Created from contributions by current and former FIFA Referees, and USSF National & State, Referees, Instructors, and Assessors.
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CAUTION: The guidelines presented below are intended for use with a player or team official whose agitated behavior is largely verbal, shows no signs of escalating beyond that point, and does not present as potentially physically aggressive or violent. Referees who suspect that a player or team official may present a safety risk to self or others should immediately seek additional assistance (Assistant referee/s, player/s, team official/s, etc.). There are two important concepts to keep in mind:
1) Reasoning with an enraged player or team official is not possible. The
first and only objective in de-escalation is to reduce the level of arousal so
that discussion becomes possible. 2) De-escalation techniques are abnormal. We are driven to fight, flight or
freeze when scared. However, in de-escalation, we can do none of these. We must
appear centered and calm even when we are frightened.
Therefore these techniques must be practiced
before they are needed so that they can become "second nature.”
THERE ARE 3 PARTS TO BE MASTERED IN VERBAL DE-ESCALATION
A. THE REFEREE IN CONTROL OF HIM/HER SELF 1) Appear calm, centered and self-assured even though you don’t feel it.
Relax facial muscles and look confident. Your anxiety can make the client feel
anxious and unsafe and that can escalate aggression. 2) Use a modulated, low monotonous tone of voice (our normal tendency is to
have a high pitched, tight voice when scared). 3) If cards were shown and if you have time, put them away. 4) Do not be defensive-even if the comments or insults are directed at you,
they are not about you. Do not defend yourself or anyone else from insults,
curses or misconceptions about the game and misinterpretations of the laws of
the game. 5) Be aware of any resources available for back up. Know that you have the
choice to terminate the game, tell the player/team official to leave should
de-escalation not be effective 6) Be very respectful even when firmly setting limits or when showing a
caution, sending off a player or dismissing a team official for irresponsible
behavior. The agitated individual is very sensitive to feeling shamed and
disrespected. We want him/her to know that it is not necessary to show us that
they must be respected. We automatically treat them with dignity and respect. B: THE PHYSICAL STANCE 1) Never turn your back for any reason 2) Always be at the same eye level. Encourage the player or team official to
maintain distance. 3) Allow extra physical space between you – about four times your usual
distance. Anger and agitation fill the extra space between you and the payer of
team official. 4) Do not stand full front to player/team official. Stand at an angle so you
can sidestep away if needed. 5) Do not maintain constant eye contact. Allow the player/team official to
break his/her gaze and look away. 6) Do not point or shake your finger. 7) DO NOT smile. This could look like mockery or anxiety 8) Do not touch – even if some touching is generally culturally appropriate
and usual in your setting. Cognitive dysfunction in agitated people allow for
easy misinterpretation of physical contact as hostile or threatening. 9) Keep hands out of your pockets, up and available to protect yourself. 10) Do not argue or try to convince, give choices i.e. empower. 11) Don’t be defensive or judgmental. 12) LISTEN in a way they want to TALK to you. 13) TALK in a way they want to LISTEN to you. C: THE DE-ESCALATION DISCUSSION 1) Remember that there is no content except trying to calmly bring the level
of arousal down to baseline. 2) Do not get loud or try to yell over a screaming player/team personal.
Wait until he/she takes a breath; then talk. Speak calmly at an average volume. 3) Respond selectively; answer all informational questions no matter how
rudely asked, (e.g. "Why do I have to leave the F.....ing field when I was
the one being hurt?” This is a real information-seeking question). DO NOT
answer abusive questions (e.g. "Why are we paying you when you're not
doing your job?) This question should get no response what so ever. 3) Explain limits and rules in an authoritative, firm, but always respectful
tone. Give choices where possible in which both alternatives are safe ones
(e.g. you’re telling me my ARs and I missed a elbow to the back, I promise you
we’ll keep an eye on him for the remainder of the match, but don’t do anything
stupid, let us handle it, let him be the one getting a red card not you.) 4) Empathize with feelings but not with the behavior (e.g. "I
understand that you feel angry, but it is not okay for you to threaten me or my
crew.") 5) Do not solicit how a person is feeling or interpret feelings in an
analytic way. 6) Do not argue or try to convince. 7) Wherever possible, tap into the player's or team official’s cognitive
mode: DO NOT ask: "Tell me how you feel." Ask: "Help me to understand what you are saying to me” People are not attacking you while they are teaching you what they want you
to know. 8) Suggest alternative behaviors where appropriate e.g. "Would you like
to take a break or have some water? 9) Give the consequences of inappropriate behavior without threats or anger. 10) Trust your instincts. If you assess or feel that de-escalation is not
working, STOP! You will know within 30 seconds to 1 minute if it’s beginning to
work. Tell the player or team official to leave and get the captain and other
players involve.
There is nothing magical about talking someone down. You are transferring
your sense of calms and genuine interest in what the player or team official
wants to tell you, and respectful, clear limit setting in the hope that the
player or team official actually wishes to respond positively to your
respectful attention.
Do not be a hero and do not try de-escalation when a
person shows any behavior that signifies hostility or intent to attack.
“How to deal
with pressure on the field”BY JANIE FRAMPTON
In almost every sport the
top fifty competitors in the world are all as strong, as fast and as skillful and have as much stamina as each other. Yet in every sport some emerge as
winners and others never quite reach the podium.
The same is true for Match Officials. We have those who work hard on their physical fitness, perfect their
skills in law, application and management of people and situations. These
skills and others can produce an individual performance that can reach levels
unmatched by their peers.
What is it that makes the difference?
The winners are the ones who
can overcome the mental pressures of a tough game. They can ignore or feed-off
the crowd, or the importance of the occasion.
So where does the mental pressure come from?
The answer is – it comes
from within! It is their own reading of the situation which causes pressure,
and because it is from within it can be controlled: The winners are not
necessarily born this way but have trained themselves both mentally and
physically.
What are the mental skills?
There are a range of skills
demanded of the match official; many of them can be linked to the individual’s
state of mind. For instance, the first thing expected of a match official by
the players and coaches is that he or she is consistent.
But from where does such consistency come?
It can only be the ability
to focus on the game, ignore internal and external distractions and apply the
law correctly in each and every situation.
Perhaps it is a good
starting point to consider the mental qualities required by looking at what
would be expected from the ideal match official:
• Calm under pressure
• In control of their
emotions
• Confident
• Mentally alert
• Positive.
Let us consider these points
in more detail.
The good match official does
not try to avoid pressure; he or she accepts that it is part of the game at all
levels.
Be confident that you have
the skills to deal with the situation; pressure is not a threat but a challenge
to be welcomed.
• Do not get upset by the
challenge of the players to your decisions, they are not directing their anger
at you, they do not know you! Their frustration is directed at the uniform and
the authoritative role you represent.
Take a few moments to gather your
thoughts and re-focus.
Do not lose focus on the game, and
keep concentration throughout.
• Show no anger, no fear and
no negative emotions. The only emotion which should be shown is enjoyment.
Remember, this is what we are there for!
• Be strong in your decision
making; take responsibility and manage the consequences whether your decisions
are right or wrong
• Be confident; assertive
but not arrogant; have a determined belief in your own ability that you can
perform well. This will mean that you will not be intimidated by the pressures
of the occasion, or by the antics of the players
• Be able to maintain
concentration on the things that matter in the game, and have the ability to
‘switch-off’ no matter what the pressure.
So how do we get there?
How do you learn to
officiate under pressure?
The answer is – you do not.
Nobody performs well under pressure. The reason why our top officials at all
levels of the game ‘shine’ when the stakes are highest, the competition the
fiercest and the game the toughest is not because they can do it under
pressure, but
because they eliminate the
pressure and officiate in an ‘ideal mental state’!
When you are officiating at
the ideal mental state:
• You feel relaxed although
the adrenaline level is high
• You are a little nervous,
but with a sense of calmness and confidence
• Your decisions will be
made spontaneously without the conscious thought process as you will have a
strong belief in your ability
• You will always feel as if
you are in the right place at the right time
• You will maintain
concentration and have an awareness of what is happening around you
• You will maintain control
over your emotions and not become tense, therefore remaining in total control
of yourself.
If you manage the above, you
will eliminate the excess of pressure, which would otherwise prevent you from
performing at your best.
So what will help you to reach the ideal mental
state?
Relaxation
– Take a few moments to gather your thoughts and re-focus.
Concentration – Do not lose focus on the game, and keep concentration throughout.
Visualization – Visualize how you will deal with certain situations and when they
occur you will then be armed with ideas on how to deal with them. These are
‘closed
skills’, performed in
isolation.
Emotional Control – The focus at all times must be on positive feelings. Examples of
these are: Confidence, determination, relaxation and of course, above all,
enjoyment.
Attitudes
– Will controls a referee’s behavior. If you think you can, you will; if you think
you have to be the best then you won’t be - be yourself!
Awareness
– By harnessing strengths and working on areas that need attention, you will
become a better referee.
Affirmations
– It is good to have affirmations that deflect pressure. Mohammed Ali said, “I
am the greatest”, because he believed it. This may not be a usual statement
from referees, but other positive affirmations could be, “I never let emotions
affect my
officiating”, or “I always
spot the flash points”. These are positive and will give you confidence.
Handling the pressure
What can be done to handle
the pressures which will arise? The first aspect must be to ensure a good pregame
preparation.
Preparing for your game
Do not change your physical
preparation. This means continuing any physical training at your usual level
and do not change your pattern of relaxation. Relaxation is as important as
physical preparation.
• Do prepare yourself
mentally for anything which might happen
• Don’t try to make changes
to your refereeing technique. What you have done so far has been good enough to
give you the opportunities you are receiving; only make changes to your
identified areas of development
• Do a little mental
rehearsal every day; see yourself refereeing in an ideal mental state
• Don’t become anxious about
your nerves. You will need an adrenaline flow for the game, so look forward to
the ‘buzz’
• Do anticipate that you
will enjoy the game. You are going to perform well, be in control and you are going
to handle any situation that arises.
