SOCCER

BEYOND REPROACH

Integrity, Ethics Are Non-Negotiable Traits of All Match Officials

Given the authority that referees are delegated, it is beyond essential for the referee’s integrity to always remain intact. Powerful tools, such as this caution issued by Ricardo Medina, Santa Ana, Calif., must be used appropriately and without conscious or subconscious bias. Match officials are strongly encouraged to read their respective organization’s code of ethics to review the referee’s responsibilities.

By the Referee editors

Ethics is defined as a system of moral principles, or rules of conduct, recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions. With that in mind, what can be considered ethical behavior by a referee and the referee team? This article will be broken down into three major categories that require ethical behavior: the referee, referee conduct and referee training.

Referees should always have the utmost respect for the game of soccer.

Referees are professionals and are to act in a formal or businesslike manner. This includes being a student of the rules/Laws and knowing how to properly interpret and apply them. It is every referee’s responsibility to maintain the dignity of the position.

Referees should always be loyal to fellow officials and never criticize/ discredit their efforts or abilities. If a referee or assistant referee should have a poor performance, it is up to the other officials to lift this official up and help that official to improve in the future.

Referees should always strive to do their best no matter the level of the match or the abilities of the players. Every match should be considered the most important match of the referee’s career.

Referees should always remember it is a privilege to officiate at every level and always strive for a superior performance. They should also work diligently so they do not interfere with the game and make the game more about them than the players. The best referees notice everything, but seldom are noticed.

Referees should always work as a team. No one member of the team is greater than the other. Each member of the team must work together to achieve maximum teamwork and results. Stress this teamwork in the pregame conference.

Conduct by referees must always be professional in every aspect. When referees accept an assignment, they must honor that contractual agreement. Referees should never “shop around” for better matches and return an assignment because they have found a better match. If referees are requested to officiate a higher-level match and already have an assignment, they should contact the assigner and openly discuss options so the assigner is not left in an adverse situation.

Conduct also includes not soliciting any matches. Some referees have been known to contact coaches when there is going to be a playoff game and try and convince the coach the referee should be requested for the match. Others have contacted assigners requesting they be assigned a particular playoff or high-level match.

Conduct that is similar to the above guidelines is that referees should never accept an assignment where their immediate family is affiliated with the team in some manner. For example, an intercollegiate assignment should not be accepted at a school where the official’s spouse is employed or the official’s child is a student.

Conduct by referees that is professional includes not talking to the press or media about a match or a particular play in a match. Comments can be misconstrued and the referee making them can be placed in a compromised position because of what was stated. No comment is the best comment when approached by the press after a match. The only time referees should talk about decisions is when they are providing an interpretation of the rule/Law to a player, coach or athletic administrator.

Conduct by referees should never include the use of social media to promote themselves, demean others or talk about players or teams. Referees should never talk about an upcoming match and how it will be officiated or the perceived attitude of the players involved in the match. This creates an appearance of bias and will only result in problems for the referees. Likewise, after the match the referees should never post social media comments about player or team behavior or issues that were encountered during the match.

The most important conduct every referee must remember is family comes first. Putting matches and the game in general ahead of the family will not only lead to problems in the referee’s personal life but more than likely on the field of play. A referee that takes “family baggage” on the field will have difficulty concentrating on the match and will more than likely have problems with match control.

Training for referees must be ongoing. Referees should take an entry level course to learn the basics of officiating. They must continue training on a regular basis by attending clinics, studying the rules and match situations, seeking out mentors, being assessed on a regular basis, listening to recommendations from higher-level referees and seeking all opportunities to improve.

Training is not only learning from studying but also includes physical training on a regular basis. Referees must continue physical training even when there is no season so they are physically fit for the first match of the season. Referees cannot officiate themselves into shape. They must be ready from day one. Proper physical training will help ensure referees are in the best position possible during the critical moments of the match. The theory of “they will come back so I do not have to chase them” is never to be used by referees.

Training also includes mental preparation. Many referees try to envision the match beforehand and think about how they are going to handle a situation if it happens during the match. This is a good method to help being thoroughly prepared during the match for any given play.

Referees must always act in a professional manner and strive for perfection. Their behavior must reflect the highest standard of ethics. They must work as a team and ensure the match is played fairly and safely. *

SIDELINE

27-Year MLS Veteran Stott Retires

Kevin Stott, the last continuously serving player, coach or referee from the 1996 inaugural season of the MLS, retired after his Oct. 1, 2022 match.

Stott’s first match was an April 18, 1996, contest between the Dallas Burn and the Kansas City Wiz — the seventh match in MLS history. Stott’s final match between the LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake was the 7,081th game in MLS history.

Stott is the all-time leader in MLS matches — including players — with a total of 540 regular-season contests. That total swells to 595 MLS matches with MLS Cup playoff matches factored in. He took charge of the MLS Cup in 2001, 2005 and 2009 and whistled the inaugural MLS All-Star Game in 1996. He also holds a remarkable streak of officiating at least one MLS Cup playoff match in every season of the league’s history.

Stott represented the United States on the FIFA list of International Referees from 1995 until 2008 and refereed 12 matches in World Cup qualifying between 2000 and 2005.

SOURCE: PROFESSIONAL SOCCER REFEREES ASSOCIATION

DID YOU KNOW?

In June, 32 teams will converge on WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C., for a $1 million winner-takeall soccer tournament based on the popular “The Basketball Tournament.”

Dimensions include: •Maximum field dimensions: 65 yards in length, 45 yards in width •Goal dimensions: 18.5 by 6.5 feet

Each game will finish with “Target Score Time.” After two 20-minute halves are played, an untimed period is played based on a target score, established as one more goal than the leading team’s goal total at the end of regulation. With the game clock turned off, the first team to reach that target score wins. For every five minutes in the untimed period without a goal, the maximum number of players from each team is reduced by one player each.

TEST YOURSELF

In each of the following you are given a situation and at least two possible answers. You are to decide which answer or answers are correct for NFHS, NCAA or IFAB rules/Laws. Solutions: p. 85.

1. During the first half of play, A1 is cautioned for a reckless tackle. The match is tied and a winner must be declared. During the taking of penalty kicks, A1 is cautioned for dissent. a. This is considered the first caution since cautions do not carry over to the taking of penalty kicks. b. The referee displays the caution and then a red card for ejection. c. The referee instructs A1 to leave the field and A1 cannot participate in the taking of the kicks.

2. During the field inspection, the referee team observes that the penalty area is 46 yards wide. a. The game cannot be played. b. The referee should make a note where the penalty area should be and use this invisible mark. c. The game is played with the markings and the referee notifies the appropriate administrators after the game.

3. A1 takes a shot on goal from approximately 20 yards. A2 is standing at the edge of the goal area and only has the goalkeeper between A2 and the goalline. As the shot is heading to the goal, the assistant referee incorrectly raises the flag for offside and the referee, hearing the snap, sounds the whistle. The ball entered the goal prior to the referee’s whistle sounding. a. The goal is awarded, and the referee advises the coaches that the whistle sounded after the ball crossed the goalline. b. No goal and the match is restarted with a drop ball due to inadvertent whistle. c. No goal and the match is restarted with an indirect free kick for team B as a result of the offside decision.

4. A goal can be scored directly from: a. A throw by the goalkeeper into the opponent’s goal. b. A drop ball. c. A goal kick.

THE HARDEST RULES

SEE FEATURE ON PAGE 16

A-OK With PKs

By John Van de Vaarst

Noreferee wants to decide the outcome of a match, especially by awarding a penalty kick. More than 90 percent of penalty kicks taken result in a goal. Therefore, if a match is tied, this decision will more than likely decide the outcome.

Many years ago, it was easier to deal with a potential penalty kick call. Spectators, players and even coaches were not as educated in the rules/ Laws of the game. In lieu of making the proper call of a penalty kick, many referees would award an indirect free kick and state the foul was dangerous play or obstruction. Another avenue of not having to call the penalty kick was when the referee would say the initial foul occurred just outside the penalty area and moved the infraction back. These tactics no longer work and only create controversy and confusion. If the defense commits a foul in its penalty area that would result in a penalty kick, it is a penalty kick. Plain, but not so simple.

Some fouls are so obvious that it is not difficult to call a penalty kick. A defender tackles an opponent in the penalty area and it was clearly a foul. A defender holds a shirt of an attacker to stop the attacker from advancing — easy decision. A defender extends the arm and handles the ball. These examples are easy for the referee to deal with and award a penalty kick. However, many times, it is not that clear cut.

So why is it often so difficult for a referee to call a penalty kick when a direct-free-kick offense is committed by a defender in their own penalty area? Think about this scenario. The score is tied, 1-1, in the 89th minute of a match. An attacker moves the ball along the touchline and makes a pass toward the center of the penalty area. The ball flies into the penalty area and begins to land near the penalty spot. As it is heading for the ground, a defender makes the body unnaturally bigger and extends the arm. The ball strikes the arm. As this occurs, the referee observes there is an attacker near the defender and the ball lands in front of the attacker’s foot and it is an obvious opportunity for the attacker to shoot and score from about 11 yards away from the goal. Is it a penalty kick or should the referee apply advantage and hope the attacker scores and the match is decided by that goal rather than a penalty kick? All of this runs through the referee’s mind in a matter of a second or two and the referee must make a decision. Who can honestly saythat is an easy call? If, as the referee is sounding the whistle, the attacker shoots and scores, the referee looks bad. Even worse, when the penalty kick is taken, the kick is missed. If the referee applies advantage and the attacker shoots and the goalkeeper saves the ball, again the referee appears to be wrong in the decision.

In addition to making the decision to award a penalty kick, the referee must always be thinking about other potential sanctions. Was the foul committed by the defender reckless and shoulda caution be administered? Did the foul deny an obvious goalscoring opportunity and an ejection is warranted? Was the defender who committed the reckless tackle already cautioned for a different offense and now must be ejected? Was the foul itself an act of violent conduct and therefore an ejection? Again, all of these items run through the mind of the referee as the whistle is being sounded for the initial foul and the awarding of a penalty kick.

Other factors considered by the referee when making a penalty kick decision may include: Was the foul clearly observed or is there some doubt about what happened? In the middle of the field, this is not a problem. When awarding or not awarding a penalty kick, this becomes a serious issue. More

often than not, a referee’s mind will immediately conduct an instant replay to verify what was initially observed and then the decision is made. Was the foul really inside the penalty area? Again, a quick instant replay or eye contact with the assistant referee for verification. It is better to be a little late in pointing to the penalty spot rather than pointing too quickly and realizing a penalty kick was not the accurate decision.

What can referees do to make the penalty kick decision easier and reduce the amount of potential dissent and other related player problems? First and foremost, be in good position to make the call. It will be most difficult to convince the defensive players and coach the decision to call a penalty kick was accurate when the whistle was sounded from 30 yards away from the play. Presence leads conviction.

Next, when sounding the whistle, make sure it is forceful so everyone knows the referee is 150 percent sure the foul should result in a penalty kick. The same demonstration of confidence should be used when pointing to the penalty spot. Market the call with forcefulness and confidence. Remember in matches played under NCAA or NFHS rules, the referee must also signal to stop the clock.

Once the whistle is sounded, the referee should take a position near the side of the penalty area on the referee’s diagonal. This removes the referee from the players. Those players who wish to dissent or argue with the referee will normally initially move toward the penalty spot since that is where the ball is going to be placed. This means the players must “look” for the referee and the position taken provides some amount of time for them to regain their composure, and the referee has the opportunity to signal them not to come any closer. Once the players have settled down, the referee can begin the process of administering the penalty kick.

The referee must make sure there is no gamesmanship during the taking of a penalty kick. For example, the goalkeeper moving forward with the arm extended to shake hands with the kicker and wish them good luck. This is not sportsmanship. It is a clear attempt to disrupt the kicker. Stop the goalkeeper and have them return to the goal to take

5 MINUTES WITH RYAN CIGICH

Arena League coordinator of officials discusses the indoor game.

Officiating Experience: Major Area Soccer League coordinator of officials since 2011; National Premier Soccer League official since 1999; NCAA coordinator of men’s and women’s soccer officials since 2012; U.S. Soccer National Referee (1998-2006); former NCAA match official (700-plus collegiate matches); U.S. Soccer National Referee Coach; member of PRO’s assessor staff; USYS referee committee chair.

Occupation: Worldwide Account Sales Manager, FedEx

REFEREE: What is your current role with professional indoor soccer?

CIGICH: In addition to being an active referee, I serve as the head of officials for the league. I have been in that position since 2011 and began officiating in the league in 1999. The league rules were initially developed by Dr. Joe Machnik and Dr. Herb Silva. I have worked with the league on keeping the rules up to date and making any necessary adjustments based on situations that develop during the season. I am also responsible for recruiting new officials for the league and overseeing assignments of officials.

REFEREE: How many officials work an indoor match?

CIGICH: There are four officials assigned to each match. Two are assigned to be on the floor. There is one assistant referee who is responsible for managing the benches, controlling the substitutions and assisting with any off-the-ball fouls that may occur. Since there are substitutions on the fly, the assistant referee is responsible for ensuring that there are not too many players on the field. The fourth official is the record keeper. This individual monitors fouls. If a team commits four fouls in a half, there is a two-minute power play assessed (blue card). When there is a penalty, the fourth official is also responsible for managing the penalty box and releasing the player at the time the penalty expires.

REFEREE: Is there a video assistant referee for the professional matches?

CIGICH: No. Each team is allotted one challenge per game and can “throw” the challenge flag. The referee reviews the video to verify the decision. A referee may stop play to review a play and verify through video review what is the accurate decision.

REFEREE: What are some of the differences for an official when working an indoor match?

CIGICH: One of the biggest differences is the constant transition from lead to trail official as the play moves up and down the field. The referees on the field must be able to move quickly and constantly adjust their position so they can have a good angle on the play and not be in the way of the 12 total players on the field. The second challenge is the quickness of play means that there is more judgment as to what is a foul or what is a fair play. There is more player-to-player contact since the players are in a confined area.

REFEREE: What are some of the rule differences between the indoor and outdoor game?

CIGICH: There are several differences and I’ll try to cover some of the highlights. First, if a player receives a yellow card, the player must serve a five-minute non-power-play penalty. If a player commits a major foul, they serve a seven-minute penalty.

When the ball goes out on the sideline, the game is restarted with a kick-in from where the ball left the field. If the ball goes out over the goalline and last touched by the attacking team, the goalkeeper throws the ball back into play.

REFEREE: How would an outdoor referee become a referee in the league?

CIGICH: Current members of the indoor league and myself are always seeking new talent. If we observe an official who is working amateur, professional, college or other higherlevel games and appears to have the talent to transition to the indoor game, we work to get that official in the officiating pool.

CASEPLAYS

Hard Play, Fair Play?

Play: B1 commits a hard tackle on A2. The referee stops play, cautions B1 for the tackle and restarts the match with a direct free kick. Prior to the taking of the kick, the assistant coach from team B claps the hands in a sarcastic manner toward the referee. Ruling: The referee delays the restart of play and cautions the assistant coach for dissent. When the referee is in proper position, the referee is to sound the whistle for the taking of the direct free kick (NFHS 12-8-1c; NCAA 12.4.3.3; IFAB 12.3).

Not a Heads Up Play

Play: A1 passes the ball in the direction of A2. A2 lowers the head well below the waist in an attempt to head the ball. B3, attempting to play the ball, kicks A2 in the side of the head. Ruling: The referee is to stop play and award an indirect free kick for team B. Although B3 made contact with A2, A2 created a dangerous situation by lowering the head (NFHS 12-6-1; NCAA 12.2.9.1; IFAB 12.2).

Incidental Injury?

Play: A1 passes the ball into the penalty area. A2 runs toward the ball and B1, the goalkeeper, moves forward to attempt to save the ball. A2 and B1 make contact when they arrive at the ball the same time. The ball rolls forward over the goalline but not into the goal. Ruling: As long as A2 or B1 did not do anything other than make incidental contact, the match is restarted with a goal kick. The referee should make sure neither A2 or B1 are injured as a result of the contact. If the referee felt A2 attempted to kick or otherwise injure B1, the game would be started with a direct free kick for team B (NFHS 16-1-1; NCAA 16.1; IFAB 16).

Give Us a Hand

Play: The referee awards an indirect free kick for team A. The referee fails to raise the hand to indicate an indirect free kick. A1 shoots and scores directly from the free kick. Ruling: No goal since the referee failed to signal an indirect free kick. The kick is retaken (NFHS 13-3-4; NCAA AR 13.1.3.b; IFAB 13.1). up a position. Another example is the goalkeeper delaying taking position on the goalline. Again, this is an attempt to disrupt the kicker. Advise the kicker to take the proper position.

Can the kicker attempt to disrupt the goalkeeper? Absolutely. A kicker can continue to adjust the ball prior the kick so the goalkeeper has more time to think about the kick. Again, the referee should step in and have the kicker place the ball and take a position for the kick. After the whistle is sounded, the kicker could take time before moving toward the ball, as if the kicker is trying to decide where to kick it. Just another attempt to disrupt the goalkeeper. During any of these gamesmanship efforts, the referee has the power to caution the kicker or the goalkeeper. If this happens in a NFHS match, the player must leave the field and another player must take the kick or the substitute goalkeeper or a field player will be the goalkeeper for the penalty kick.

Every referee knows the penalty arc is 10 yards from the penalty spot. This includes the entire arc. Yet opponents often push and shove to gain a position where the arc and penalty area intersect. Again, the referee must get involved quickly and help defuse the situation. Allowing this action to continue may lead to elbows or even a punch being thrown. A good tip is to get the players, kicker and goalkeeper in position as quickly as possible. The sooner the whistle is sounded for the kick to be taken and the quicker the kicker makes contact with the ball, the sooner play will resume and the penalty kick will be over. However, do not rush the kick and be so hasty there are players still in the penalty area and the kick has to be retaken because of encroachment.

The pregame conference should include a discussion about the penalty kick. What if a foul occurs in the penalty area near the assistant referee and the referee is on the diagonal or sprinting into position? Should the assistant referee signal for a foul? These are items that should be talked about by the referee team. For many years, referees would tell the assistant referees if there is a foul in the penalty area, only the referee will make the decision. Bad advice.

During the match, this situation occurs and the referee is screened from the play. No foul is called. This results in dissent, retaliation, coach problems and more. All because the referee wanted complete control. A better approach is for the discussion to be about what happens if the

Penalty Kicks in NFHS Rules

Result of Penalty Kick No Violation

Violation by Attacking Team Only Violation by Defense Only Violation by Both

Enters Goal Goal Retake Goal Retake

Goes Directly Out of Bounds Goalkick Goalkick Retake Retake

Rebounds Into Play From Goal/ Goalkeeper Play Continues Indirect Free Kick Retake Retake

Saved and Held by Goalkeeper Play Continues Play Continues Retake Retake

Deflected Out of Bounds by Goalkeeper Corner Kick Indirect Free Kick Retake Retake Ball Not Kicked Forward Indirect Free Kick for the Defending Team

This chart illustrates the various outcomes when an infraction occurs during a penalty kick in a match under NFHS rules. Most recently, the NFHS clarified if the ball is not kicked forward by the player taking the penalty kick, the result is an indirect free kick for the defending team — regardless of an infraction by the defending team.

assistant referee observes a foul in the penalty area and what portion of the penalty area is the assistant referee’s responsibility. Many times, during a pregame discussion, the referee will advise the assistant referees that their area of responsibility for fouls is an imaginary triangle that includes the touchline, goalline and a line drawn from where the touchline and halfway line intersect to the near goalpost. Any fouls in that area, including penalty kicks, are part of the assistant referee’s responsibility. First, make eye contact with the referee to see if the referee can see the foul clearly and is considering making the call. Second, if the referee is screened or does not have the best angle, raise the flag and wiggle it. Once the referee acknowledges the flag, move toward the goalline to let the referee know that in the assistant referee’s opinion, it is a penalty kick. If the referee motions to lower the flag, do so. Remember, the assistant referee is there to assist, not insist.

Everything is in place; the referee sounds the whistle for the penalty kick. The kick is taken and a goal is scored. The game can now continue without problems. Not really. Suppose an attacker runs into the goal and grabs the ball just as the goalkeeper is about to retrieve it? Could there be an issue here? The goalkeeper might take exception to the attacker’s decision and grab the ball away in a forceful manner. Does the attacker retaliate? Do players from both teams move toward the incident? These are possibilities the referee must be keenly aware of and do whatever is necessary to prevent them. After the ball enters the goal, it is no time for the referee and assistant referees to relax.

What happens if the referee sounds the whistle, the kicker shoots and misses and the assistant referee indicates the goalkeeper moved too quickly or a defender encroached? Obviously, it is a rekick (see chart). However, it is the referee’s job to explain to the defending team that is the correct decision. This must be accomplished quickly and professionally. It is imperative the ball is spotted again, the referee sounds the whistle and the kick is taken as quickly as possible. Getting the ball back into play will reduce the amount of dissent and other potential problems for the referee team.

In summary, the penalty kick is a very difficult call to make and must be handled properly. Good positioning, sound people management skills and teamwork will go a long way to reduce any problems associated with the awarding of the penalty kick. John Van de Vaarst, Ellicott City, Md., is a NISOA National Clinician, National Assessor and former State Level USSF Referee and Assessor. He is Referee’s soccer coordinator.*