| | Part 2 10/24/2024
A couple of issues that popped up last week, and I need to share regarding pre-game and during game: Pre-Game Inspection and Meeting with players and Coaches: I know we all have our own ways of performing this (no, I'm not side-eyeing Michael Gregory), but I would like a few things to be compulsory in Region 9: 1. The Whole Referee Team is present for each team's inspection. Don't wait for a latecomer, but if all Referees are present, they should be at the Pre-Game inspection, helping spot jewelry or other hazards. They should also be introduced by name, so the coaches and players know that we are all human (I hope!). 2. Request three game balls from the Home Team Coach to be inspected by you -- meaning, other soccer balls cannot be used in their place unless also inspected, and I do not recommend this; three is already a lot of balls to keep track of. 3. Request that the Home Team Coach designate a Field Monitor, who will sign the Home Team's card's back side in the "additional Comments" section, if it exists, or some other spot if it doesn't. You should NOT start the match until a Field Monitor is present. Start the game clock BUT NOT THE GAME if there is no Field Monitor and it is past the game's scheduled start time. Note: I have already asked the Regional Coach Administrator to remind the coaches to designate a Field Monitor. But, people are forgetful, and this is for the safety of the players (and others!). We have two EMTs roaming on yellow carts who will respond to any kind of injury, player OR spectator. NO ONE should have to come to the Ref Tent to ask for ice or a Band Aid, which is why I spent time typing this up. We do have walkie-talkies, so the issue was resolved, but still.
During the game: AR's, please follow the ball to the Goal Line! First, the ball might become your Offside Position Line.
Second, that ball just might go into the Goal, and you are the arbiter of that situation with the best angle, if you are keeping up with the ball. Oh, and when that ball goes into the goal, and it is a goal, do not wave your flag, as there is no official flag wave for a goal, and any flag-waving could be mistaken for other, official, flag waves. Stand still, make eye contact with your Center Referee, communicate that it was a goal (not with the flag!) with a nod or thumbs-up or say it out loud if necessary, then jog up the line to take your position for the Kickoff. (Mark the card if it was your team's goal.) If play is continuing after you see that a goal has been scored, NOW's the time to put your flag straight up and give it a wave AND make eye contact with your Referee until they blow the whistle. THEN communicate to them that it was a goal as noted above. If NOT a goal, what I do: I prefer to put my hand, palm up, stretched toward the field, below my waist, so the Referee knows that a) I am watching; b) that ball is still in play. That way, I can STILL watch the game AND communicate to my Referee. Two birds, one stone! (DISCLAIMER: I do not advocate the killing of birds, though some of them...) I do the same with any "not-Offside" call. On Corner Kicks, you should be in line with the Goal Line, in case any player pulls a Christian Pulisic and kicks the ball straight into the goal from the corner (as he did on Tuesday). Once you believe that the ball will not go straight in, determine your Offside Position line (second-to-last defender, ball, or Half Line/Build-Out Line (10U) and get to it. Thanks!
| | | Hello, Referees! Referees' Week at The Creek 10/23/2024 | | | | | | First, a quiz, from a match I was an A.R. for in Simi: | | | 12U Girls: Red Team takes a Goal Kick. Before the ball is kicked, a Blue player steps into the Penalty Area, subsequently intercepts the Goal Kick and scores. What is the Restart? | | | | | | I will fill you in a little (just checked the length: a LOT) on The Region 9 Tournament that starts November 2: | | | First: Why? | | | This tournament gives the players some Tournament Experience. There will be Groups similar to The World Cup, and four teams from each Division will move on to Sunday 11/17. | | | In the past, we have tried single-elimination knockouts, which also require losing teams' friendlies to make sure all teams play the minimum number of matches in the season (this is something we want to provide), and double-elimination knockouts. Both of these formats suffered from a severe case of not enough referees for the too many matches (some teams will play more than the minimum, meaning more matches meaning more referees required). They also suffered from a great team having an off match or something unexpected happening to cause an upset. | | | We (I) also wanted to make sure that any format would require Team Referees to volunteer during the tournament to earn points. I mean, if these are more serious matches, they deserve a team of Three Referees. | | | We (I) also wanted some incentive for teams to recruit Team Referees. You all know how fun Refereeing is, and don't feel sorry for those other parents missing out because they were too busy or too scared to step up. We have several very young Youth Referees brave enough to try it. You know, if I can get a few testimonials on how fun, how easy, how great it is to be a Team Referee, I think it might help in next year's recruitment! Just e-mail me your thoughts! | | | Note that Area 10E (the organization running the Area Playoffs) is requiring that teams invited to the Area Playoffs to have a Team Referee (or two) who will be Assistant Referee on three matches on Saturday. No Team Referee, No Invite. Any team invited who recruited a completely uninterested teenager who might have better things to do on December 7 needs to convince that teenager to be interested. And if they are busy, well, this tournament will determine the Invite List order for each Division. We have plenty of teams with plenty of Referee Points and Team Referees to do it. | | | Also fun fact: All-Star teams are in their beginning stages. I have advised All-Star Coaches for several years to consider players who can bring a Team Referee in tow. It makes the All-Star Tournaments a lot less expensive per player, and some tournaments simply refuse teams without Team Referees (because shortages cannot be made up by forfeited Referee Deposits -- ask Chuck Huffer). Area 10E's All-Star Playoffs in January will ALSO require teams to supply Team Referees for the number of matches that the team plays each weekend. Anyway, I've advised, and coaches should think about Team Referees when forming teams. | | | | | | Now, we won't know the schedule for 11/2, 11/9, and 11/16 until Monday or Tuesday next week, since we need to determine which teams are playing in the tournament and which teams are playing "friendlies" against each other or against "bye week" Tournament teams (might be an odd number of teams in a pool). | | | | | | The basic facts: | | | 1. | AYSO Region 9 Core 10U and 12U Divisions only. | | | 2. | Three rounds of "Pool Play," one Round each Week. | | | 3. | Team Referees need to volunteer for three matches in those three weeks in order for their team, or else the team will not qualify to advance to the Finals on Sunday, November 17. I am NOT restricting the number of refereeing that can be done, but, PLEASE, consider one per week. I feel too many Referees bunching up on 11/2 will lead to a lack of Referees on 11/16, and then I'm begging again. Like Peanut Butter on bread: nice and smooth and full coverage to the crust. | | | 4. | Since these Tournament Matches are more consequential, they will require a team of three referees to ensure (hopefully) a higher quality match. As a result, volunteering as a Center Referee will count for only one point per match. | | | 5. | The teams will be filled in to the schedule updated after this week's matches, hopefully by Tuesday, so if you are a Team Referee, please be patient. | | | 6. | Four teams from each Division will be invited to the "Final Four," or "Super Sunday" (still working on a title) on November 17, depending on volunteering and Group standings. | | | 7. | For Sunday 11/17, these matches are even MORE consequential, so I would ask first for more experienced Referees to sign up, then beg for more afterward. Some already have, and thank you. Girls will play at 9AM and 1PM, Boys will play 11AM and 3PM. Team Referees do not have to volunteer for these, but I'm not going to refuse anyone. | | | 8. | All four teams will play two matches on Sunday. Area Playoff Invitee order will be determined partially by the results. (Volunteering and touchline behavior will be considered as well.) | | | 9. | Please note that teams that are invited to the Area League playoffs (12/7, 12/8) will be required to have a Team Referee volunteer for matches (you will be assigned matches) for Pool Play (usually three matches) on Saturday 12/7/2024. (Brackets on Sunday 12/8/2024.) No Team Referee, No Invite. And do note the term "invite." Division champions are usually invited, but poor touchline behavior will be a mark against. Teams at the Area Playoffs are representatives of our Region. Fun note: The Section Playoffs in February in Bakersfield do not require Team Referees. Referees are invited based on quality and experience. | | | 10. | For U14: the 2nd and 3rd place teams will play 11/16 in the morning (Girls at 8AM, Boys at 9:30AM), and the winner will play the first-place team later (Girls and 11AM, Boys at 12:30PM). I will need Referees for these, too. | | | | | | | | | | | | QUIZ ANSWER: | | | The Goal kick is retaken. | | | Page 135 states the following: | | | 1. Procedure | | | The ball must be stationary and is kicked from any point within the goal area by a player of the defending team | | | The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves | | | Opponents must be outside the penalty area until the ball is in play | | | (Me: Note that the Penalty Area boundary is part of the Penalty Area.) | | | 2. Offences and sanctions | | | … | | | If, when a goal kick is taken, any opponents are inside the penalty area because they did not have time to leave, the referee allows play to continue. (Me: trifling) | | | If an opponent who is in the penalty area when the goal kick is taken, or enters the penalty area before the ball is in play, touches or challenges for the ball before it is in play, the goal kick is retaken | |
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| Hello, Referees! |
| This the Referee Week at The Creek, 10/8/2024 |
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| This week, I heard some concerns about some refereeing (note that petty concerns about Refereeing affecting the outcome of a match are not important to me, since I cannot change the outcomes, but I want to focus on the future…), so I would like to review a few Laws Of The Game. |
| Law 11 -- Offside. |
| As you should know from your training and your Refereeing experience: Offside is called when an attacking player is in an Offside Position AT THE TIME the ball is played by one of his teammates AND gets involved in or interferes with play. |
| So, three criteria: WHERE were they, WHEN were they there, and WHAT did they do. |
| Recall Offside Position: an attacking player is in an offside position when they are closer to the opponents goal than a) the ball, b) the second-to-last defender, AND c) the half-line (12U and up) or the Build-Out Line (10U). |
| And note, according to The Laws of The Game, Page 99, the First Sentence in Law 11, "It is not an offence (their spelling) to be in an offside position." As Ken Aston would say, "That player is 'off their side' and cannot participate at that moment." That moment is fleeting, though. |
| The best place for an Assistant Referee to observe an Offside Position is in line with the closest of these to the goal line. Usually, it's the second-to-last defender, oftentimes it is the ball. For older age groups with strategic Coaches, it is the Half Line. |
| Coaches have been notified that their Technical Area is NOT an optimal place to determine Offside Position, though will that stop them? |
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| This is a lot for a first-year Referee, but the incidents in question appear to have been done by an experienced Referee. |
| Practical Guidelines for Assistant Referees: |
| 1. | Wait until you are sure in your mind that it is Offside. This is not a race to see who puts the flag up the fastest, as you are the only one and you will win regardless of when you do so. Remember, your flag indicates that you want the Referee to stop the match, and the Referee likely will, based on your advice. |
| 2. | Definitely wait for the player in the Offside Position to interfere with or get involved in play before deciding that is an Offside offense (my spelling). Players in an Offside Position not getting involved or interfering with play do not require a stoppage in play. |
| 3. | When you see an obvious offside incident, put your flag straight up and stand still. Don't follow the ball, don't wave the flag a little nor a lot, and do not put the flag back down until advised by the Referee. |
| 4. | If you are unsure, and a goal is not scored, think about it for a little bit and move on. |
| 5. | If you are unsure, and a goal is subsequently scored, think about it thoroughly, and if necessary ask the Referee to discuss it with you. We want to get this right before restarting play. |
| Practical Guidelines for Referees: |
| 1. | All (Players, Coaches, spectators, AR's) should remember that Offside is not called until the Referee blows a whistle and stops play for it. An Assistant Referee's flag is not the authority. |
| 2. | As a Referee, make sure the AR's Offside signal makes sense before you stop play. Did that player interfering with play appear to be in an offside position at the time the ball was played to them, albeit from your worse POV? Again, you are the only person able to stop play, so there is no rush to be the first. |
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| Law 12 Offences -- Handball |
| For the three divisions we are officiating, and even in younger and older divisions, and all the way up to the English Premier League versus other top-level Euro Leagues, Handball offences can vary greatly. |
| For Referees at 10U/12U/14U: |
| These are likely handball offences: |
| 1. | Player reaches for the ball away from their body, even involuntary. |
| 2. | Player voluntarily makes themselves bigger (arms raised in a V). |
| 3. | Player reacts voluntarily to protect themselves AND to play the ball. We see this a lot with players covering their bodies or head, but they still want to play the ball. I've seen this with players wanting to play the ball from their sides but with their arms down protecting their bodies while they still want to play the ball. Yes, I call that. |
| These are likely NOT handball offences: |
| 1. | Player reacts involuntarily to a dangerous situation by protecting themselves with no expectation of playing the ball. |
| 2. | Ball comes immediately off the ground or off another player (or themselves) and hit the player's arm that was in a "natural soccer position." |
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| The incidents in question involved a Girls 10U match where it was reported that the players were swatting at the ball. |
| Practical Guidelines: |
| 1. | If you see a handball, stop the match and restart with a Direct Free Kick outside the Penalty Area, or a Penalty Kick if the handball occurred in the Penalty Area. It is how they learn. |
| 2. | If you see a ball hit a hand and you decide that it was not a Handball, verbally state so, so that the players hear you that it was "no handball," "no offence," "keep playing"; anything that communicates that you saw it and your opinion is no handball. The players need to know, otherwise they might stop playing. No need to explain to anyone else, though if you are loud enough, more people (like Coaches) will hear it. The point is, not saying anything raises doubt that you are not familiar with the LOTG, and they raise their concerns to me. Make calls with the whistle, make non-calls with your voice. |
| 3. | Lastly as with other offences, wait to see if the ensuing play results in an advantage for the opposition. Even at 10U. |
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| Substitutions for injury: |
| Players may substituted ONLY after the Referee is informed of the substitution. Law 3, page 53, and AYSO has no additional rule negating this. This even includes halftime and planned Substitution Breaks, though the Referee is tacitly approving the substitution process at those times, and the Referee generally expects the AR to handle these. |
| Guidelines for Referees: |
| 1. | Please notify Coaches that if a player is substituted for injury at a time NOT at Half Time or a planned Substitution Break, then that player may not return until Half Time or the next planned Substitution Break. They cannot sub back in during that same quarter! This is an AYSO Rule on Page 2:2 of the AYSO Reference Book, which everyone should memorize front to back. (Yes, I'm joking.) |
| 2. | Please notify your Assistant Referees in the Pre-Game instructions that they need to see the players who are sitting out to verify the numbers of the players. |
| 3. | For 10U Boys matches: When a 10UB team has all 10 players present, two players will have to sit twice. Please notify your Assistant Referees that the Substitution Columns need to be unambiguous, so that these Two-Sit players are recorded correctly. |
| 4. | I have witnessed several instances of unpermitted substitutions behind the Referee's back. These coaches likely do not know, so tell them about this when they sub out an injured player. |
| Guidelines for Assistant Referees: |
| 1. | Injury substitutions shall not be noted on the game cards as half a quarter played or not played. Whoever was in at the beginning of the period is the player of record. |
| 2. | If a player cannot play any more of the match due to injury, please note it on the card, especially if they are out more than a quarter. |
| 3. | Please use an X for players OUT, blank for in, G for Goalkeeper, a line through their name and the substitution columns for absent. |
| 4. | Please use the two Goals scored columns to note goals, using Tally Marks (look it up). Not a "G" in the quarter column, and yes, I have seen this. Fun to see a card with three goalkeepers in the 1st quarter. |
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| Finally: Team Referees watching their team's match: |
| Please do not give an opinion contrary to the decisions of the Referee on the field. You sow discontent, you fuel flames of dissent, and worst of all you could make Volunteers leave the Region due to touchline behavior. |