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The Referee - A master of the silent assist (the Power of Doing Nothing) 
(By Julian Carosi www.CorshamRef.net)

A debate that considers whether or not it is sometimes better, for football/soccer referees to 'do nothing'!

Introduction: 

When someone asked English World Cup (1974) Referee Jack Taylor to describe what he thought the art of refereeing was, he replied:

"Making your mistakes when no one is looking, and knowing when not to make decisions". 
(Jack Taylor's World Soccer Referee book page 12, 1976)

On average, people say 5,000 words a day and speak 125 words a minute. This means that about 2.8 percent of your time is spent talking and 97.2% in silence. It follows, that in a game of football, although the referee spends a great deal of time running around chasing players and following the path of the ball, he rarely needs to communicate anything - vocally or via body language. Yet conversely, there are many occasions when the fact that the Referee 'does nothing', actually imparts a message that says much more than any other form of visual message or sound can communicate. On most occasions, all the Referee needs to do is to be there.

The following scenario expands this concept further.

A Referee went to his instructor and said to him, "I'm having trouble controlling players. Whenever I confront them, it always seems to end in a bad tempered argument that leaves both the player and myself in a bad mood for the rest of the game. Can you give me a remedy for it?"

The instructor said, "Certainly," and gave the Referee a packet of chewing gum, explaining, "These are charmed pieces of chewing gum. When you officiate your next games, put one piece of gum in your mouth."
The Referee took the advice given him, and found to his surprise, that there was no quarrelling with players during his next few games.

A month later, after the pack of chewing gum had been used up, the Referee went back to the instructor, and thanked him a thousand times. The Referee told the instructor that he had done such a miracle. 
The Referee said, "I do not know what to do to thank you. But I would like you to give me a large supply of that special chewing gum so that it might last me for a long time." 

The instructor answered, "The chewing gum is not necessary, silence is all that is needed." 
This teaches us that very often, we quarrel and invite conflict only because of our speech or because we do something when we don't need to. Silence (or doing nothing) is a great peacemaker, and when used during confrontation, can sometimes have a much greater impact in diffusing situations (or to impart a message) than any number of words or actions can. The trick, is to know when to speak (or take action) and when not to; and to understand the powerful effect that a message can have when it is communicated silently. 

In the world of sports commentary, Dan Maskell, whose golden rule was; "economy of words is what most viewers enjoy", once caused a near heart attack in an American TV programme with his unashamed pauses during a very brief Tennis commentary stint at Wimbledon for one of the US television networks. And Henry Longhurst, the doyen of golf gassers, apparently once perpetrated a lull so protracted that his director inquired into his earpiece, "Excuse me, Henry, but are you still alive? Longhurst delivered eloquence by merging uncomplicated words with dramatic pauses. He was a master of the silent assist.

Doing nothing is a very powerful tool. 

For example:

"The three words "I love you," are so very simple to say. Three powerful and meaningful words. There are many opportunities for you to say them, but none more important and possessing more potential than saying them now to the person you love. How many "I love you's" went unsaid, that would easily have healed an aching heart? You cannot store them and build a reserve to tap into at a later date. Their power and their balming effect, quickly dissipates with disuse. They work only in the spontaneous moment that they were intended. Left idle, their potential is gone, the object of their delivery is untouched by kindness or by tenderness.

Conversely, silence can have the complete opposite effect. "I love you" unsaid can become "I don't love you" out loud. How many times has silence told a partner or a child that they are not loved? How often has an unsaid word created the opposite powerful effect?

Although the power of the spoken word is mighty, the power of silence can be mightier still; and it is the ability to harness this power of silent communication (doing nothing) that can have a positive effect in the world of Refereeing - if used astutely at the right time to maintain control and the ambience of a game.

Within the art of modern Refereeing, 'doing nothing' has almost become something to avoid at all costs, and when Referees are confronted with match incidents, they feel that they must 'do something'. Doing nothing unnerves them. 

We have become so used to the frantic pace and the ceaseless activity of managing a game of football, we (as Referees) can sometimes feel uneasy about 'doing nothing'. It is as if in the modern game, 'doing nothing' has become an enemy. In reality, 'doing nothing' is one of the greatest friends of a Referee, and can (if it's used at the right times) have a powerfully beneficial effect by increasing the standard of officiating in a game of football.

Let us look at five examples of how 'doing nothing' can sometimes benefit a Referee. There are many other situations in a game of football where this skill can be used; the examples are listed for YOU to consider whether this is something that YOU could incorporate positively into YOUR style of Refereeing?

1. The journey to the venue:

In this modern world, we have become so unaccustomed to the absence of silence (or doing nothing), that we may never be able to relax properly. How much time do you spend in silence each day? Most of us are constantly bombarded by noise of some sort. Maybe it's the children screaming. Maybe it's the background sounds of life in the office or the city. Often, even if we have a chance to experience silence, we turn on the radio in the car or the TV at home. 

To gather your thoughts in preparation for the game, try driving to the next venue with the car radio turned OFF. It might (at first) be a shock to your system. By removing yourself from external stimuli, it allows your physical and mental energy-batteries to naturally recharge themselves.

I'm sure that we can all remember our mother shouting, "Be quiet! I can't hear myself think," when the world was exploding around her. In the silence created by the vacuum left behind when all the electronic gadgets are turned off, you should be able to hear yourself think. Shutting off the unnecessary outside noise and listening to the quiet, is simply another opportunity for you to go over your game plan. Your ideas will speak to you; and in turn, this preparation will make you more relaxed as you approach kick-off. It also helps to increase your reaction time in relation to the traffic around you, and thus hopefully making it a safer and less stressful journey to the venue than normal.


2. What should you say to the captains?

In the late 1960's, the English Football League instructed match officials to enter the teams' dressing rooms prior to each game, to brief players on general and specific match control policy. Varied approaches were tried, from dictatorial monologue, e.g. 'You will retire immediately at free-kicks or else I will caution you,' - to 'Don't argue with my decisions' - ending in a curt, 'Have a good game, lads'. After a few matches, the practice was abandoned, as it became embarrassing for all (with professional players sitting down in rows like schoolboys receiving a telling off from their headmaster!) Whilst others shouted comments from behind closed toilet doors - all with a sulking compliance. 
Better to say nothing.

During the coin tossing ceremony at the beginning of each game, rookie Referees are often at a quandary about what to say to the captains. After about a year, the new Referee is able to reel off a well-rehearsed patter of words that make him (the Referee) sound good and feel comfortable. During the next few years, it slowly dawns on the Referee, that the more he says to the captains, the more trouble he seems to land himself in during the game. 

After about three of four years, the Referee finally sees the light! His introduction to the captains is now based on the bare necessities of conversation; a polite introduction, perhaps a request to "keep the language down" if there are houses or children nearby, and a final wish for the captains to "enjoy the game". Flexibility of match control is a valuable asset in the Referee's armoury, so this much-shortened pre-match conversation with the captains bodes well for the Referee, as he is no longer challenged by the players to 'live up' to his instructions. In short, it is important for the Referee not to limit his the flexibility of his match control in any way, by issuing too many pre-match dictates. 

The following instance shows how even a single misjudged pre-match dictate can land a Referee in trouble. It forces the Referee to take a certain action on a specific incident, even before the incident has happened. It leaves him with limited match-control flexibility. 

Referee to captains: "Good afternoon captains, please let your players know that anyone who swears will be going straight into my book".

Despite the gallant sentiments of this Referee, this instruction leaves him no flexibility in managing bad language. So when a player accidentally bashes his head on the goal post and lets out a few colourful words - the Referee is in a quandary.

If he cautions or sends-off this player, because he has to 'live up' to his pre-match instructions - the Referee will be negatively seen as a strict dictator. 
If the Referee decides not to caution or send-off this player, he reneges on his pre-match instruction, and the players will see him as being weak, and unable to keep to his word.

OK - so the situation above is over-dramatised/simplified; but the concept is easy enough to understand. Doing nothing, or (apart from the essentials) saying very little during the coin-tossing ceremony, retains the full flexibility for the Referee to 'interpret' and then 'apply' the Laws for each occasion. This in turn, will make the game much easier for him to control.

The higher that a Referee puts his head above the parapet of pre-match instructions, the easier it is for players to take a pop-shot at him! The Referee who leaves his head below the parapet by keeping pre-match instructions to the bare essential minimum, has the ability to look up over the parapet as many times as he likes, without fear of giving the players an easy target.


3. Doing something at free kicks when it is very often much better to do nothing.

There is a simple free kick management concept used by Referees in England called the 'GIVE AND GO' or ' GIVE AND SORT' technique. 

'GIVE AND SORT' means that the Referee 'GIVES' a free kick, but has to make his way quickly to the scene to 'SORT' out a problem by doing something. 
The Referee 'GIVES' the free kick and 'SORTS' out the problem.

'GIVE AND GO' means that there are no issues to resolve, and the free kick can take place without any need for the Referee to do anything or for him to remain nearby. 
The Referee 'GIVES' the free kick and uses the (dead-ball) stoppage time to take up his position for the next phase of play. 
The Referee 'GIVES' the free kick (does nothing) and then 'GOES' to his restart position.

There are great benefits to be gained with the 'GIVE AND GO' (do nothing) element. Moaning players have nobody to moan at; the motion of the Referee running to his restart position encourages play to restart quickly; the absence of the Referee focuses the players' minds on the game (rather than on the Referee); it keeps the Referee alert and focused; and the game is restarted on the Referee's terms and not the players!

Of all the 'do nothing' opportunities for a Referee in a game of football, the 'GIVE AND GO' is the most important. In one easy movement - the Referee encourages a quick restart, and prevents the Referee from becoming embroiled with players because of his near proximity. It also encourages the Referee to maintain full attention on the surroundings and to the activities of the game.

4. 'Doing nothing' can indicate that no offence has occurred.

To indicate that no offence has occurred when shouts from players, of "Foul Ref?" are heard, the old school of Refereeing advocated holding their hands behind their backs. This was supposed to encourage players to continue with play. Surprisingly, the 'holding of hands behind the back' can still be seen occasionally in the modern game, even though it does look outdated! A new 'no offence' signal has developed, where Referees wave their hands sideways low down, and seem to be polishing the dining room table from side to side criss-crossing with both palms facing downwards!

There was a time, when the old adage "a good Referee is one that you don't notice' had a great deal of truth in it. In the modern game, the Referee is easy to see, as he has a growing armoury of non-standard signals that seem to be constantly on display. 

It could be argued, that the upsurge in modern Referee communication, is a positive step forwards, as far as communicating to the players is concerned. Conversely, the exhibition of a windmill display of arm signals, and body-language movements serve to focus the attention away from the players and towards the Referee. In other words, these days, it is impossible not to notice the Referee! The effect of this is to interfere with the natural movement and thinking of the Referee. Instead of quickly moving and focusing on reaching his new position, the Referee takes time to provide a non-standard signal that says 'no offence has occurred'. The signals are varied depending on which Referee is applying them. It encourages players to look towards the Referee, when there is no need for players to do so. The delay in moving away encourages verbal conflict. The non-standard signals are confusing for players. And new Referees who are looking out for best practises to emulate are unsure which communication style method to adopt; etc. etc…………………

What better signal can a Referee give on most occasions when no offence has occurred, than by 'doing nothing'? This is a simple universal message that all players understand; and covers a multitude of scenarios. 'Doing nothing' also generates positive reaction from team-mates, with shouts towards their colleagues of, "Play to the whistle". This is something that has worked very well for over a hundred years, but is in danger of disappearing, as players are now looking towards the Referee for some form of positive signal, even when no signal is needed. 

Law 5 (The Referee) expects the Referee to enforce the Laws of the Game. If no offence has occurred, then apart from when there is a need to apply the advantage clause, there is very often nothing else to put into force. In short, 'do nothing'.

Another similar example where confusion can prevail, is when no offside offence has occurred, and the Assistant Referee encourages players to continue by waving them forwards with a sweeping arm signal. This conflicts with the Referee's control of the game, and unnecessarily draws the players' attention towards the Assistant Referee. What clearer signal can the Assistant Referee deliver, than by 'doing nothing.' If there is an offside offence, the Assistant Referee will indicate this by raising his flag. If there is no offside offence, then no flag will be raised; there is no need for the Assistant Referee to confuse the situation and disrupt the focus and flow of the game by waving players on? 

Players should be encouraged to play to the whistle, as this simple communication ensures that everybody reacts to the same thing. If some players are playing to the whistle and others are looking for a positive signal from the Referee, this will cause confusion and may impact on player safety (by unnecessarily distracting their attention). 

Playing to the whistle by 'doing nothing', can very often deliver a clearer message than by 'doing something'. 

5. Not reacting to the crowd.

Of all the 'do nothing' opportunities that a Referee has, the ability to retain focus when distracting comments are received from onlookers, is the most difficult to master successfully. 

The ability to seem completely unaware of the derisive comments that are heard from the spectators is a skill that has to be quickly mastered by Referees (and especially Assistant Referees). This can be achieved by 'doing nothing'. Even the slightest acknowledgement that a Referee has registered a comment, will be enough to entice further reaction. This problem is heightened, the nearer that the Referee is to the touchline and to the boisterous crowd. It can be very tempting for a Referee who has received abuse from the sideline, to react in one form or another. 

If a Referee 'does nothing', it delivers the strongest message that can be communicated to the perpetrators. It clearly shows that the Referee has not been affected by the comments; it demonstrates a professional demeanour; it minimises conflict; it discourages further comment; it displays strength and not a weakness; it allows the Referee to retain his focus on the game, and it encourages the Referee to try even harder to fulfil his duties and responsibilities. Most Referees in their early career will have reacted and learnt from the consequences!

Conclusion: 

Try turning the radio off when you travel to your next game. Don't 'shoot yourself in the foot' when you meet the captains in your next game. When you award a free kick, stopping play with the whistle is normally the only thing you need to communicate. If you do nothing when no offence has occurred, the players will instinctively carry on playing. And when colourful comments are voiced from the crowd, smile to yourself (but only inwardly!)

The massive amount of external communication stimuli that the Referee bombards players with these days makes players' minds more restless and distracted. If there is a lot of Referee noise, movement and activity taking place, then players can't help but give attention to it. Every new piece of Referee communication, which is sent their way, is potentially the beginning of a whole new train of thought to occupy their minds, when players' minds should be focused on the game. 

Whilst the increase in positive communication between the Referee and the players is not in itself a bad thing, 'doing nothing' in certain circumstances, is also a very clear and easy way to get the message over without detracting from the spectacle of the game itself. 

Is important for Referees to be very clear what message they are communicating to players. The message should be unambiguous, timely and communicated in the simplest possible language. A Referee should understand the consequences of intervention. There will be times when the Referee will need to intervene, and times when it may be astute to avoid doing so; and the Referee needs to be in the optimal position when doing so. 

Knowing when not to make decisions, is just as important as knowing when to make decisions.

Refereeing is more about thinking, rather than doing. There are many match situations where a Referee can become the master of the silent assist by 'doing nothing'. An astute Referee does not blow the whistle every time the ball goes out for a throw-in or a goal kick or corner kick. He saves up the effect for when it really is needed, thus maximising its impact. On most occasions, the Referee does nothing. Doing nothing at the right time, allows the pictures to tell the obvious.

The same principle applies to body language and verbal communication - 'do nothing' when nothing needs doing. And 'do something' only when something needs to be done.

Can YOU become the master of the silent assist?