Common Sense techniques, approaches and advice.

First, this web site and the advice and answers to any questions are not sanctioned by or affiliated with any governing body of soccer. The opinions expressed on this site should not be considered official interpretations of the Laws of the Game. Although the content of the latest Laws are included on this site, the majority of the content is my opinion and opinions of other referees through research in books, magazines or other web sites.

If you’d like to submit a common sense idea, please do so to agminasola@law18.net .

What is common sense? It’s another way of looking at things, instead of relying solely on the pure Laws of the Game or instructional training.

One of the greatest battles a Referee has is balancing the need to be able to control the game by proper application of the Laws, in conjunction with the understanding that this is a game where players should enjoy themselves.

Learning the Laws and being successful in passing the exam is the easy part. Knowing the Laws, and being able to concentrate 100% while using sound judgment and common sense are the foundations of successful officiating on the field of play.

And, referees should rely on their intelligence and not the persuasion of others.

Examples:

• The Assistant Referee raises his flag to indicate that an attacker was in a ‘clear offside’ position in the penalty area. The ball easily is taken by the keeper. Since the referee did not blow his whistle upon seeing the assistant’s flag (this is a good thing…a ref should wait a second or two before making any call…a reason why you don’t ref with your whistle in your mouth, like basketball), it’s to the team and the game’s advantage to have the keeper distribute the ball and continue the flow of the game.

• Some Referees are more particular about making players take the throw from the correct position every time - but this (along with the finicky and minutely accurate positioning of free kicks) can frustrate players. Within their defensive third, a little leeway can be given as there is no advantage gained that far away. In the middle third, keep them close. In the offensive third, keep them right on. If you let teams get away with it early, it will be difficult to keep them where they are supposed to throw in from late in the game with the result still in question.

• While injuring himself in his own goal area (not a foul) the Referee would normally stop play to allow for the injury to be treated, or the ball may be kicked or thrown out to give time to attend to the player. If the ball is sent out, the opposing team usually gives it back. Also note that the referee cannot ASK that this be done.

The restart is a dropped ball, if you have to stop play. But to have a contested dropped ball restart very near to the goal would give a much greater advantage to the attacking team. This would be unfair, and against the spirit of the game. An astute Referee will appreciate that the dropped ball restart procedure in Law 8 (The Start and Restart of Play) does not stipulate that a certain number of players need to be present. The common sense approach is for the Referee to drop the ball uncontested (one man drop ball)to the goalkeeper alone. Thus restarting play in a fair and sensible way, without actually breaching any of the Laws!

(High School rules provide for this, that is, the team in clear possession when play is stopped to attend to an injury restarts with an IFK- one of the only rules that I like that is different than USSF rules.

• If the Referee forgets to take out his coin, and suddenly realizes this during the meeting with the captains immediately prior to the kick off, he can write down a number on his pad or put his pencil in one hand and ask the opposing team to choose. This is just another example of a Referee using common sense instead of running off the field of play to get his coin,
• At the very end of a game, a team trailing by one goal is on the attack, preparing to make a corner or a cross or a potential pass to take a shot, etc. There will always be some discretionary time added due to earlier delays in the game, and an astute Referee can add onto the end of a half, preventing the end the half while the ball is very near to one of the goal areas. There have been many famous disputes in the past where Referees have disallowed very important goals because they have blown their whistle a millisecond before the ball has entered the goal.

Referees have learned by these historical mistakes, and rarely will you see a half end when the ball is anywhere near either goal area. Also, if a goal is scored right at the end of a half, Referees should wait until after the ensuing kick-off and at least a few more seconds before blowing the final whistle ending the half. Only the Referee knows how much lost time he is adding on at the end of the each half, so they can feel confident in allowing a little bit of additional time and common sense to prevail. Players also seem to respect this common sense approach. It certainly prevents some of the worst situations arising.

Along the same lines, even if there isn’t an attacking situation, don’t blow the whistle to end a half while the ball has been kicked far our of bounds, either behind the goal, or many yards away from the touch lines. If you do, the person retrieving it may decide to no longer get it. Instead, wait until it is retrieved and played back into the near middle of the field.

• Referees are strongly advised not to use (or set) watches that emit a clear signal on 45 minutes. That will open up BIG problems in a goal scoring or attacking situation late in a half or game. Also, reset your watch as soon as the half ends so no one can look at it.