PROFESSIONALISM

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PROFESSIONALISM

• On/Off
• The Field

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CODE OF ETHICS

• SOCCER NOVA SCOTIA
• Game officials having certain privileges through
  and by Soccer Nova Scotia, with respect to the
  game, shall realize their responsibilities and
  duties to the Association and the game. Soccer
  Nova Scotias Code includes and enlarges upon
  Canadian Soccer Associations Code of Ethics for
  game officials.

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SPECIFICALLY, A Soccer Nova Scotia Referee
Shall

• A) Conduct him/herself with dignity both on and
  off the field of play and shall, by example seek
  to inspire the principles of fair play and earn
  the respect of those the referee serves.
• B) Not cause the Canadian Soccer Association,
  Soccer Nova Scotia or any regional referees
  association to become involved in any
  controversial matters and shall abide by the
  Rules and Regulations of the provincial Soccer
  Association and the referees own regional
  association.

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CONDUCT

• What is Dignity?
• Websters New World Dictionary defines it as
  follows
• Honorable quality worthiness
• High repute or honor
• Self-respect

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WHAT IS HONOR?

• Honor is defined as
• Integrity, to respect greatly, good reputation,
  high regard.
• In all we do both on and off the field of play
  the quality of honor elevates we as officials to
  a new height of where our integrity is beyond
  reproach even if all of our calls may not
  be!!!!!!!, in the judgment of our critics.

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• C) Adhere to the standards and directives
  established by the international F.I.F.A. ,
  national C.S.A., and provincial S.N.S. soccer
  associations, and the referees regional
  associations.
• D) Always be neat in appearance and maintain a
  high level of physical and mental fitness.

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Appearance/Physical/Mental Fitness (Preparation)

• A referee who looks sharp presents a professional
  image and breeds an air of confidence from the
  time he/she arrives at the field. The kit bag
  must contain the proper tools of the trade.

• Physical preparation means sacrifice, devotion,
  commitment, consistency, self- evaluation, goal
  setting, and always reaching for ones very best
  and beyond.

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MENTAL PREPARATION

• What does this mean?
• Focus on the job at hand.
• Conversations, thoughts, visual attention, and
  actions are synchronized to create a synergy that
  culminates in both mind and body becoming finely
  attuned to the task ahead.

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• Mental preparation begins far before we arrive at
  the field.
• Talking a moment to flush from our minds the
  cares of the day and bring to the forefront our
  responsibilities associated with the match to be
  officiated, initiates the mental preparation.
  There is little we can do to complete the paper
  due tomorrow, attend to business tasks undone, or
  finish the painting project left behind at home
  when we are about our responsibilities as a
  referee. Clear your mind of any outside thoughts
  and FOCUS! FOCUS! FOCUS!
• To an experienced assessor, the referee who has
  moved to this level is obvious from his/her
  dress, speech, and action from their arrival at
  the field to the completion of their duties of
  the day. The antithesis is also very
  transparent.

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REFEREE EXPECTATIONS Personal Qualities

• APPEARANCE
• SHIRTS Clean, pressed, fits well, has a spare
  shirt.
• SHORTS Clean, same color tone as shirt, has a
  spare.
• SOCKS Approved style, right height, has spares.
• BOOTS Clean, polished and appropriate for
  conditions.

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REFEREE EXPECTATIONS

• BADGE Approved badge, in good condition, firmly
  attached.
• POSTURE Erect, confident, makes eye-contact with
  all.
• GROOMING Clean shaven or tidy facial hair, hair
  combed clean.
• JEWELLERY Discrete, no distracting jewellery.

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REFEREE EXPECTATIONS

• TIMELINESS Arrives in plenty of time to manage
  all duties well.

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EQUIPMENT

• Has all the accessories to officiate the game.

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ATTITUDE TO OTHERS

• Players
• Jointly with other officials seeks out pre-game
  contact, and introduces himself
• Creates a sense of impartiality
• Introduces officials at coin-toss
• Proactively checks for casts/jewellery

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BENCH STAFF

• Seeks out pre-game contact, some social contact
• Clarifies and defines the technical area for
  all
• Interacts well and appropriately with bench staff

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ASSISTANTS

• Treats them as peers, seeks their
  counsel/suggestions

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SPECTATORS

• Ignores fans, does not react to them

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CONCENTRATION

• Seems to be aware of all events, alert but not
  distracted

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MENTAL PREPARATION

• Understands the level of responsibility placed on
  him/her, mentally ready and focused

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ATTITUDE

• Neutral to both teams, impartial

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• E) Study the laws of the game and be aware of all
  changes and enforce all said laws and changes
• Review the law book regularly. This is done so
  that we can act with accuracy, fairness, and
  confidence and not react with panic and incorrect
  application of the laws of the game. Repetition
  induces the recall of pertinent information in a
  split second. One cannot apply what one does not
  know. Luck only carries you so far. Knowledge is
  power and in the case of the referee the power to
  apply the laws of the game with exactness and
  common sense. The reward is RESPECT. Hard work
  and perseverance will take you to the finish line
  with honor.
• What are some of the other ways we might hone our
  recall of the laws of the game and their
  surrounding supportive need to knows.

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PERFORMING DUTIES

• F) Perform his/her designed duties, including
  attending organized clinics and lectures, etc.
  and shall assist their colleagues in upgrading
  and improving their standards of officiating,
  instructing and assessing.
• Surely the attribute of honor would cause each
  referee to want to lift his/her fellow officials
  higher, and all those we serve inclusive of
  players and coaches and never be found demeaning
  others or exhibiting any attitude of
  condescension.
• What are some positive examples where you have
  been the recipient of, witnessed or have been
  able to extend the helping hand towards another
  official?
• Many have reached out giving countless hours to
  help another Raise the Bar HOW ABOUT YOU?

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ANTI-DOPING POLICY

• G) Adhere to the Canadian Soccer Associations
  Anti-Doping Policy.

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HONOR ALL APPOINTMENTS

• Honor any appointments made for and accepted by
  them unless unable to do so by virtue of illness
  or personal emergency
• Here again we see the word honor It seems that
  this is a central theme in the life of a soccer
  referee.

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HONOR ALL APPOINTMENTS

• 1)Once an assignment has been accepted, we do not
  ignore it because a more prestigious assignment
  has been afforded us.
• 2) Show up on time! How would you define ON
  TIME.
• Should illness, or a personal emergency be the
  cause of ones inability to fulfill any
  appointment, whenever possible, make a noble
  effort to notify the assignor.
• Be as dependable as you would want your hot water
  to be the next time you take a shower!!!!

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PUBLICLY CRITICIZING

• I) Not publicly criticize other referees,
  national or provincial soccer association, or any
  referees association.
• This does not mean that we do not take a
  legitimate concern to those who have been placed
  in a position to assist. If we have a worthy
  point to make, we should feel free to voice this
  in a professional and non-confrontational manner.
  Speak to the incident and avoid personal attacks.

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Check the Validity of the Concern

• You might consider the following questions
• What is it I hope to achieve by bringing this
  concern to the attention of others?
• Will the bringing forward of a particular concern
  be in the best interest of the majority?
• Are my motives honorable ( for the good of the
  game/my fellow officials etc.) and not conceived
  from a personal agenda?
• Am I obligated with good conscience to bring my
  concern forward and not leave the matter
  unattended to?
• Do the right thing for the right reason.
• A little forethought can avoid a lot of bad
  feelings and poorly focused energy.

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DEALING WITH MEDIA

• J) Not make any statements to the media (
  newspaper, television, radio, etc..) related to a
  game in witch the referee has officiated, or to
  the performance of the players or other officials.

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ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENTS

• K) Not accept any appointment to officiate in any
  competitive game involving a team in the same age
  and gender division in the same league to which
  the referee is directly affiliated as a
  registered coach or manager.
• L) Not accept an appointment to officiate in any
  provincial championship game involving a team or
  club to which the referee is directly affiliated
  as a player, a registered coach or manager, an
  elected Executive or Board member.

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• M) Not accept any appointment to officiate in any
  competitive game in which an immediate member of
  his/her family (by marriage or common law) is a
  registered player or coach. An immediate member
  of the family is a parent, a spouse, a son or
  daughter, a brother or sister.
• N) Be subject to disciplinary action for not
  complying with this CODE OF ETHICS.

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PROFESSIONALISM

• ON/OFF
• THE FIELD
• A true professional is one who pays the price to
  achieve excellence, and encourages others along
  the road to
• RAISE THE BAR