This weeks’ column is built around a topic which was discussed some years ago in the specialist magazine “Referee”. In fact I have included many excerpts from this magazine which I think are beneficial in my ultimate aim of discussing the referee’s role in trying as much as possible (as after all we, as referees, can only try to be pro-active in front of any signs of nervousness or situations which can lead to conflict always keeping to the rules and philosophy of the game) to promote sportsmanship in the light of what I, unfortunately, witnessed these last days at the National Pool during the local waterpolo league.
Such sad, poignant, foul-mouthed and at times aggressive and violent incidents (which surely give out a bad example especially to the young element present) are not new in the local waterpolo scene as I have seen similar or worse things happening in the past from various teams at different stages. From the outset I want to make it clear that I do not want to sound as if such incidents happen in one particular sport. In fact I have locally witnessed also such poor and repulsing behaviour also in my game basketball.
What make it much more sad is the fact that many a times the main culprits or instigators of such incidents get away practically free from any disciplinary hearings (the feeling is that this happens many times in the two sports mentioned above maybe also due to a disciplinary statute that was written quite some time ago or one that either does not reflect reality or where there is one ready to be put into effect but where the clubs do not accept when put through a vote of acceptance) or worse still (in my opinion as a referee) the referee/s do not lodge a report or write a report that does not do justice with the actual facts.
Any game or sporting contest can have the elements of tenacity and insistence by players and coaches in their quest to end up on the winning side.
As I have written in the past, we, referees, should strive to make sure that the game is played according to the rules (always having a real feel for the game and not acting rigidly ‘to the book’).
If players and teams do not want to play to the rules, then the set down penalties (in the rule book) have to be abided to.
Everybody likes winning, yet this should also be achieved in a sense of sportsmanship. In this context, referees should aim to promote sportsmanship at all times. However we tend to follow the flow and let things go just because they were always accepted in the past (this is the dangerous domino effect one can experience if incidents are not dealt with at the first instance as, the next time around, the then culprits can easily defend themselves by taking one back to the previous incidents) or because the majority also accepts them.
Something I would like to point out is that the reasoning “everyone does it and it is just part of the game” is something we must not accept, not only in refereeing but also in our daily life.
This is mainly because sports, in general, reflect society. The “Referee” magazine states that diminished sportsmanship mirrors what is occurring in society at large. Considering the abusive speech and behaviour one often sees at sporting events, one should ask the question, “are we the same people at hotly contested games, parties, birthdays, weddings or funerals, which are all emotional settings?”
My opinion is that it has a lot to do with all those things that build up our ethical and moral character. Therefore, what we permit to happen in our society (and in sports, during competitive matches) we are actually promoting.
As referees we always have to promote a positive image. Additionally we also have to hold the athletes to a positive image through the enforcement of the rules and through using our best game management skills. This includes seeing and enforcing the rules on taunting and unsporting conduct, even if it is marginal.
When such conduct is clear cut, the referee has nothing else to do except penalize the offender/s. If the conduct is of a marginal nature, then sometimes the referee needs to stop play and deal with it in another way. Some may say that if any speech or behaviour is sufficient to stop the contest, then it deserves a penalty (I also at times agree with this belief but this is not always the case).
What I am asking in this column is that referees should start to think also outside that book of rules and look to the greater good the same referee may do for the athlete by briefly addressing the problem. Of course, I am not implying that the referee should be a “good boy” and should always try to forgive offenders, not at all. What I am implying is, that a referee, through acute experience, can learn how to identify certain incidents which could not result in a certain penalty.
Common sense and a very deep understanding of the game are needed for the referee to arrive at such a situation in his career. Additionally the same referee can also encounter certain peers who may criticise him for taking such a stance because these same peers cannot understand the human reasoning behind the referee’s decision.
We need to encourage (and sell to) players, coaches and even parents (at the grass-roots level) that the idea of “class” is more important than winning. It is how athletes play the game, not just that they win or lose. It is how athletes compose themselves during a loss (and not just during a win) that paints the true picture of their character.
Before refereeing I did play sports at national level and I fully understand that a player can get very emotional especially in a tight and important game. However one must keep the emotional outbursts to a humane level. If one wants to go further and possibly lower his image amongst those who really understand sport (as obviously the player may look a ‘hero’ momentarily for his supporters), then the same player has to fully accept any disciplinary repercussions.
On concluding, I urge true basketball lovers and those who love to see interesting and tense games to try to catch a glimpse of the games being played at the FIBA basketball world cup in Japan.
As from tomorrow we will see the second phase commencing with knock-out games for the last 16.
The preliminary group phase led to some upsets like Nigeria’s and Lebanon’s wins over France.
The USA seem to be the team to beat (although Italy gave a good run for the money) but I am rearing to watch them face either Argentina or Spain who seem to be very good teams. Greece may also result in an interesting outsider.
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