Stepped approach for referees in managing players
The stepped approach for referees in managing players is crucial. By building up your management and disciplinairy decisions, the actions you take feel logic towards the players. But this doesn’t mean it always starts without a card, sometimes a higher step on the ladder is more appropriate. In this blog post you’ll learn more about the stepped approach. And I’d love to hear how this works for you in your games.
What is the stepped approach?
When you manage players you want to give clear signals what you tolerate, because then everyone can understand the decisions. After a verbal warning, a yellow card wouldn’t come as a surprise normally. So what are the steps you can take?
- Just a free kick
- Free kick and personal warning. Or a quiet word with the player. Nothing too big, but the player knows that you’re alert on his or her behaviour
- Make it visible with a free kick and a public admonishment. That’s the warning that should be clear for everyone on the pitch, but also coaches and spectators. Firstly, if needed ask attention with a whistle to stop play. Then ask the player to come over, isolate the player. Give a strong message (loud and clear) that this is a public warning. Use a gesture with f.e. spread arms to underline your message.
- Yellow cards come in. After you warned a player publicly, there’s no step back. What would be the effect if you’d keep warning? Aha, you got it. That will ruin game magement as players know you let things go and never take disciplinairy action.
- Sending off the player with a red card. That’s a straight red or sometimes 2 yellows.
The role of the captain
There should also be room for you to interact with the captain. Build report with him or her before and during the game. Sometimes your words don’t resonate with a players, but their captain might have more influence. Before step 4 “yellow card” you can also tell the captain that some tackles or actions are borderline to a booking. The captain might be able to calm players down or let them change their style of play.
After the yellow card the captain can also play an important role before that 2nd yellow card. In one of my games a player was already on a yellow card, but wasn’t holding back when challenging others for the ball. I had that twice and both times used the captain. Told him: “your player is close to a 2nd yellow card, help me to keep him on the pitch”.
2 captains, 2 different responses
- On one occasion the captain said: this is not a bar, stop talking. I want to play football
- The second captain immediately approached his striker who was clos to a 2nd yellow and calmed him down.
It’s up to the captains how they pick things up, but you understand that the second captain had more influence on the positive outcome there. In the situation of that “this is not a bar” captain, the coach intervened and substituted his striker. Apparently my body language was very clear that it was the final warning. In the end, no 2nd yellows that game.
Always follow the steps of the ladder? NO!
You can’t always step in on the lowest step of the ladder If a player stops a promising attack, a yellow card is mandatory. Or when a player spits at someone or commits a DOGSO offence, a red card is the only appropriate measure. So if the yellow or red card is warrented directly, you have to show them.
Did you ever use this Stepped approach for referees in managing players? What are your experiences with it? Please share them in the comments below or send a direct message on Instagram to @DutchReferee.