Creating the First Impression

The first impression plays a vital role in refereeing like other profession. You will never get a second chance to create the first impression. It is vital for everyone to ensure that they are always at their best because each encounter will create the first impression to others who in contact with us the first time.

Creating the first impression is not an easy task in refereeing. Young referees will face a strong challenge to create the first impression. Players and officials as human being are always sceptical with new things. They normally will look at the negative aspect of things. It will be a easy task, if everyone always look at the strength and positive aspects of the referee. At times the first encounter may be easy but most of the time the first encounter is challenging, a uphill task, filled with anxiety and tension. The ability to be calm, assertive and patience will see the referee making correct and rational decisions. These decisions will be well respected and accepted by the players and officials.

Being human, making mistakes is natural but knowing your mistake and vowing to correct it and to be more cautious not to make the same mistake again will see the making of a sincere referee. More often, some referees after making a mistake deliberately make another mistake to balance up the mistake. This is very wrong and should be avoided. In refereeing, two wrongs cannot make one right. Realising a mistake during the course of the game is important and the referee should continue to stay calm, forget about the mistake and try not to repeat mistake. The clause, "a referee can reverse his decision as long as play has not been restarted" gives he referee opportunity to mend the mistake and make immediate correction in the game. The willingness to admit one's mistake is much appreciated by others and will then gain respect from others too.

Personality when arriving at the venue before the match will create a strong impression to officials. This is the correct time to create a good impression. The referee's dressing, early arrival, approach, body language, conversation and other body cues during the the inspection of the field and also to the team's dressing room will give a clear impression of the referee. It can be positive or negative depending on the impact that the referee creates. The referee's movement, positioning and first decision on foul, dissent, appeal or tackling indiscipline action by player(s) will enhance the impression further. The courage to take strong action and decision will also be a plus point to the referee - giving a penalty, canceling a goal due to offsides or prior infringement by the attacker, sent off of player(s) or removing an official from the technical area. The overall performance of the match will definitely makes a conclusion of the performance and personality of the referee. This will result in the referee having more or lesser objection, dissent or confrontation in his future matches.

So as an advice, the referee must take each and every match seriously, have good physical and mental preparation before a match, match practice, good rest and nutrition, review of game pattern with the DVD, post game discussions and other appropriate steps in preparing for a match will influence the referee's performance in any match.