Category: Coaching
Type: Philosophy
POOLSIDE DEMEANOR
Coach’s Situation: Your team is down by one goal going into the third period. Time is ticking away, and your team manages a breakaway. Your player swims the ball down the pool and when he is about to shoot, he gets smeared. You think a 4-meter penalty shot should be awarded. The referee thinks otherwise… and lets the game play on.
We as coaches and players have all been in a situation like this before. You don't agree with the referee’s call, or his lack of making a call. As a coach, how do you handle the situation?
You could throw a temper tantrum, kick a chair or two, say a couple colorful words, and get yellow card. From a referee’s perspective, the more animated you are on the pool deck about things not going your way, the less sympathetic he will be towards your team’s cause. However, if you are under control during the game, do not get overly excited, and simply let your team play the game, chances are that the refs will give you more respect and attention when the situation calls for it.
Coach’s Situation: You have a burning question about a play that has just happened at the end of the quarter and why a specific call didn't go your way. How do you handle it?
As a head coach, you can approach the referee between periods and after games. The first key to remember when approaching a referee is to stay calm (regardless of how mad you may be). Under control, walk towards the ref with your hands held behind your back. Try to keep a straight face, with perhaps even a slightly perplexed look ;-). In your mind, the call was not made in the way you thought it should have been made. Continue to calmly ask your question, while not coming off as offensive and maintaining a normal tone of conversation. Ask your question innocently, and explain the play as you saw it. Poor body language (an angry face, flailing arms) can put the referee immediately on the defensive. Likewise, the less attention you draw to yourself, the more cooperative the referee will be to work with you. If you initially appear mad, your body language will show everyone that you are upset, and the referee will most likely sense your hostility and not hear your case with an unbiased ear.
If you are an assistant coach or any other team official in the same situation, there is not much that you can do. Your role as an assistant means that you are not to come into contact with a referee during a game. However, you can relay your message to the head coach, and he can look to get an answer for you.
As a player, you also are not to speak to the referee unless spoken to. However, a team captain is entitled to speak to the ref regarding game play information, but is only to do so between periods, before the game, and after the game. At any other time, even a team captain is risking the chance being kicked out or ejected from a game. Other players should tell their captain of any problems within the water, and notify him of dirty play within the pool. The captain can handle these responsibilities, while keeping the same demeanor of approach and conversation as mentioned above. The team’s head coach should handle all rule clarifications.
An infamous sports quote holds true in water polo, “The referee is always right!” Approaching a referee after a call is made may open his eyes for future play and things that he may not have seen before. It may also give you a good idea of what to expect from a particular referee, as far as his or her desired style of play.
Submitted by: Coach Dave
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