you take (if any)?
In Summary
1. Be FAIR to the Game, Players, and Coaches
2. Give RESPECT to the Players and to the Game
3. Develop a PERSONALITY which works for you
4. Strive for LIKEABILITY by being FAIR and
giving RESPECT to the Game and the Players
5. COMMUNICATE to the players
RESPECTFULLY verbally and with non-verbal
techniques