Officiating Violence and Abuse - Coursework Example

Running Head: Officiating…. Topic: Officiating violence and abuse Order#: 303587 Topic: Officiating violence and abuse Introduction: The one word that impacts the career of an umpire in the area of sports, tournaments of all categories, is ‘decision.’ An umpire has to give decisions affecting the results between two teams and such decisions deeply hurt or enliven the emotions of many thousands of spectators. No umpiring decisions please all, and the controversial rulings given at the most crucial period of the game, have resulted in violent incidents. The target is obviously the umpire. Everything happens so suddenly, in a flash, and such incidents lead to the ruination of the careers of players. The players have to pay, in addition, huge fines. The unfortunate part of such tension-ridden moments is the use of abuse! It equally hurts the feelings of the referees and the spectators though are away from the actual scene, are not less vocal about hurling abuses at the referee. Print and electronic media may highlight such incidents through spicy reporting, which may lead to unpredictable consequences, sometimes affect the psyche of the Nations to which the teams belong! Rainey (1999) wrote, “With only 2 minutes remaining in the 1996 English Rugby Football Union Cup championship match, referee Steve Lander awarded a penalty try to Bath, because Leicester players had been repeatedly offside. Bath scored for a 16-15 victory. When the game ended, Leicester flanker Neil Back, angry about the controversial call, pushed Mr. Lander, who fell over a pile of players. Back was subsequently banned from play for 6 months.” Hitting the goal may not get big publicity, unless it is the decider and the match-winning goal. But a referee being assaulted gets lots of media coverage. It assumes the shape of a court trial, the actual incident, comments, arguments and counter-arguments appear in news papers and TV channels. If the contending teams are from two different nations, statements from politicians and experts of the game either soothe or flare up the tempers of the fans that follow the game. It is not unusual for the politicians from the ruling and opposition parties from the same Nation to give biased statements that suit their objectives. Alcohol consumption has been found to be the root cause of most of these troubles. In a survey conducted by Rainey (1994) the findings are startling. 11% of the 782 respondents had been assaulted in their careers. The assailants are players and the coaches. In baseball and softball, 50% of the assaults are serious, like chocking, hitting with a bat or ball and punching. Most of such culprits escaped punishments. The reference and review of violence in sports has been made in an article, ‘Time and motion analysis of the AFL field umpire’ by Pamm Kellettl and David Shilburyl (2008). This pertains to Football League (AFL.) The authors have highlighted the important roles of referees in this organised sport. “In this study, 22 umpires of professional and semi-professional Australian Rules football were interviewed to determine what they think of abusive behaviour, and what they find to be rewarding about umpiring. Findings showed that umpires routinely reframe abuse, considering it to be a normal part of their role. Abuse was not deemed to be particularly aversive, and there was no evidence that it contributes to attrition. On the other hand, umpires enjoyed the social world they share with other umpires, and identified social interactions among umpires as a key reason for continuing to umpire.” Surprisingly, as per the study, the umpires do not take the issue of abuse seriously, and instead highlight the importance of socialization that helps the umpires to reframe the abuse, and keep up their commitment to umpiring. The authors also suggest that social aspect of umpiring needs to be incorporated into umpire training and retention. In a comprehensive survey conduced by David Rainey and Peter Duggan, relating to 721 certified referees, 664 men and 57 women, from Ohio, may facts related to the violent behavior of the players came to light. Their refereeing experience ranged from 3 to 49 years. One of the referees who responded to the survey had the following story to reveal. Rainey (1998) wrote, “A report in the sports officials magazine Referee (Coach Gets Five Years for Ref Beating, 1995) described the legal case of Charles Taylor, a youth basketball coach. During a tournament game for 6th grade boys, Taylor assaulted referee Charles Murray, knocking him unconscious. Murray, who lost three teeth and required 26 stitches, was then hit with a metal chair by a 12 year old player, sustaining a broken ankle. Coach Taylor pleaded guilty to an assault charge, was denied probation, and was sentenced to five years in prison.” The most common assailants were players. Parents, coaches and fans also were prominent amongst the assailants. 82% of them wee adults. The percentage was 52 and 24 during high school ad adult league respectively. The level of competition, related intensely with the level of violence. In adult competitions the violence-prone players accounted for high percentage (82%). Other spectators were by far calmly responded go the tense situations in the game and their assault rate was just 7%. In high school level competitions, the spectators were more aggressive, their assault percentage being 28% and players accounted for a lower percentage. It was just 22%. Assaults related to many types such as pushing, spitting, hitting, punching, throwing objects, like ball or chairs, choking etc. Special game circumstances have much to do with the level of assaults. When special rivals play, the incidents of assaults are higher. Championship or tournament games also are associated with assaults. Most of the assailants consume alcohol and drugs. According to the research findings of Rainey (1998) “The majority of referees (55%) reported that their assailant was not punished in any way. Temporary suspension was the most common consequence (23%). The referees did report 9 cases in which a player was permanently banned from competition and one case in which a coach was fired because of an assault. Assailants were arrested in only 11 cases. Four of the arrests resulted in fines and three in jail terms.” A large percentage of the assaults or attempted assaults could be serious or could have serious consequences. Pushing and shoving the referee was common but none of the assailants carried guns or knives. As for categorising of the violent incidents, throwing a ball or chair at a referee, when they missed the target, in the strict technical sense, they are not offences. Such incidents are coded as serious for their potential to cause serious injury. An incident was reported by a female referee, when a male coach threw a chair at her as she ran down court to cover a fast beak. Though the chair missed the referee, the incident had significant potential for harm. Some of the findings of the survey are revealing and unbelievable, but for the evidence submitted as for their actual happening. Many assaults on referees are not punished at all, or lightly punished. Even in the serious cases of assaults, in majority of them, the punishment is not meted out. The punishment awarded to assaults on referees is inconsistent. Such assaults occur in front of thousands of spectators, who are the de-facto witnesses to the incident. The additional supports of the recordings from the electronic and print media are invaluable and undeniable. Notwithstanding this overwhelming evidence, the assailants go scot-free, or the consequences, if any, are unreported. A mob might have thrashed an assailant, who knows, and how to fix responsibility in such cases? The coaches may not be hired next time, if they press for investigation of the violent incidents. The violence-prone players may not be included in the team for the next tournament. There could be any number of unspecified reasons for tolerating the cases of assaults. Another stunning but humane observation is noticed that in many types of sports, violence is not only tolerated but accepted as a part of the culture of that sport. Hockey players and coaches both believe that fighting in their sport is legitimate, but rules strictly prohibit it. Not much importance is given to off-the-field violence. Is this sportsman- spirit of the highest order? This attitude of the players and officials needs appreciation for the qualities of their head and heart. Voight (1970) mentioned, “In addition, there are some specific factors that may be related to tolerance for violence against sport officials. First, there is a tradition in the United States, dating back to 19th century baseball, of viewing sport officials as villains. Umpires and referees have historically been scapegoat by irate players, coaches, and fans.” The high-pitched enthusiasm of some of the participants is so much that attacking the official is considered as an honorable solution when their team is losing. If a section of the spectators feel that the umpire is not above board and the official is deliberately favoring one particular team, violent reactions can be anticipated. The participants take the law into their own hands and punish the umpire. At the end of it, the humane considerations sprout in the mind of the referee who has been assaulted. Such individuals know well that their complaints can ruin the careers of players and coaches and bring bad name to the reputation of the institution to which they belong. Many acts of violence are spot reaction to a particular situation. The first flush of anger results in retaliation. When the tempers cool, friendship between the teams sprouts again and the bickering is settled by mutual deliberations. The heat of the competition results in such odd situation and in their heart of hearts, the players are friendly and would like to meet each other in such competitions again. Sportsmanship is a great quality relating to an individual. But aggression and violence can not and should not go unpunished in sports activities. The scope of sports activities is expanding. The violent acts get huge publicity. Condoning such behavior would encourage the spectators, mostly the combustible younger generation. If referee’s decisions are the outcome of the fear at the hands of the spectators, such a tournament will have no meaning. It will be just like a stage-managed show. Sports activities are as much emotional as they are physical games. Soccer is one such sports activity where an umpire constantly faces threats and aggression, as he has to give his decisions on every move of the contending teams. In evenly matched teams, where goals are hard to come, possibility of every minor decision turning controversial is real. The threat, the reactions to the threat, and how the referees handle the stressful situations are important. Their motives are always questioned by the aggrieved team. Watch the three dimensions of a personality of a soccer player in three different situations. At the beginning of the match: Calm, collected, full of energy and enthusiasm, with the winning objective. During the game: Full of aggression, wishes to dominate in every area. An intense desire to secure victory over the opponent; at the end of the game: Depends on the outcome of the game. If victorious, physical tiredness forgotten; full of energy! Happy and cheerful; if defeated: Tired and exhausted; likely to lose temper with the slightest provocation. Internally not willing to forgive or forget the humiliating experience of defeat. Aggression can be either of the two. Physical and verbal aggression! Physical aggression can be of two types. Causing intentional hurt or accidental hurt. When a soccer player seeks to injure or hurt someone, it is considered as a deliberately committed injurious act. The verbal methods like threats, swearing in soccer and sledging in cricket are done disturb the concentration of the opponent. Deliberately hitting the opponent with clenched fist is a vindictive act of aggression. Such acts, if not follow with an apology immediately after the act takes place, add more seriousness to the action. The matching response from the spectators is another worry. Aggression by a player creates similar situation with the supporting fans at the stands. …Friman (2004) wrote “confrontational tackling of a player in opposition (as in for example, soccer) on the field is an aggressive action, but striking the same person on the chin with a clenched fist constitutes a vindictive act of aggression.….. A legitimate tackle for ball possession in soccer may be construed as aggressive but not necessarily aggression for which the additional requirement of an illegitimate physical act must be fulfilled; this distinction may facilitate the underlying implications of “aggressive” and “aggression.” Conclusion: In fine, everything boils down to age and experience. Older persons, whether on the professional side (referees, coaches etc.) tolerate higher levels of aggression. While playing in a tournament, when a player has to play many games spread over a number of days, aggression and acts of violence affect on concentration, performance and motivation. If a player is part of aggressive incidents in the previous matches, it will certainly affect his subsequent performances. The possibility of suspension or expulsion from the game looms large in one’s mind. Research findings indicate that it is the love for the game, than the love for the money, which make the soccer referees continue with his profession. The referee assignments are too stressful for many. Some wish to resign as they are upset by the criticism and the unjustified allegations being leveled against them. The referee faces the tense situation when big tournament soccer games are closely followed by the media. The media columns are sometimes really brutal and sap the initiative of a referee and may affect one’s decision-making power in the games to follow. References: Friman Margareta (Author) Nyberg Claes (Author)(2004)Threats and Aggression Directed at Soccer Referees: An Empirical Phenomenological Psychological Study. www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR9-4/friman.pdf - Retrieved on June 2, 2009 Kellettl, Pamm(Author), Shilburyl, David(Author)(2008)Sport Management Review : Umpire Participation: Is Abuse Really the Issue? Deakin University. Available online 22 July 2008. ... linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1441352307700128 – Retrieved on June 2, 2009 Rainy, David, W(Author) Duggan, Peter(Author)(1998)Assaults on basketball referees: a statewide survey. Peter Publication: Journal of Sport Behavior Date: Sunday, March 1 1998... www.articlearchives.com/sports-recreation/sports-games-outdoor-recreation-softball/1497251-1.html - 68k - Cached – Retrieved on June 2, 2009 Rainey, David W (Author) Hardy Lew (Author)(1999)Assaults on Rugby Union Referees: A Three Union Survey, Journal of Sports Behavior,Vol.22, www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&se=gglsc&d=5002313228 – Retrieved on June 2, 2009 Voight, D. Q. (1970). Americas manufactured villain - The baseball umpire. Journal of Popular Culture, 4, 1-21. Read More