Work With Schools, Crewmates to Ensure Safety

One of the more unpleasant aspects of officiating is dealing with unruly coaches, players and fans. Sometimes, game participants and team followers emotionally react so strongly that officials’ safety is jeopardized. Fortunately, some schools and conferences recognize the potential for problems and do what they can to prevent them.

There are things that individual officials, local officials associations and schools can do to help the protection process.

Individual officials

• If you are working with a partner(s), arrive together; there is safety in numbers.

• Park your car near the school building and, if possible, in a well-lit area. Try to leave room for you to move your car forward and backward. (If you park right up against a wall, you only have one way out and can be easily parked in.)

• Wear civilian clothes upon arrival. Don’t wear your official uniform; that brings too much attention you before the game even starts. It is especially important to blend in with the crowd if you arrive for the conclusion of a preceding game. For example, if you arrive early enough for your varsity game to watch some of the junior varsity game, don’t wear anything that makes you stand out in the crowd.

• Identify the game administrator. It is very important that you know who the person is and where the person can be quickly located if problems arise.

• Create a plan of action, which includes dealing with dangerous fans and leaving the court/field in a safe, timely manner.

Local officials associations

• Host a meeting dealing with safety issues. Teach members what individual officials can and should do when confronted with potential problems.

• If your local officials association contracts with schools or conferences for games, work toward getting specific safety measures in the contract. By letting the schools know the concerns of the officials, there is a better opportunity for a positive relationship and realized expectations.

• Collect individual reports on behavior and responses. By documenting incidents and the authorities’ reactions to them, the local association can monitor patterns of behavior in their officials and the schools.

Schools

• Provide a safe parking area for the officials. Ideally, the space is near the school, well lit and not labeled. If the parking spot says, "Officials," fans can easily identify the official’s car and the potential for vandalism increases.

• Provide a safe dressing facility for the officials. The room should be a private room, away from coaches and other school personnel. The room should be locked after the officials enter the room and remain locked while the game is in progress. Ideally, a key is given to an official to ensure that the room will be open when the official(s) need to enter. If possible, the room should not be labeled; if the room’s door has a sign that reads, "Officials," angry fans know where they are if they want to find them.

• Provide an officials’ escort. That person should have a key to the officials’ room and the know-how to handle all safety procedures. Ideally, that person’s lone responsibility is the officials from the time they pull into the parking lot until the time they leave. The escort should meet the crew at halftime to usher them off the court/field and should remain in the vicinity of the officials’ locker room.

• Provide visible security on the court or field. Uniformed police officers or school personnel with "security" shirts or jackets give potential problem fans something to think about.

• Punish those who violate rules by threatening or accosting officials. By coming down hard on violators, the school sends a strong message that misbehavior toward officials is unacceptable.

• Educate coaches, players and fans about sportsmanship and the important role officials play in the education process. The more fans understand that officials are people the better chance of problem-free games.

By working together, officials, local associations and schools can help prevent problems and effectively deal with them when they occur.

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Pull Up a Chair ...

Everyone who’s ever stepped onto a field, court or rink to officiate a game has a story to tell. Here’s a harrowing recollection from retired international soccer official Stanley Lover on meeting with a monster. (Do you have a story to tell? Write it down and e-mail to lastcall@referee.com.)

Udaï Wants to See You

By Stanley Lover

Few wept at the death of Saddam Hussein’s eldest son Udaï, after a shoot-out July 22, 2003. He features in many of the worst crimes against Iraqis who dared to criticize or oppose his sadistic will.

Perhaps as a distraction from the early playboy image of his favorite son, Saddam Hussein placed Udaï in charge of Iraqi sports, which included heading the nation’s Olympic Committee and the soccer federation. Udaï was 24 years old with youthful charm when we met in February 1988. At the invitation of FIFA, I went to Baghdad to present a weeklong seminar for top Iraqi soccer referees.

We were able to observe three matches during that time – two first league games and a big one, the Iraq League Cup Final between top clubs Al Racheed and the Army. The Army team was expected to win the Cup Final because, with Udaï as its president, the club had the pick of the best players.

Late in the first half, Al Racheed scored a goal due to an error of the Army goalkeeper – a long serving national favorite. He protested loudly that the assistant referee should have called offside. Referee Saad Salih produced a yellow card as a caution for verbal dissent. That silenced the player, but midway through the second half Al Racheed scored what proved to be the winning goal. The goalkeeper was again at fault and imagined another offside call error. He chased the referee to the center circle, bludgeoning him with a tirade of verbal abuse. With commendable presence, Saad Salih stepped back and held up a red card for all to see. Al Racheed had pulled off a big surprise to win 3-2. A deserved victory, but Army supporters were furious with the officials.

Next morning, halfway through breakfast, a federation official ordered me to go with him immediately to Udaï Hussein’s office.

Udaï, tall, athletic and dressed in western style, greeted me with a friendly smile, waving me into a chair facing his huge desk. Our conversation opened politely before he became suddenly grim, his voice grave. With eyes narrowed, he got straight to the reason for my summons: "What did you think of the referee last night?" From the aggressive manner of delivery, it seemed he had a definite opinion on which he wanted my confirmation.

"Mr. President," I replied, "I thought he was excellent."

Staring at me with a severe expression, he said slowly, "Oh? Why?"

Fortunately I had my notebook with observations written during the play. I gave him a good summary of my views covering Saad Salih’s mobility, positioning, quality of decisions, cooperation with his assistants, etc., and added, "In my opinion he was absolutely correct to caution the Army goalkeeper for showing dissent by word and action in the first half and then to dismiss him for continuing dissent in the second. It took much courage to make such an unpopular decision."

Udaï pondered on my comments, then spoke, "Thank you Mr. Lover, very interesting." A dismissive nod to the door told me our interview was over.

The following morning, at the seminar, the president of the Iraqi referees opened with an announcement commanded by Udaï. He wanted it to be known that, in recognition of the excellent handling of the Cup Final by Saad Salih, the referee had been rewarded with a payment of $300 (about a year’s salary then) and would have the honor of accompanying the Iraqi National team on a forthcoming foreign tour.

In 1988 Udaï Hussein’s sadistic nature was not in the public domain. Only later did the world learn about the imprisonment and torture of national athletes and soccer players after bad results; there were reports by victims of whippings, beatings, immersion in sewage tanks to fester wounds and other bestial acts.

Reading those accounts of the Jekyll and Hyde character of Udaï, I shiver when I think what could have followed if my report had suggested the slightest criticism of Saad Salih’s competence, the least doubt about the deciding goal or reservations about the dismissal of the Army goalkeeper.

I think about it often, what may, quite literally, have been Saad Salih’s last call.

Renowned soccer author and official Stanley Lover refereed more than 1,000 matches in European and international leagues and tournaments. He presently lives near Paris.

A Program You Won’t Find Anywhere Else

The 2005 NASO Sports Officiating Summit July 30-Aug. 1 at the Salt Lake City Downtown Marriott will be the most important gathering of the year – and it’s not too late to register. Attend the Summit and gain essential information and ideas you can use now to improve your leadership today, tomorrow and beyond.

You will be part of 12 in-depth educational sessions presented by experts. You will receive the information, tools and techniques to help you and your officials improve your officiating leadership effectiveness. Plus, you’ll have unbeatable networking opportunities with some of officiating’s most influential leaders. Don’t miss out on 2005’s premier officiating event.

To register for the NASO Summit, visit www.naso.org/summit2005 or call NASO at 800/733-6100. We hope to see you in Salt Lake City.

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