Communication - the lost art?

Many people ask me what I believe to be the greatest asset that a referee can have. My reply? Good communication. The trouble is, there are many forms of language and the skill is determining which one to use and when.

The officials must talk

Communication starts well before a game with acceptance of appointments and confirmation of match details between referee and club. Once they arrive at the ground, the dialogue starts between the referee and his assistants. The team of three officials needs to act as one for the duration of the match and this can only be achieved by understanding the duties each will be tasked with. 

One of the biggest pitfalls a referee can drop into is to assume that a ten minute chat before a game will lead to a 90 minute faultless performance. During the match itself there is a need for the referee to involve himself with his colleagues, not only for their benefit, but also for the benefit of the players and the spectators.

If you watch a match closely, you will see a referee passing verbal and non-verbal instruction to his colleagues as well as receiving them. It may be a thumbs up sign or even a wag of the head but body language can play just as important a part as words.

Talking with the players

Next, the players. After my fifteen years as a referee, I still can't believe how difficult it can be to tell football players something. You can explain a decision and then five minutes later they commit the same infringement. I have now reached the point that I feel my verbal comments are for everyone but the offending player. 

Many of my refereeing colleagues believe it is wrong to talk to players, I couldn't disagree more. Even when I talk to the captains before a match, I tell them they can expect 90 minutes of commentary from me. In the thousands of games I have controlled, I can only remember being told to shut up twice. Not a bad average. I remain convinced that players, and even the crowd, appreciate the odd comment telling them why a decision has or has not been given - as well as the odd bit of banter which helps to stop things getting too serious.

Too little communication between the players?

One thing that disappoints me about communication is the lack of it actually between the players. I should direct this comment where I mean it to fall. There are often derogatory remarks being thrown about, but I am sitting here trying to remember the last time I heard a player comment favourably on an action by a member of the opposite team. I have seen some tremendous play in my time but praise from a player of the other side is as common as the proverbial hen's teeth.

I firmly believe that good communication is important for all of us, officials, players, spectators and the media. Perhaps if we were complimentary a bit more often, rather than forever looking only for the bad or the controversial, our game of football would be better for it.

My last of the series

Finally on communication, I would like to thank you, the readers, on behalf of myself and my colleagues for reading our series of articles which concludes next week.. It has been refreshing to turn up for matches and hear that you find it interesting to read what we have been writing about refereeing and football. That doesn't mean to say you agree with it all, or even anything we have said, but at least you are reading and thinking and talking about football. 

May you have a good Christmas and a Happy New Year.

John Moore

© John Moore 1999

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