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Set-Pieces - Self-Evaluation for Referees    By Julian Carosi.
(A series of articles on how to officiate in a proactive way by improving how you deal with specific incidents and how to become a better Referee).                       

Self-assessment is the process of judging one's own performance for the purpose of future self-improvement. It is based on facts by which you can learn more about yourself - what you like, what you don't like, and how you tend to react to certain situations. Knowing these things can help you determine which refereeing situations could be a better managed by you.

Such assessment may involve comparison with standard, established criteria to identify where you have been going wrong. It also supplements the advice received from official assessments and from colleagues. It produces immediate feedback and direction that can be used to improve performance. It gives you a chance to do better next time. And it's less painful to look in a mirror, than to be forced under the match assessor's telescope!

Below is one simple method that can be used to over a period of time to help you to keep control of your emotions during difficult moments in a game. 

Displaying a calm body language whilst dealing with conflict, is a difficult skill to learn and control. 

Marks 0 to 10.

During a game, when a serious incident occurs (and they nearly always do in every game) - as you make your way towards the incident in readiness to deal with it, and before you have done anything else - say (or think) to yourself:

"Let's see how calm I can be when dealing with this incident."

When you have dealt with it, make a mental note by awarding yourself a mark out of 10, along the lines of either:

"Nahh I dealt with this too quickly, made a fool of myself and showed the players that I was unsure of what I was doing - marks out of 10 = 3".

Or

"I approached the players in a calm way, took my time, isolated the players, dealt with them politely, ensured that everyone knew (by the raising of my whistle) that play should not be restarted until I give my signal, and have made my way calmly to my restart position etc. etc. marks out of 10 = 9"

Tot up your average score at the end of each game.

For example: How did I do overall in this game out of 10 = 6 Repeat this throughout your next few games, and aim to force up your score so that you remain calmer at each situation.

You only need to do this for a few games and you will find yourself automatically starting to deal with conflict in a much calmer manner. Once you have honed your technique (so that dealing with conflict automatically becomes less stressful), you can will only need to resort to this method in future games, when you get a 'really serious incident' to deal with, and the old nerves are starting to jangle again!.

It works. It's easy - and it will make you a much more confident Referee.

One last note - the trick is not to necessarily worry about how nervous you are, but to train yourself NOT TO SHOW IT to the players. In other words, the marks out of 10 that you award yourself, are more to do with how you control your body language and deal with the incident, despite how nervous you might feel inside.

Everyone gets nervous, it's a good reflex to have, as it keeps you on your toes - so don't fight it.

Accept that you will get nervous sometimes! Just learn to control it.


Following each game, any form self-evaluation will surely be of great benefit to you.

The following advice is taken from The FA Learning booklet entitled 'Advice for Newly Qualified Referees' and applies to Level 7, junior referees just beginning their career.

It is not always possible for an assessor to observe your performances, so it is important for you to be able to measure your own performance on a match-by-match basis. You are the only person at every game you Referee, so you may find it helpful to keep a record of how you feel you have refereed each of your games.

The self-evaluation list below will assist with this exercise. Simply ask yourself each of the 50 questions after each game and then enter a tick in the box on the grid entitled 'Strengths', if your answer to a question is 'Yes'. If, however, the answer is 'No', then enter a tick in the box of the grid entitled 'Shortcomings'. Soon, you will build up a profile of your performances, which will help you to address those areas that you feel a need to be improved upon. It is recommended that you discuss your entries with your Training Officer once you have completed a few matches.

SELF EVALUATION LIST FOR REFEREES

You, the referee, are usually your own most severe critic and this should be the case. After every game you should analyse your match performance and identify those aspects of your game that you did well and those that you feel you may have done better.

In order to assist you in an honest arid constructive evaluation, it is suggested that you ask yourself the following questions in relation to your recent performance:

DID I

Appearance
1. Look smart and confident when I entered and departed from the field of play?

2. Approach the game calmly and fully prepared and not distracted in any way?

3. Appear confident, without being "gimmicky" or unnecessarily the "centre of attention"?

Signals
4. Make the whistle "talk" for me with proper variation and emphasis?

5. Consider my whistle to be effective?

6. Give the proper standard arm signals on all occasions?

7. Give the correct direction signal on all occasions and not only point to where the offence occurred?

Stoppages
8. Deal effectively with players who wasted time?

9. Get the game restarted quickly after each stoppage?

10. Move into position before signalling for restarts?

Advantage
11. Apply the "Advantage Clause" when wise to do so?

Co-operation with Assistant Referees
12. Properly indicate "Advantage" application and speak to the offender and inform the offended?

13. Develop and maintain genuine teamwork with my assistant referees?

14. Issue proper instructions to my assistant referees and make certain that I was understood?

15. Use the assistant referees to assist my match control?

16. Look to the assistant referees only for help with decisions which were not initially clear to me?

17. Where necessary, consult with assistant referees quickly, privately and briefly?

18. Thank my assistant referees after the game (and discuss relevant factors afterwards if they were assistant referees)?

Application of Law
19. Enforce the Laws correctly?

20. Apply the Laws correctly in relation to fair and unfair physical challenges?

21. Interpret dangerous play correctly?

22. Allow or condone the entry to the field of trainers without my signalled permission?

23. Caution or send off any players and record the necessary details?

24. Deal promptly and correctly with players not retiring the correct distance?

25. Allow substitutes on only after the players being substituted had left and at the halfway line?

Positioning
26. Anticipate play and quickly move to be as near as possible to incidents?

27. Aim to keep a position where the play was between my location and that of the appropriate assistant referee?

28. Always face the area of restarts after indicating free kicks, etc?

29. Make full use of the Diagonal System of match control?

30. Move along my diagonal patrol path while not becoming too distant from the play?

31. Keep clear of the immediate location of play?

32. Get a good side-on view of midfield challenges?

Movement
33. Maintain maximum activity throughout the game?

34. Move around the field of play when necessary?

35. Move sufficiently from end to end of the field of play?

36. Move to the extremities of the field of play when necessary?

37. Penetrate the penalty areas when necessary?

38. Keep all possibilities in view by not turning my back on the action?

39. Run through play to the goal line when required?

Control
40. Deal with misconduct sensibly and correctly?

41. Properly deal with any dissent from my decisions?

42. Communicate effectively with players?

43. Remember not to place my hands on a player's person for any reason?

44. Avoid wagging my finger at players or in any manner to suggest that I was belittling them?

45. When necessary, approach players, rather than demand they approach me?

46. Act decisively, suggesting that I was fully interested in the game?

47. Concentrate on the game and my responsibilities at all times?

48. Properly establish and maintain general control of the game?

49. Deal with players who surrounded me to appeal against or question my decisions?

50. Control myself using an effective whistle and calm voice to control the players?


The following advice is taken from The FA Learning Football Association booklet entitled 'A Guide to Assistant Referees' and applies to all Levels of Assistant Referees.

An opportunity may have presented itself either at half-time or after the game for you to discuss aspects of your performance with your colleagues. You should always view these opportunities as a positive contribution to your development as an assistant referee.

It may transpire that the referee may contact you at home when no suitable opportunity has presented itself on the day of the match. The referee may choose to review match incidents on a personal level drawing your attention to various aspects of your performance that he considers may benefit future performances.

However, this will not always happen, so you will have to rely on your personal reflections of the game in order to evaluate your performance. You should reflect on each performance by referring to this checklist.

Self Evaluation List for Assistant Referees
(Source - The Football Association booklet `A Guide for Assistant Referees')

Did I?.................

1. Thoroughly prepare myself for my role as an assistant referee?

2. Arrive at the ground at or before the prescribed time?

3. Ensure all my equipment including flags was clean and serviceable? 

4. Adopt a friendly and fully co-operative attitude towards colleagues? 

5. Listen carefully to the referee's pre-match instructions? 

6. Clarify any uncertainties arising from the pre-match briefing? 

7. Take all the necessary equipment with me onto the field of play? 

8. Enter the field of play in a smart and confident manner? 

9. Thoroughly carry out any pre-match duties required by the referee? 

10. Take up the required position at the start of play?

11. Take up the appropriate position for corner kicks, goal kicks, throw-ins, and penalty kicks?

12. Follow the ball towards the goal line at long range goal-scoring attempts or when long passes were made and move quickly to act as `goal judge' when the need arose?

13. Remain alert to possible repositioning signals from the referee at certain restarts? 

14. When a goal was scored, correctly proceed swiftly towards the halfway line, maintaining a clear view of subsequent developments?

15. Unless other duties required it, maintain my position in line with the second rearmost defending player?

16. Correctly judge offside offences?

17. Carry the flag unfurled and towards the field of play when I had no advice to offer to the referee?

18. Pass the flag from hand to hand before raising it in the air?

19. Avoid incorrect signalling technique, by ensuring the flag was in the correct hand before signalling?

20. Hold the flag aloft until the referee acknowledged my signal? 21. Use only the recommended flag signals?

22. Only use the flag when necessary?

23. Avoid using my free hand/arm as an indication to the referee?

24. Have an awareness of the referee at all times during the game so that eye contact was achieved when necessary?

25. Only signal when the referee was in a position to see and act upon it? 26. Remember not to anticipate the ball out of play and incorrectly signal? 27. Remember to confirm the time remaining with the referee, if requested? 28. Communicate effectively with players to ensure their co-operation when appropriate?

29. Ensure that substitutions were carried out in accordance with law?

30. Effectively communicate with personnel in the Technical Area? 

31. Avoid being distracted by remarks by spectators?

32. Communicate clearly with spectators to keep my touchline clear of obstructions throughout the game?

33. Accurately record match information as requested by the referee?

34. Convey concise and accurate information on incidents either at the request of the referee, or unseen by him?

35. Adhere to the correct procedure when leaving the field of play? 36. Adopt a positive supportive attitude at all times during the game?

37. Take the opportunity to discuss aspects of my performance with the other members of the team?

38. Give accurate information confirming misconduct or match incidents to the referee in the dressing room at half-time or after the game?

39. Leave the ground feeling I had been totally supportive of the referee at all times?

You may like to keep an ongoing record of your personal responses by using the following evaluation guidelines. It is recommended that you create these grids on your personal computer to ensure that you have an ongoing detailed record of your self-evaluation. This may be helpful when reflecting on your development with a mentor as well as helping you to pinpoint areas that you need to focus on in order to improve your skills as an assistant referee.

Julian Carosi www.CorshamRef.org.uk

Happy reffing.