The Philosopher King - Soccer Style
Generally I don't understand philosophy. The tools and techniques that philosopher's use leave me cold. But I have found that philosophy's Solipsism provides the fundamental underpinning for the job of the referee.
Solipsism can be expressed as the view that 'I am the only mind which exists.' This point of view comes about because the only mind we can ever be sure of is our own. This is obviously not a viewpoint shared by many people...except on the field of play (kind of).
You see the referee is the ultimate Solipsist. Only his/her viewpoint truly matters. It is the referee who decides when the game starts and ends, who is offsides, who's ball it is, who committeed a foul, did they do it in the box, etc. We encourage our referee's to exercise their Solipsistic (I think that's a word) point of view. Ideally we (players, coaches, spectators) willingly give up our Solipsistic right to have our viewpoint count because we know that if everybody's viewpoint or perspective counted then chaos and anarchy would reign and the game just couldn't be played.
Most of the behavior problems at a soccer field occur when we forget that the referee is the Philospher King. Many coaches, players, and parents get out of hand when they try to exercise and impose their own Solipsistic viewpoint onto the pitch. These attempts conflict with the viewpoints of others (including the all-important referee's) and lead to screaming matches, fights, and red cards.So before and during every match this important tenent must be remembered.
Long live the king.
Solipsism can be expressed as the view that 'I am the only mind which exists.' This point of view comes about because the only mind we can ever be sure of is our own. This is obviously not a viewpoint shared by many people...except on the field of play (kind of).
You see the referee is the ultimate Solipsist. Only his/her viewpoint truly matters. It is the referee who decides when the game starts and ends, who is offsides, who's ball it is, who committeed a foul, did they do it in the box, etc. We encourage our referee's to exercise their Solipsistic (I think that's a word) point of view. Ideally we (players, coaches, spectators) willingly give up our Solipsistic right to have our viewpoint count because we know that if everybody's viewpoint or perspective counted then chaos and anarchy would reign and the game just couldn't be played.
Most of the behavior problems at a soccer field occur when we forget that the referee is the Philospher King. Many coaches, players, and parents get out of hand when they try to exercise and impose their own Solipsistic viewpoint onto the pitch. These attempts conflict with the viewpoints of others (including the all-important referee's) and lead to screaming matches, fights, and red cards.So before and during every match this important tenent must be remembered.
Long live the king.
posted by Bret Rigby at 1:11 PM
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