SC Soccer Forums SCSoccer.com Forums SCHSSCA State Finals Sideline Coaching Decorum

As a reminder to all coaches competing in the HS state championships this weekend at Stone Stadium, I would like to say that you are expected to represent your school, community and sport in a positive manner. There were too many instances during the Friday matches where coaches vented on the SCHSSCA's VOLUNTEER staff. Just so you will know, the SCHSSCA volunteers are NOT referees. We do not select the referees. And, we do not evaluate the referees. Nor do we donate our time so that competing coaches can yell at us. Competing coaches should be reminded that it is a blessing to be playing at this point, while the rest of us are watching. There are numerous coaches who owe the SCHSSCA Volunteers an apology. Some of their actions last night, were way out of line. The saddest thing is it seems that the coaches that have won the most titles in recent years are the worst offenders. You should know how to act in pressure situations. Character first, please.

Regards,
Wayne
SCHSSCA Volunteer

While I do agree that coaches should not be addressing the "volunteers" about the officiating, I think they need to know who can be addressed. The officiating was absolutely horrible. And while it may be a blessing for these teams to still be playing, these kids DESERVE to have officials who actually understand the game, can control the game and can keep up with the play. But after all the complaining I have heard this season about officials, maybe there aren't any out there that do understand the game (or know how to keep up with it). Should they be praised for getting two calls right and missing the rest? I think their ratio must be better than that. No one expects perfection...at least I don't. The team I was cheering for won, but I would still have to say that the officials did not do a good job. Of course that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

I agree. But, as any coach should know, there is little or nothing you can do about the referee's performance during the game without running the risk of looking petty and getting carded. I assure you the SCHSSCA will look into the selection process.

Also agreed. Which is why I am glad I am a fan now instead of a coach. And while I am sure nothing can be done now, it would be nice to see these young ladies performances honored with better officiating. Hope you guys can make soe headway. Oh, and thanks for what you guys do have control over and the way you ran them yesterday.

I agree also and let me say that I think that the SCHSSCA volunteers did a fine job with setting up, and running what they did control.

As for coaches actions on the side lines, I agree here too. Must always remain a positive example.

Now to officiating for these young women: Over the course of the year I witnessed game after game only to see officials that seemed disinterested, barley able or willing to get up and down the field and into the right position, as well as, watched and listend to them talk about missed calls after games and laugh about them, discuss players to watch for fouls with obvious preconcieved judgements etc...

The bottom line (in my opinion) is that there has to be some quality control.

Soccer for many of these young ladies means a great deal. And to have it minimized by poor officiating and/or disinterested officials is a real problem, and gives a less than quality perception of Girls HS Soccer in SC, (and that simply isnt the case)

Title IX; maybe some of the official need to revisit it or read it for the first time and understand what it means.

Additionaly, a foul is a foul weather it is committed by the largest player on the field or the smallest. Just because a player falls doesn't mean she was fouled, and just because a player doesn't fall doesn't mean she was not fouled.

For example: in the 3A and 4A state championship games I watched players called for fouls when clearly the person initialting contact and commiting the foul was the other. However, she was smaller, and many times much more aggressive, but not as strong or physical as the player she came up against. So when she fell the center ref made an assumtion because he definitely wasn't in position to see it. In cases like these a no call is more appropriate than a wrong call. If you obviously dont see it you cannot call it.

Finally, controlling the game; in roughly 35 games watched for the ladies this year, the official did not have control of the game. I.e. dangerous activity, blatant elbows, dragging down by the jersey, sliding trips from the back with no ball contact at all, high knees etc.

Question:

Many games I watched only had two officials, Why? just curious!

DDF, during the HS season the 2 whistle system is used, at least in this part of the State (midlands). But for the playoffs, the three man system is used. And I agree with your comments. I just got back from the 4A boys game and the officials were pretty good with the exception of a handled (read batted) ball that may or may not have crossed the goal line. Aside from that, excellent officiating of a tough match. The girls deserve this type of respect and it's time they got it. And before anyone decides to jump in and say that I should become a ref, let me just say No Way! Not my thing and never will be. But there are officials out there that would have done a much better job and I wish for the girls sake that it changes next year. Put the three officials that the 3A girls game had this year with the 4A boys game next year...talk about lambs to the slaughter. Again, that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

I offered repeatedly to Roger Hazel of SCHSL the services of SCHSSCA in referee selection. The current process calls for area assigners to submit 3 names to Hazel. Those are the ones usually selected, depending on availability. I have suggested, and Roger concurred, that he get 6 candidates from the assigners, then submit that list to our committee. We would then rank the officials and make comments on each. I think this will happen next year.

Wayne -- I applaud your individual efforts concerning this matter and can also assure that a revamping of the officials selections for the finals will be worked on this summer. There were several matches lacking "good officiating" in particular the Class 4A Girls State Championship between West Ashley and Fort Mill. That was as bad a display of officiating that I have seen in some time and in fact, was just downright dangerous to the players involved.

However, let me say that the Class 4A Boys State Championship match between Irmo and South Aiken was officiated very well (view from an unbiased party) and the center official is to be congratulated on doing an excellent job. I was told he was from the Myrtle Beach area, but I don't know his name, but would like him to know that several of us high school coaches were impressed with the way he kept up with the play, took control of the game, let the players play (without being "whistle-happy"), etc. Well done!

Kevin, I agree the 4A boys game had very good offciating and the 3A boys game seem to have quality officiating also.(I was only there for middle of second half on for 3A game)

Both games were still physical with allot of contact, but for the most part the dangerous stuff was stopped quickly (didn't see allot of pulling on shirts and arms, or allot of sliding from the back, elbows etc) A stark contrast to what was allowed to happen in the 4A girls game where we observed running in front of a player then simply falling on it or sliding from behind a player etc..)

Wayne as an unbiased observer I too applaud your efforts, It is my wish that officiating for the ladies is looked at across the board without a knee jerk reaction of making the game overly passive, but, eliminating dirty/dangerous play. Physical play is one thing dangerous is another...... Hard tackles and hard leagal body contact is part of the sport. Wild flings of the leg across another players body, sliding fron the rear with no chance at the ball, blatant elbows etc dangerous ........... and interested, competent officials can control this without taking away from the physical nature of the game.

quote:

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Originally posted by Kevin Heise:
Wayne -- I applaud your individual efforts concerning this matter and can also assure that a revamping of the officials selections for the finals will be worked on this summer. There were several matches lacking "good officiating" in particular the Class 4A Girls State Championship between West Ashley and Fort Mill. That was as bad a display of officiating that I have seen in some time and in fact, was just downright dangerous to the players involved.

However, let me say that the Class 4A Boys State Championship match between Irmo and South Aiken was officiated very well (view from an unbiased party) and the center official is to be congratulated on doing an excellent job. I was told he was from the Myrtle Beach area, but I don't know his name, but would like him to know that several of us high school coaches were impressed with the way he kept up with the play, took control of the game, let the players play (without being "whistle-happy"), etc. Well done!

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I think that the events went very well and that the kids loved the atmosphere and enjoyed the opportunities that were provided for them. So few people are involved and to get that type of event weekend pulled off is a testiment to the hard work of the few volunteers that contribute so much time to the high school game of soccer.

Thanks to all the volunteers!

If I may add a couple of suggestions from a Coach in the games perspective. # 1 if there is not adequate warm-up space available then maybe we could look at extending the amount of time between finals due to the increased chance there may be extended play. I know that it is hard to get everything set up the right way and get the games in one day maybe start earlier. We were not prepared for the start I don't think it would have mattered at the end but the prep. compared to what we are used to was very inadequate. #2 Volunteer at areas that are best suited to you. If you have a personality that appears to be very condesending and demanding stay off the field and away from coaches that are trying to prepare kids for a championship match. It is a pressure packed situation for those that have been there will understand. The things you can control as a Coach is the warm-up and prep. for matches. To warm up on the asphalt drive-way under the bleachers is not the best scenario for a championship match. Only having 20 minutes to touch a ball prior to the start is not the best start. At the same time that is no excuse for how we played. It was a horrible performance in all aspects against a quality opponent.

If I was out of line then please accept my appology to all that where offended. I also will state that I will not be talked down to or treated in a disrepectful manner by anybody either. That goes for now or in the future. The problem I was involved in could have been easily avoided with just a little bit of thought about the situation that was taking place.

I also thought the officials for our match did a good job and that a rating system that is used in other sports would help identify and reward the better officials by earning the right to be there in the finals matches just like programs that get there.

Regards

Brad Nickles
Emerald High School