SOCCER

When assistant referee Ryan Maldonado, Redmond, Wash., observes the action, Maldonado not only has to consider the ball’s position in relation to the touchline, but any possible contact between the two opposing players. While the assistant referee should certainly have an opinion on this play, the ultimate decision-making is up to the referee to accept or reject the assistant referee’s input. Match officials can take strides in developing a positive working relationship through the pre-match conference.

ASSIST, NOT INSIST

Assistant Referees Must Yield to Referee’s Ultimate Judgment

By Ross Meloan, Ph.D.

The referee is sprinting downfield, 10 yards behind the attacking team’s breakaway, going toward goal. The attacker has the ball at the feet and has demonstrated spectacular skills, even outmaneuvering one defensive player who fell to the ground. The referee follows play deep into the opponent’s defensive third of the field and makes a quick scan to determine how this attack will play out.

Much to the referee’s chagrin, the scan reveals the assistant referee (AR) out of the corner of the eye emphatically waving the flag to attract the attention not only of the referee but everyone in the stadium. The AR is stationary 15 yards behind the play.

Oh no, now what? The referee’s reluctance to address the AR’s obvious observation begs the decision to allow play to continue. At the same time, the referee remembers the official team consists of professionals, all experienced and respected for each other’s decisions. Hesitantly, the referee sounds the whistle, stops play and destroys what would soon become the equalizer.

As expected, the place becomes unglued as the referee quickly backs away noting the spot for the restart and direction of the upcoming kick.

A quick review of the time indicates halftime is soon at hand, which cannot come quickly enough. The referee sounds the whistle and

hustles off the field to the usual cacophony of displeasure from the home team fans, since the referee was publicly found guilty of an “official’s DOGSO.”

During the first 15 minutes of the contest, the referee notices an unusually high number of calls emanating from AR2. After the fourth stoppage for what most would consider a dubious foul call, the referee decides to run past the AR to determine if the calls are really being missed from the onfield position. At the next dead ball, which graciously included a substitution, the referee assumes a position close to the AR. The AR advises the desire for the game to be called closer, yielding many more calls against the attacking team. The referee carefully considers the assistance from the AR but is careful to inject the AR’s feelings into the game.

A Suggested Remedy

Referees come to each game with a variety of experiences. Some as former players, others from other areas of the game and still others who not only played but also coached. But on game day, officials are the same. They are card-carrying, registered, licensed officials and even have the badge to prove it. So how can the game day officiating crew come together to provide the competent officiating players, coaches and spectators have come to expect and, more importantly, deserve? As one might expect, the answer lies with the entire officiating crew and can be discussed during the pregame conference.

The Importance of the Pregame Conference

Newer officials are not always responsible for unwanted or “insisting” calls from the touchline. However, in many cases, those calls can be traced to a lack of preparedness or experience as new officials are assigned to high intensity contests. These games require the officiating crew to work as a team with the referee assisted by the ARs. That is not to say ARs are restricted in their ability to make a call, but there are acceptable protocols in place to not only make the call but when to make it.

It is particularly important for less experienced referees to get the benefit of working with experienced officials. During those games, “rookies” will obtain valuable time on the field and quickly determine “what is” and “what is not” considered acceptable player behavior through the lenses of fellow officials. If they are fortunate enough to work many games as ARs, examples of both good and bad officiating methods will help shape their style and tolerance for their future officiating assignments.

Experienced officials must provide the guidance, training and patience to ensure that gameday expectations are not only at the highest levels but are also met. To avoid situations like those described earlier, concentrate on game descriptions of similar scenarios and accurately explain your expectations. Some other topics to cover during your pregame may include:

Area of responsibility. Give guidelines for the physical area of the field for which the AR is responsible.

Offside. If play is in the referee’s area of the diagonal, be sure to get that all-important eye contact just in case a defensive player made a play on the ball.

Penalty area. Many referees have their own methods for how to handle potential fouls in this area of the field. If a referee should state the AR is not to call a penalty kick, even though this is very bad advice, the AR should not make this call no matter what the circumstances are during the match.

During the pregame, the referee may advise the ARs to observe the type of fouls the referee is calling during the first few minutes of the match. If certain actions are not considered fouls, the AR is not to call them. If the referee is consistently calling a certain type of play a foul, the assistants should also call it a foul.

The ARs must listen carefully during pregame conferences to

may advise the ARs to observe the during the first few minutes of the considered fouls, the AR is not to call calling a certain type of play a foul,

BY THE NUMBERS 51 of 51

All 51 state high school associations sponsor both boys’ and girls’ state soccer tournaments, according to the 2022-23 NFHS Handbook. Other sports in this category include basketball, cross country, tennis and track and field.

QUICKTIP

When there is a foul that results in a penalty kick, the referee must be relatively close to the situation and in good position

to make the decision. Also, a very firm whistle and strong point to the penalty spot tells the players there is no doubt about the decision. The next step for the referee is to retreat and backpedal to an area away from the penalty spot. Most players who want to argue the call will automatically head toward the spot. If the referee is not there, the players have to turn and then move toward the referee. This allows time for the players to calm down and the referee to tell them to stop approaching.

THEY SAID IT

“It’s disappointing for me as this was one incident in an otherwise very good weekend from our officials. Decisions are debated — that’s the life of a referee. There were perfectly officiated games elsewhere, like Liverpool against Crystal Palace on Monday night which capped a great weekend of Premier League football.”

— Mike Dean wrote in an op-ed for The Daily Mail, admitting he made a mistake in an Aug. 14 match between Chelsea and Tottenham, which ended in a Tottenham, which ended in a 2-2 draw. 2-2 draw.

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. Kicks from the penalty mark must be taken to determine a winner. The referee does not receive a list of the order of kickers from each coach. What is the proper procedure? a. An order of kickers need not be provided from each coach. The referee must make sure a kicker does not kick a second time until all players have participated. b. The referee is provided a listing of 10 kickers from the coach. c. The referee is provided a listing of five kickers from the coach. d. The same player may take all the kicks.

2. Upon arrival at a field, the referee observes there are no goal nets attached to the goals. a. Allow the match to be played. b. If nets can be installed before the match, play the match. c. Leave the field and report the problem to the proper authorities.

3. The visiting team arrives at the field wearing white jerseys and blue socks. The visiting team’s school colors are blue and white. a. Legal. b. Socks must be white. c. Legal, provided they do not conflict with what the home team is wearing.

4. The visiting team wins the coin toss and chooses to defend the north end of the field. The home team captain advises the referee the home team does not want to kick off. a. The team losing the coin toss must take what is left. b. The home team has the option of not kicking off. c. The referee flips the coin again to resolve the problem.

5. A1 is about to take the kickoff after the referee has signaled. A2, who is near the touchline, begins to run downfield. A1 plays the ball toward A2. a. Allow play to continue. b. Stop play and have the kick retaken. c. Award an indirect free kick to team B. determine how they can assist in the management of the game. That may be a subtle way of suggesting that trifling calls from the AR, especially outside of their quadrant and 60 yards away, are not only unnecessary but definitely unwanted.

Risk Management In Free Kick Restarts

As you read the “referee DOGSO” scenario earlier, you were probably thinking, “Wow, this is a clear example of an AR being over-involved and insisting versus assisting.” Maybe, but let’s play a few scenarios in our head, and in each scenario, keep the risk in mind.

The ball was placed a yard away from the true spot of the foul. ARs should not insist the ball be placed at the exact blade of grass for the restart. Be verbal and give guidance to the team kicking the free kick, but I would argue that in almost all scenarios, three feet is not enough to warrant stopping the game to retake the kick.

Say a free kick in the defensive penalty area is taken five or more yards from the spot of the foul. What is the advantage gained by taking a free kick 105 yards from goal instead of 110? Little to none and the risk is low. Again, this is not a situation where an AR should insist.

If a free kick in the attacking third is taken five or more yards from the spot of the foul, risk management comes into play once again. Is there an advantage taking a free kick from 25 yards out when the foul occurred 30-35 yards out? Absolutely. This is where we need to use our voice and ensure the kick is from the proper spot. Hopefully, the referee will then key in on your management and you both have eyes on the play. If the referee’s back is turned and he or she does not notice your voice or the incorrect spot of the kick, get the referee’s attention through the use of the flag, or even yell, “Referee. Hold the kick.” Note: Never call the referee by name.

When a player attempts a free kick with the ball outside of the field of play, a corner kick is taken with the ball outside the arc or a goal kick is taken with the ball clearly outside the goal area, AR assistance must take place because those are technical violations.

Say a free kick is taken 20 yards from behind the spot of the foul. You are probably thinking, “Well, what is the advantage here? The team taking the free kick put itself at a disadvantage by taking the free kick so far back.” If the ball is played back to the goalkeeper, there is little to no risk and there is little danger.

But imagine the scenario where all players are looking at a specific area for a free kick to be taken, and a free kick is taken in their blind spot. Now imagine that free kick taken 20 yards from behind the spot of the foul is boomed 60 yards up field to an attacker in a one-on-one situation. The defender fouls the attacker, or worse, a goal is scored in the next two touches. Do we want to accept this risk? Can the AR be the one to save the crew if the referee’s back is turned?

In all scenarios, consider risk management. Does the potential exist for AR involvement which is not needed? Or can AR involvement save the crew? This is the assistance referees all want and expect in every match they officiate. In the situation addressed at the beginning of this column, you were thinking the AR ruined a scoring opportunity, but was the AR actually saving the referee crew?

A word of advice to veteran referees: Take a moment during the game to send those especially important positive visual messages to your ARs. At the same time, negative responses need explanation as soon as possible. Keep in mind negative thoughts about certain calls need to be fully explained prior to leaving the locker room.

The combination of a quality pregame conference including open dialog among all officials, in addition to feedback during the game, will obtain more “assisting” and less “insisting” necessary for today’s game. Ross Meloan, Ph.D., Murray, Ky., is a NISOA National Clinician and NISOA’s liaison to NFHS. 

Timely Reminders on Time-wasting

By Dan Rudlofff

Time-wasting is a coaching tactic, gamesmanship if you will, that occurs in sports where time determines the length of the contest and the outcome. Generally, timewasting is mitigated by the presence of the play clock in American football and the shot clock in basketball. But soccer is a timed sport with a tradition of time-wasting.

Soccer matches without a public scoreboard with the referee keeping time makes time-wasting more difficult. But where the clock is visible to everyone, referees need to avail themselves of tactics to resolve the problem.

In a game with unlimited substitutions, coaches can substitute at every legal opportunity while the clock is running. The most substituted position is often the one farthest from the bench with neither player in a particular hurry to get on or off the field. If a team is nursing a one-goal lead (as in the above PlayPic), five to 10 seconds off the clock at every chance to substitute can add up to significant non-playing time. These intervals can help a team sustain its best defensive efforts or break up the momentum of an intense attack.

Players are also instructed to “take their own sweet time” restarting the game with free kicks and throw-ins or retrieving balls to put them in play. Lacking ball possession with the clock ticking away, the opposition can only wait for the ball to be put in play. This can lead to teams taking inordinate risks to regain possession, possibly resulting in rougher play and tactics, which can lead to more severe problems for the officiating crew. For example, the team in the lead is awarded a corner kick. Now the defender from the far side of the field is told to take the kick. This individual jogs slowly toward the corner, repositions the ball, directs teammates, then finally kicks the ball. A considerable amount of time is lost.

A team that is motivated to waste time can accomplish its goal without technically breaking any rule. However, a competent and attentive officiating crew has its own bag of tricks.

Time-wasting should be on the short list for discussion between the officials before the game begins. For example, the officials need to be on the same page regarding “kicking or tossing the ball away” to gain an advantage. A verbal warning the first time it happens, even in the opening minutes, notifies each team “we’re not going to allow that today.” Much like the first caution in a game sets the bar for future conduct, a verbal warning for delay can deter that behavior later in a close game when it really matters. If it doesn’t, the precedent has been established for stopping the clock or booking a player.

Another often overlooked pregame aspect is instructing the ball persons if they are being used. “Thanks for your help today. You play an important role. Here’s what I would like you to do. Obviously, have a ball in hand at all times if you can and retrieve those errant balls as quickly as you can. Please do not throw the ball to the player coming to put the ball in play. Just put it on the ground as near to where the throwin should occur, and let the player pick it up. Throwing often results in not catching, which slows down the game. For corners, place the ball near the corner or roll it there. Goal kicks will likely need to be rolled as well. I really appreciate your assistance today.”

What about the constant substitution or the slow walk to replace a player or be replaced, as well as being unnaturally slow to put the ball in play? Although the NCAA re-entry rule makes the substitution tactic a little tougher to use at the collegiate level, it still can rear its ugly head and be effective. Even if the time is kept on a scoreboard, the referee can stop the clock any time the referee deems fit. An effective method is stopping the scoreboard clock (see PlayPic signal above), approaching both benches and verbalizing in a strong voice, “We are going to play this game at approximately the same pace as we have for the past ‘X’ minutes. Unduly delaying this game could result in a yellow card.”

CASEPLAYS

Corner Confusion

Play: Team A is awarded a corner kick. A1 places the ball in the corner arc and steps back to take the kick. After being directed by the coach, A2 runs forward to take the kick. While walking into the field, A1 inadvertently touches the ball with the foot and it moves forward. B3 runs to the ball and begins to dribble upfield. Ruling: The referee is to allow play to continue. Once A1 moved the ball, it was legally put into play (NFHS 17-1-3; NCAA 17.2.4; IFAB 17.1).

Negative Charge

Play: A1 is moving downfield near the team benches. B2 makes a legal shoulder charge and knocks A1 off the ball. Team A’s coach loudly claims this was a foul and continues to dissent for an extended period of time. During the next stoppage, the referee cautions the coach for the actions. Later in the match, the coach dissents to the assistant referee regarding a close decision on an offside situation. During a stoppage, the assistant referee advises the referee what was said. Ruling: The referee displays a yellow card and then a red card to the coach. The coach must leave the coaching area and have no more participation in the match. Failure to leave the area will result in the referee terminating the match and advising the league officials in writing about the situation (NFHS 12-8-1c; NCAA 12.4.3.3; IFAB 12.3).

Broken Attack

Play: A1 is on the attack inside team B’s penalty area and along the goalline. B2, the goalkeeper, moves out and attempts to gain control of the ball through a sliding maneuver. A1 pushes the ball around B2 and steps off the field to move around B2. B2 gets up, steps off the field and strikes A1. Ruling: The referee is to stop play and eject B2 for violent conduct. Team B may replace B2 with a field player or remove a field player and have a new goalkeeper enter the game. Since the foul occurred off the field of play, the game is restarted with an indirect free kick for team A at a point nearest where the action occurred (NFHS 8-2a; NCAA 2.7.4.8; IFAB 12.3).

Burying the ball in the corner with no intention of playing further is another common tactic. If it occurs on the assistant referee’s side of the field, the assistant needs to be within feet of the corner with a sharp eye to a foul, exceedingly rough play or an out of bounds, either goalline or touchline. If it occurs on the far side from the assistant referee, the referee needs to be there for the same reason. Using one’s voice, “I’m right here, take it easy. Don’t be silly,” puts the players on notice they are being watched carefully.

For youth, amateur and professional matches, the referee has the option of adding time for the amount wasted. Unless there is a fourth official with an official notification for how much time to add, the referee has sole discretion as to when the match ends. The referee can inform the players from the team behind in the score in a time-wasting situation. When players are complaining the opponents are wasting time. The referee only needs to reply, “I have the control of the clock.”

The referee and crew have the tools to mitigate time-wasting. While it probably cannot be stopped entirely, they can reduce it to ensure the fairness of the game. A secondary benefit is to prevent the contentiousness that may result. Team A successfully stalls while team B seethes. Frustrated team B plays more frantically and physically. Sooner rather than later, something bad happens, and control of the game can be lost in a heartbeat. And if it does, the referees may have to share the blame. Being passive about what is obvious to everyone erodes one’s effectiveness in managing a close game. And no one wants that. Dan Rudloff, Chester, Pa., is a NISOA National Referee Emeritus and longtime high school soccer official who has officiated numerous high school state championships and NCAA playoff matches. 

Don’t Pick Up the Rope

By Devan McCammack

Even newer officials can recognize many soccer referees do not have the ability to de-escalate a situation with any other tool except administering cautions or ejections. This method usually results in even more tempers flaring. It is unfortunate people management skills are not always present when they could be used to resolve a problem on the field or calm a coach during a heated moment.

The reality is when a coach, parent or anyone disagrees with an official, there is an opportunity to pick up the proverbial tug-of-war rope and begin a power struggle. Sadly, many officials go onto the pitch with the idea their authority is not to be questioned, thus making the game about themselves rather than the players and automatically creating a power struggle between referee and the players and/or coaches.

It is the official’s job to ensure the players play safely and the rules/Laws of the game are followed. A longtime soccer referee always reminds coaches, players and fellow officials that soccer (like other sports) is a game. Games are meant to be fun. If the officials put themselves in situations that make the game no longer fun, they set themselves up to be abused. This is not meant to say all coaches and especially parents of younger players are perfect. There are bad coaches and terrible parents, and they are fully responsible for their actions, as are the officials.

Soccer officials are equipped with so many tools other than cards that can and have de-escalated situations with parents, coaches and players alike.

Building a rapport with coaches as soon as the officiating crew arrives at the pitch is key. Invest in them and their teams. Ask about how their seasons are going and ask the coaches

how they are doing. In fact, it’s always good to share a laugh. This approach, if used properly, immediately builds mutual trust and respect.

Another important item is allowing the assistant referees (ARs) to have their own voice. When an AR is seen as the “beta” or an assistant in the crew, they will be “eaten alive” by coaches and by parents because “they must not be as qualified.” When the crew is viewed as a unified crew, trust and respect are earned.

Again, a sense of humor goes a long way. Learn to laugh things off. Players often think parents are just as ridiculous as the referee does. Share in that little bond and build on it while on the pitch. Agreeing with a player who is laughing about a parent’s comment lets the player know you are interested in the game and are interested in the players.

When the first instinct is to issue cautions and ejections left and right without using any other tools, a referee is set up for a miserable 90 minutes. The match will not be enjoyable for anyone including the players, coaches and spectators. Ignoring comments or using people management skills are better tools to lower the temperature of the match.

Most referees officiate because they love the game and enjoy it. Making the decision to go on a power trip by engaging unruly fans and barking back at coaches will lead to burnout a lot sooner than it should.

Those officials who have succeeded in laughing things off usually are the most successful. Officials who have had struggles tend to put themselves in situations that can be avoided. They create the controversy by escalating the problem with the issuance of a card or challenging a player, fan or coach in a derogatory manner.

The referee has to be quick to use the voice in a professional manner and have conversations before picking up the rope and using red cards. Give coaches the opportunity to approach in a calm manner. Tell them, “I’m not going to yell at you, so I expect that to be reciprocated.” If the respect cannot be reciprocated, disengage by letting them know the way they are communicating is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

Most officials love being referees. It is heartbreaking every time young officials hang up their whistles before they even really start or when older officials say they can’t take it anymore.

Obviously, parents and coaches are not getting better any time soon. The officiating team has the burden to be better at what they do. If we want the game to continue, on top of knowing and properly interpreting the rules/Laws, the referee must now take on the task of becoming behavior interventionists as well. Devan McCammack, Joliet, Ill., is a special education official and has been officiating soccer for more than five years. 

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