Command Presence

U.S. Soccer Federation Referee ProgramGrade 6 State Referee CourseMost Competitive Games Within State and Region

Command Presence

o How referees show their personalityoBody languageoVerbal communication

o How referees connect with players and coachesoGetting their attention and cooperation

o Not about power or control

Command Presence

o How referees present themselvesoHow they lookoHow they carry themselvesoHow they actoHow they speak

The Message

o Not just about the message, but the way the message is delivered

o Will change with the momentum of the gameo Same approach does not work for all players

or game situationso Portray all emotions in a positive manner

Confidence

o Confidenceo In yourselfoFelt by the players

o Developing a presenceoLook and act like a refereeoMust be convincing

o Developed through experience, knowledge, and education

Body Language

o Eye contact o Facial expressionso Postureo Arms and handso Presence and fitness

Eye Contact

o Strong eye contactoReflects confidenceoKeeps a player’s attention

o Avoiding eye contact oShows nervousness or a lack of confidenceoPlayers may lack confidence in their

abilities

Facial Expressions

o Positive facial expressionsoCan show your personalityoCan help defuse and prevent misconductoCan convey concern

o Negative facial expressionsoCan convey disinterestoCan have poor perception

Posture

o Straight/uprightoShoulders are back and chest is upoLooks in controloDoes not look flustered

o Move with a purpose

Arms and Hands

o Keep gestures closeo Broadcast messagesoStop signoCalm downoCome here

o Good preventive toolso Gestures should not replace verbal

communication

Presence and Fitness

o Preventive presenceoClose to playoPresence lends convictionoGetting there and showing urgency

o Overdone presenceoGets there, but overuses physical presenceoToo aggressiveo Initiates contact with a player

Body Language

o Enhances verbal communicationo Broadcasts the messageo Translates the messageo Overcomes difficulty in addressing players’

emotions in words

Keys to Use

o Change to suit the situationoNatural and fluidoOkay to show displeasure

o Awareness of cultural differenceso Establishes relationships and controloShows confidence, calmness, firmness,

authority, compassion, or empathyo Do not overuse or show off

Verbal Communication

o Process of sending and receiving messageso Keys to successful verbal communicationoAppropriate tone and volumeoKeep it simpleoWords chosen for the situationoListen

Command Presence

o Command presence influences the game byoChanneling and/or influencing player

behaviors and actionsoGiving options to manage the gray areasoSending appropriate messages in the

appropriate manneroOpening lines of communication

Command Presence

o Command presence influences the game byoDrawing the line in the sandoPreventing escalationoEnsuring the message matches the game

situation and momentoLeading the referee team before, during,

and after game

Command Presence

o Command presence implementationoUse 1-on-1 conversationsoUse stoppages to establish groundwork for

relationships oTake care of the fouler and the fouleeoMake the first foul seem bigger than it is

Command Presence

o Command presence implementationoKnow when to use different communication

stylesoRemain calm but in chargeoBe dynamic and decisiveoCreate trust between players and referees

Command Presence

o Be open and approachableo Create trusto Show respecto Be prepared by doing your homeworko Be available by listening to fair conversationo Adjust to the game, the situation, and to the

players

Review Question

o Which of the following is not a goal of command presence?

o Showing your personality through body language and verbal communication

o Showing players, coaches and spectators that the referee has all the power and control

Review Question

o Command presence should be achieved through which of the following?

o How you looko How you acto How you speako All of the above

Review Question

o While command presence is about the message being delivered, is the process of how the message is delivered just as important?

o Yeso No

Review Question

o Which of the following is true when it comes to body language?

o It can enhance verbal communicationo It can send a message to multiple players o It can be used to communicate with players

who speak a different languageo All of the above