Ten Commandments Ten Commandments of Refereeingof Refereeing

To be successful.To be successful.

1. Leadership Qualities1. Leadership Qualities

Be a match leader. Lead by example, Be a match leader. Lead by example, gain the players respect. Your personality gain the players respect. Your personality is vital; you can’t copy anyone, it must be is vital; you can’t copy anyone, it must be your own. Be eager to cooperate with your own. Be eager to cooperate with everyone. Become trusted for your everyone. Become trusted for your actions. Use the Laws correctly. Take actions. Use the Laws correctly. Take responsibility for the application of the responsibility for the application of the Laws. Study the rules, use them correctlyLaws. Study the rules, use them correctly

2. Justice2. Justice

Always be neutral and steadfast. Show Always be neutral and steadfast. Show no prejudice. Remember that all matches no prejudice. Remember that all matches are equally important. Do not are equally important. Do not underestimate any person or event. Your underestimate any person or event. Your attitude will be reflected in your actions.attitude will be reflected in your actions.

3. Knowledge of the 3. Knowledge of the RulesRules

Have a good knowledge of the Laws and Have a good knowledge of the Laws and use correct interpretations of the Laws to use correct interpretations of the Laws to enjoy success in any match. The referee enjoy success in any match. The referee must understand the game. Use the rules must understand the game. Use the rules to apply the Spirit of the Game. Do not to apply the Spirit of the Game. Do not work blindly and strictly according to the work blindly and strictly according to the Letter of the Law; that is the skill in Letter of the Law; that is the skill in refereeing. refereeing.

4. Strictness4. Strictness

Be consistent. Use the rules. Do not wait Be consistent. Use the rules. Do not wait for the next incident; act immediately. for the next incident; act immediately. Cautions and send-offs mean nothing Cautions and send-offs mean nothing after you have lost control of the match-after you have lost control of the match-players will realize your insecurity.players will realize your insecurity.

5. Make the Correct 5. Make the Correct Decision at the Correct TimeDecision at the Correct Time

Proper use of the advantage is the sign Proper use of the advantage is the sign of a good referee. If you are not sure of a of a good referee. If you are not sure of a call, do not blow the whistle. When you call, do not blow the whistle. When you use the advantage, do not forget your use the advantage, do not forget your cards-go back and deal with the cards-go back and deal with the misconduct. It shows you understand the misconduct. It shows you understand the game, that you read the game well.game, that you read the game well.

6. Condition and its 6. Condition and its InfluenceInfluence

Good physical condition equals good mental Good physical condition equals good mental condition. Lack of good physical conditioning condition. Lack of good physical conditioning results in slow reactions, inconsistency, and results in slow reactions, inconsistency, and inability to observe the game properly. Present inability to observe the game properly. Present a good image when you enter the field through a good image when you enter the field through your dress, your comments to all participants, your dress, your comments to all participants, and how you relate to the players. That brings and how you relate to the players. That brings immediate respect. The colorless referee immediate respect. The colorless referee shows no personality, because they have an shows no personality, because they have an insecure image of themselves thus making insecure image of themselves thus making difficulty for themselves. Such a referee will not difficulty for themselves. Such a referee will not go far.go far.

7. Good Sense of Humor7. Good Sense of Humor

A good sense of humor is gold! Sport A good sense of humor is gold! Sport should be cheerful. Do not loose your should be cheerful. Do not loose your sense of humor. You can improve your sense of humor. You can improve your relations with the players if you use no relations with the players if you use no swear words, keep yourself calm, control swear words, keep yourself calm, control your temper, use agreeable and relevant your temper, use agreeable and relevant language, do not forget to smile – but do language, do not forget to smile – but do not exaggerate, and don’t smile at every not exaggerate, and don’t smile at every moment.moment.

8. Courage and Willpower8. Courage and Willpower

Show firmness – stand by your decisions. Show firmness – stand by your decisions. You cannot replace one foul with another You cannot replace one foul with another foul. Don’t talk with spectators. Don’t let foul. Don’t talk with spectators. Don’t let decisions be influenced by spectators.decisions be influenced by spectators.

9. Cooperation9. Cooperation

Have good relations and communications Have good relations and communications with your assistants. Do not be arrogant with your assistants. Do not be arrogant or contemptuous. Trust your AR’s: don’t or contemptuous. Trust your AR’s: don’t blame them or shame them in public.blame them or shame them in public.

10. Loyalty10. Loyalty

Behave loyally. Don’t criticize colleagues Behave loyally. Don’t criticize colleagues in public. Don’t reveal your opinion in in public. Don’t reveal your opinion in public. Talk with the referee afterwards.public. Talk with the referee afterwards.