"Creative Refereeing"
- Thread starter Kes
- Start date
) please? 
Charlie Jones
Work Until You Don't Have To Introduce Yourself
drawing a caricature of the teams in action whilst simultaneously carrying out a perfect game of refereeing
Charlie Jones
Work Until You Don't Have To Introduce Yourself
even if the drawing is true to life?
I want to see this drawing, @Charlie Jones 
Charlie Jones
Work Until You Don't Have To Introduce Yourself
ill post it Monday once ive give it a go Sunday lol
Russell Jones
RefChat Addict
For me, the best examples of creative refereeing are those where the referee is so in tune with the game and the players that they flex their usual decision making slightly to take the context into account. a few examples might be ..
Not insisting on a 'ceremonial' free kick near the Penalty Area where the attacking team might gain an advantage by taking it quickly
Seeing a cautionable tackle but realising that the potential advantage to the attacking team is sizable enough to continue play and return for the caution at the next break in play
Seeing a borderline 50/50 DOGSO decision and interpreting it in different ways (6-0 down, 5 mins to go, Yellow: 0-0, 30 mins to go, Red)
And the obvious clamping down on small fouls (that might otherwise be considered trivial) if the match is starting to boil over
None of these come without an element of risk. But the reward for the game if you get it right can also be significant
Not insisting on a 'ceremonial' free kick near the Penalty Area where the attacking team might gain an advantage by taking it quickly
Seeing a cautionable tackle but realising that the potential advantage to the attacking team is sizable enough to continue play and return for the caution at the next break in play
Seeing a borderline 50/50 DOGSO decision and interpreting it in different ways (6-0 down, 5 mins to go, Yellow: 0-0, 30 mins to go, Red)
And the obvious clamping down on small fouls (that might otherwise be considered trivial) if the match is starting to boil over
None of these come without an element of risk. But the reward for the game if you get it right can also be significant
Peter Grove
RefChat Addict
I don't know in what context it was mentioned but as far as I know, it's usually a euphemism for misapplication of the Laws. It also often involves referees making up imaginary offences or applying sanctions that just aren't applicable. Some classic examples I read of recently:
- Issuing a yellow card to a goalkeeper who was talking to someone near the goal for "not paying attention to the game."
- Player given offside for passing to himself. The explanation given by the referee to the irate coach was, "that any touch of the ball that puts the ball outside a radius that is immediately playable without movement by the player in possession is a loss of possession and therefore a play or pass if touched next by the same team."
- Issuing a yellow card to a goalkeeper who was talking to someone near the goal for "not paying attention to the game."
- Player given offside for passing to himself. The explanation given by the referee to the irate coach was, "that any touch of the ball that puts the ball outside a radius that is immediately playable without movement by the player in possession is a loss of possession and therefore a play or pass if touched next by the same team."
Creative refereeing to me could be adapting your approach to different players. The way you communicate with each player will vary depending on their personality. There's a model I've studied in work where you answer 100 or so questions and a clever system determines which of 4 personality traits you fall in to. I know it as Flex or Insights but may be known by other names.
The 4 traits are Fiery Red, Sunshine Yellow, Cool Blue and Earth Green. Each will respond better to a certain type of communication. Red for example, your responses need to be efficient, effective and focused compared to a Yellow where you would approach these in a persuasive, democratic manner.
Finding the time during a game to communicate differently to players based on their Insights "colour" is difficult but can be used to great effect! It's up to me to discover their "colour" by assessing how they communicate with me, but after practice and study, understanding where they sit on the Insights scale comes pretty quickly.
The 4 traits are Fiery Red, Sunshine Yellow, Cool Blue and Earth Green. Each will respond better to a certain type of communication. Red for example, your responses need to be efficient, effective and focused compared to a Yellow where you would approach these in a persuasive, democratic manner.
Finding the time during a game to communicate differently to players based on their Insights "colour" is difficult but can be used to great effect! It's up to me to discover their "colour" by assessing how they communicate with me, but after practice and study, understanding where they sit on the Insights scale comes pretty quickly.
Creative refereeing is when you award a corner when no one expects it, then you "see" a push in the goal area when the kick is taken and award a free kick to the defending team.
Russell Jones
RefChat Addict
OR those who think referees should be automatons and un-creative are oxes and morons?
Yampy
RefChat Addict
An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction.OR those who think referees should be automatons and un-creative are oxes and morons?
No need for the insults.
Russell Jones
RefChat Addict
David, I'm well aware what an oxymoron is. I just happen to fundamentally disagree with the premise that one cannot be both creative and a referee .. or creative whilst you referee. As is clear from my previous post, I happen to think it's one of the characteristics that set great referees apart from the rest.
I thought it would be clear from my use of 'smileys' that my comment was in jest ... however, apologies for any offence caused
I thought it would be clear from my use of 'smileys' that my comment was in jest ... however, apologies for any offence caused
Padfoot
The Persecuted One
Considering the LOTG are quite clear on what is and is not permitted in a game of football, it leaves little room for creativity......unless of course your idea of creativity is to find ways to justify not applying those laws?
There is good refereeing and there is bad refereeing.....creativity doesn't come into it.
There is good refereeing and there is bad refereeing.....creativity doesn't come into it.
Russell Jones
RefChat Addict
Oh Padders, now you're just stirring .
Given that a significant number of the Laws, including many of the critical ones, are 'in the opinion of the referee', that provides ample opportunity to show flair and creativity whilst unequivocally sticking within the LOTG.
At a recent Supply League meeting I attended, the number one gripe coming from managers and officials was that many of the officials were too 'robotic' and lacked empathy for the players and the temperature of the game. Obviously it's a fine line .. too 'creative' and you lose respect because you are not correctly applying the Laws and the sanctions therein. But too 'formulaic' and you will lose respect by being out of touch with the reality of the specific game you are officiating. In my opinion
.Given that a significant number of the Laws, including many of the critical ones, are 'in the opinion of the referee', that provides ample opportunity to show flair and creativity whilst unequivocally sticking within the LOTG.
At a recent Supply League meeting I attended, the number one gripe coming from managers and officials was that many of the officials were too 'robotic' and lacked empathy for the players and the temperature of the game. Obviously it's a fine line .. too 'creative' and you lose respect because you are not correctly applying the Laws and the sanctions therein. But too 'formulaic' and you will lose respect by being out of touch with the reality of the specific game you are officiating. In my opinion
Padfoot
The Persecuted One
Oh Padders, now you're just stirring
Given that a significant number of the Laws, including many of the critical ones, are 'in the opinion of the referee', that provides ample opportunity to show flair and creativity whilst unequivocally sticking within the LOTG.
At a recent Supply League meeting I attended, the number one gripe coming from managers and officials was that many of the officials were too 'robotic' and lacked empathy for the players and the temperature of the game. Obviously it's a fine line .. too 'creative' and you lose respect because you are not correctly applying the Laws and the sanctions therein. But too 'formulaic' and you will lose respect by being out of touch with the reality of the specific game you are officiating. In my opinion
You really need to learn 'manager' speak.....
'Robotic', 'lacking in empathy' and 'temperature of the game' are just player/manager speak for 'how dare the referee actually apply the LOTG' normally trotted out after cautions for dissent, reds for S6 etc....
What clubs really want are referees to selectively apply the LOTG accepting the abuse as 'part of the game' and those who don't are labelled as 'card happy', 'robotic' etc etc....
The reality is simple. You are there to apply the LOTG without favour or compromise, not to keep clubs happy.