Former OSA & BCSA - CAN senior provincial Instructor.
Romania 1997, class 1 & Qatar-FIFA referees' camp.
5 classroom sessions + 3 field sessions.
1- About this course, developed for senior referees:
A) classroom format
B) Practical training drills, how to prepare for them.
2- Sports psychology in today's football arena
3- Recognizing, understanding and refining personal skills
4- The hidden background influence on human reactions
5- Variation of personality fibers; how differently this fact influences the accommodation of certain
feelings associated with specific patterns.
6- Minor issues that generate major subconscious influence
7- Control of the subconscious; basic reactions and how they can be triggered or re-directed.
8- Understanding four specific instant reactions.
9- Preventative officiating involves applications of pressure management
10- Magement; application of motivation
11- Promoting and inviting players to a selected attitude pattern
12- Suppresing resistance to the authority figure.
13- Human reactions dominated by subconscious elements; how to understand it and make use of it.
14- No dull, idiot-proof routine, each application is unique.
15- Techniques to reading the game. Before you play with match temperature.
16- Illustration of controlling match tension approaches
17- Utilizing the referee's ego and understanding the possible negative complications associated
with wrong applications.
18- The act of acting; facial expression. Ability to convince. Selling the call. Illustrations.
19- Putting emotions into the call without getting emotional.
20- Relating to players and transimitting it in a format that would appeal to them.
21- The dangers of the wrong balance of "Firm" and "Friendly"
22- Five different types of psychology approaches:
Leader + Policeman + judge + big brother + observer
23- The first impression
24- It's all about how it is preceived and accepted, not what was meant - nor what it really is.
25- Psychology VS common logic; understanding the conflict within the human thought and within
the process of human behaviour.
26- Isolating the referee image and protecting it from the image of a human individual.
27- Utilizing available keys such as team captains. Ego appeal.
28- Image of authority directed in the right path.
29- Peaks and Valleys of too officious or too casual
30- Promoting a pleasant environment and dissolving tension
31- To what degree should the element of players' fear or worry be manipulated in the process of
enforcement of "respect & accept".
32- Body language, a major mental influence
33- Illustrations of control with "bold" VS "dissolved" facial expressions
34- Relating to the degree of the situation; illustrations
35- Doubt, hiding it and correcting it
36- Illusional image; real effect; cases: application of influence of colour on the field
37- Illusion & image; real effect; cases: influence of posture and dress/appearance
38- What in the world isn't chemistry?
39- Influence of certain diet on the referee's behaviour, mode, body language. confidence and
mental concentration. Introduction to basic sports physiology. .
40- Power of suggestion cases
41- Obviouoaches that generate resentment
42- Special applications; kick-off administration
43- Make your whistle talk
44- Dealing with tendency of rejection and blame referee
45- When you are challenged and it looks bad
46- Using the cards without using them
47- Pressure tactics in dealing with the bench VS low key approaches
48- The calm approach, low key - when and how?
49- Prepare them mentally for unwanted decisions
50- Positioing for control and preventative officiating
51- See and be seen. Be a deterrent; be a concern, be seen&heard. When players are conscious
of your presence.
52- Intimidation for and against the referee
53- Making the most of your linesmen "Assistants"
54- Cases of mental registration under pressure. Mental stimulation. Cashing on players' positive
feelings and isolating yourself from association with thei negative feelings.
55- Hesitation, treatment and ways to dilute it
56- Creating "thinking time" without showing it.
57- Have the last word in peak high and valley low confrontations
58- Limits to when and how to "bluff".
59- The danger applications of applying the advantage
60- Retaliation prevention methods
61- Special applications: penalty kick and kicks from the penalty mark
62- Special applications, critical free kicks
63- Dealing with a special "problem player"
64- Recognizing and using special elements related to age and race for better man-management.
65- Special elements in dealing with bringing the match temperature down
66- Talking to players, when and how
67- Avoiding insecure reactions
68- Making justice seen, not just given
69- Making the best of eye-contact
70- The difference between when tested & challenged early in the game VS later
71- Personalizing your approach. Know your own limits
72- Playing head games .. it's your turn!
73- Dealing with gamesmanship; specific applications, Sunday Park VS the big match!
74- Dealing with dissent; a cancer to match control
75- Avoiding unnecessary confrontations
76- Using the grey area to your advantage
77- When to ignore and when to call; illustrations
78- Recognizing the expolosive peak of a player VS the general peak of match temperature
79- Consistency and uniformity of interpretation within the individuality of the situation
80- Understanding basic key human reactions
On-the-pitch training drills require soccer wear including footwear, two jerseys; a white one and a colour one, whistle, flag, yellow & red cards and a ball.
Most people don't appreciate the intensity of the material dealing with this subject.
It took a combination of scholastic training at the graduate level "MA degree in psychology" and my officiating experience in Europe with real competitive high profile national leagues to develope this material. This is by no means childish boasting, rather an invitation to challenge yourself to explore the topic beyond the silly basic material you heard a million times.
Perhaps, also as testimonial, I should brag that in nearly 30 years of officiating difficult and competitive men's leagues at 1st division and at the industrial and ethnic level, I have never been assualted, never had a brawl and never andoned a match - touch wood!
