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Quebec soccer clubs use role-playing to prepare referees for abusive encounters
| CBC News Loaded
Montreal
QUEBEC SOCCER CLUBS USE ROLE-PLAYING TO PREPARE REFEREES FOR ABUSIVE ENCOUNTERS
With each viral video showing parents, fans, players or coaches verbally or
physically abusing referees online, the focus on these interactions grows. To
deal with that abuse, clubs like CS Saint-Laurent now include role-playing
scenarios in their referee training.
NEW TRAINING PROGRAMS COME AS VIRAL VIDEOS PUT SPOTLIGHT ON REF ABUSE
Douglas Gelevan · CBC News · Posted: May 08, 2024 9:00 AM PDT | Last Updated:
May 8
CS Saint-Laurent head referee Christopher Quinn attended a training program for
new refs that has them play out potentially violent scenarios on the pitch.
(Douglas Gelevan/CBC)
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As the head referee for CS Saint Laurent, Christopher Quinn spends a lot of time
worrying about the safety of his workforce.
"The last thing that I want is someone quitting and even more so if it's based
on their security. It pains me when it happens," Quinn told CBC pitchside at a
recent training course for new referees at the Saint-Laurent Sports Complex last
month.
Safety has always been a concern for Quinn, but perhaps it's never been as much
in focus as it is now.
With each viral video showing parents, fans, players or coaches verbally or
physically abusing referees online, the focus on these interactions grows. Some
soccer clubs have resorted to equipping refs with body cameras.
To help deal with that abuse, clubs like CS Saint-Laurent now include
role-playing scenarios in their training.
WATCH | Abusive encounters with soccer referees caught on camera:
WHY SOME MONTREAL SOCCER CLUBS ARE CHANGING HOW THEY TRAIN REFEREES
1 month ago
Duration 2:30
Soccer Lac St-Louis and CS Saint-Laurent have added role-playing scenarios that
include how to deal with abusive behaviour from spectators, coaches and parents.
"The first thing we tell them is you want to avoid it," Quinn said. "If you make
a mistake on the field, you stick to it. The worst thing you want to do is let
it linger. Because it just grows, grows, grows until some point or some call or
whatever and the crowd or the coaches lose it. And that's what we simulate."
The club does not want a repeat of what happened at a game in
Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que., in 2022.
In that case, cellphone video captured an adult coming down from the grandstands
and punching a linesman.
In addition to the new role-playing training for referees, CS Saint-Laurent now
offers sensitivity training for parents and coaches.
"It really went a long way. Last year our discipline issues were very minimal,"
said CS Saint-Laurent sporting director Rocco Placentino.
But for Quinn, even one incident is too many.
"These are people, these are kids. It could be your kid," Quinn said. "You need
to have referees to have a club. There is no way around this."
IS IT WORSE — OR JUST ON VIDEO?
Many in the minor soccer community don't believe that the situation is much
worse for referees now than it was 20 years ago. It's just that the perception
has changed because so many of these incidents are now caught on video.
"For me it's an ongoing factor. It's been here since the beginning," Placentino
said.
Soccer Lac St-Louis says data gathered by referees and its members shows that
the number of situations involving physical violence or extreme verbal abuse has
remained relatively stable over the last few years.
Finley Rodrigue is one of the trainees this season with CS Saint-Laurent.
(Douglas Gelevan/CBC)
In its more than 2,000-game season, 17 incidents were reported in 2022 and 21 in
2023. So far in 2024, they've recorded 13.
But Quinn says he's seen expectations for referees shift.
"Refereeing is considered a lot more professional than it used to be when I
first started," he said. "Initially it was just that any kid could get a summer
job here and you'd just have to be a present body on the field."
Soccer Lac St-Louis added abusive situation role-playing to its referee training
last year. The club's director, Robert D'Alesio, believes it's helping.
STRUGGLE TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN
All referee training in Quebec starts at the club level. Several people who work
in Quebec minor soccer told CBC that some clubs are struggling to recruit and
retain employees.
To address the situation, the Minor Soccer Association of Windsor, in Quebec's
Eastern Townships, recently announced that it would equip its referees with body
cameras starting this season.
While Placentino supports Windsor's decision, he says body cameras are too
expensive and not practical for larger clubs like his.
Quinn, meanwhile, says he hasn't had trouble finding fresh refereeing recruits.
But he adds that CS Saint-Laurent is an exception.
At the training CBC was invited to, there were about 20 trainees on the pitch.
It was their first day outside of a classroom and the teacher from Soccer Quebec
was already emphasizing the importance of embracing the authoritative nature of
the job.
The whistle must be blown with conviction. The hand signals must be clear and
certain. On the field, the referee must be the boss.
Finley Rodrigue, 14, says he's ready for the challenge.
"I love soccer and also someone has to do it," Rodrigue said. "So if I have the
chance to be a referee and to let other people play soccer and do what they
love, then I'm all for it."
Alessandra Sardelli knows being a soccer referee isn't easy, but she's learning
the craft because of her love of the game. (Douglas Gelevan/CBC)
Alessandra Sardelli, 13, says she's aware that she could be a target for abuse.
"It's not OK to do that. It's a hard job," she said. But soccer means too much
to her to not get involved.
"I'd like to see [the game] from a different point of view. I want to understand
refs and I want to respect them."
The role-playing is something soccer associations hope will help their rookie
referees, who are primarily young people that say they're not in it for the
money — but for the love of the game.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Douglas Gelevan
Douglas Gelevan is a national award-winning journalist who has been a member of
the CBC team since 2010. In addition to his role as host of CBC Montreal Weekend
News, Doug also covers community sports and sports news.
* Follow Doug on Twitter
CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices|About CBC News
Corrections and clarifications|Submit a news tip|Report error
RELATED STORIES
* Ontario Soccer is introducing body cameras to curb ref abuse, but some say
culture change starts with adults
* Soccer refs in small Quebec town will wear body cams to curb verbal abuse
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All Comments 49
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1. COMMENT BY BILL WATSON.
BW
Bill Watson May 8, 2024
Full, permanent suspension if there is any abuse of officials whatsoever.
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2. COMMENT BY BARBARA NOETZEL.
BN
Barbara Noetzel May 8, 2024
Here's how to stop the abuse: the first time it happens, you give the person
a warning and tell them that the next time, they will be barred from the
venue and arrested for trespassing if they show up anyway. If they're a
parent of a player, they can drop the kid off and pick him up again after
the game. And then do it.
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3. COMMENT BY MARCEL STANFORD.
MS
Marcel Stanford May 8, 2024
I played all kinds of sports growing up in a small town.
We organized ourselves, no parental involvement.
Some of us developed advanced skills and went on to bigger things.
I read Bobby Orr's book...about how he spent hours with his friends on the
frozen waters of Parry Sound.
The problem is the parents and creating a reliance on parents by the kids to
be involved in anything. I think it's the exact opposite of what's in the
best interest of the kids..
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* REPLY BY RALPH LINWOOD.
RL
Ralph Linwood May 8, 2024
Reply to Marcel Stanford
Indeed. Kids used to do things for themselves because they were bored and
there was nothing else to do. Now there is so much to do, you have to pry
them off the devices to get them to play outside.
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