July 4, 2013
IN THIS ISSUE...
To Whistle or Not to Whistle?
What's the Correct AYSO Answer?
4 Safe Haven Tournament Musts
Tip of the Week
Congratulations and Thank You!
To Whistle or Not to Whistle?
Things you didn't know about things you know well.
Referees must make decisions related to games, applying knowledge, common sense and their wits. These decisions must always respect the letter of the law and embrace the spirit of the game. Test your knowledge and see how you would respond to the following scenario.
In a U-14 boys' game, blue #13 is taking a throw-in and deliberately strikes red #10 in the face with the ball. The ball rebounds off the player's face, directly out of play and across the touchline.
Answer:
Blue #13 committed a violent conduct offense by deliberately striking red #10 with the ball. Therefore, the referee should show the red card to blue #13, send him off for violent conduct and restart the game with a direct free kick for the red team from where the ball struck red #10.
Although it can happen, typically players don't commit violent conduct offenses because of one simple incident. The referees need to constantly check the players' emotional levels and frustration levels that may build up and trigger player misconduct.
In similar cases, the referee can look for the following signs, which could have helped to identify blue #13's frustration early enough to avoid the misconduct:
•Contact with an opponent and the referee did not blow the whistle, which blue #13 considered a foul.
•Provide verbal awareness so the players know that you are watching the same game. Example: "Keep playing. No foul. Thank you."
•The referee missed a foul and blue #13 got frustrated.
•The assistant referees (ARs) can assist with the identification of fouls.
•Blue #13 and red #10 exchanging negative comments.
•Have a quick word with both players at the next stoppage of play or as you run by them. Example: "Stop, both of you! Thank you." Give the players a serious look, so they understand you are keeping a close eye on them.
Referees should constantly read the players' emotions and use preventive techniques to manage them before they get into trouble.
(See page 39 in the AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game).
What's the Correct AYSO Answer?
Test Your Knowledge.
The following is a recently received question:
"I read in Whistle Stop that in U-8 games, the referee should allow a second throw-in if the first attempt was improperly done. How about in U-10 games?"
Answer: Second chances are not given for improper throw-ins for U-10 and older players. An improper throw-in results in a throw-in for the opposing team. However, the referee should judge if the throw-in violated the Spirit of the Law or if the violation was trifling and not worthy of stopping play. The objective is to keep the game moving by avoiding unnecessary or trifling interruptions.
•The proper procedure for throw-ins dictates that at the moment of delivering the ball, the thrower:
•Faces the field of play.
•Has part of each foot either on the touch line or on the ground outside the touch line.
•Holds the ball with both hands.
•Delivers the ball from behind and over his head.
•Delivers the ball from the point where it left the field of play. And remember, when in doubt, let the children play.
(See page 48 in the AYSO Guidance for Referees, Coaches, Other Volunteers and Parents).
4 Safe Haven Tournament Musts
Keeping all your participants safe is the most important part of any tournament. Here are five Safe Haven musts that every tournament should cover:
1.All volunteers - coaches, referees and every tournament volunteer or worker - must be registered with a current AYSO Volunteer Application on file with the AYSO National Office.
2.All AYSO volunteers must be Safe Haven trained and certified, as well as have job-specific training.
3.The AYSO adult supervision ratio of one adult to every eight players must be planned for and observed - just as it is during primary season play.
4.Have an action plan for how to deal with loiterers and other unidentified spectators that are unaffiliated with teams, volunteer work or vendors.
Tip of the Week
Be a student of the game and take 30 minutes each week to read and review any topic related to refereeing, including aspects of coaching and administration.
Refereeing Without Assistant Referees
The diagonal system of control, with one referee and two assistant referees (AR), is the only system for officiating outdoor soccer games that is currently recognized by FIFA and used by AYSO. This system allows effective evaluation of game situations because at least two people are looking at play at all times. In addition, decisions related to fouls and misconduct are made by the referee (one person), which maximizes the possibility of consistency throughout the game.
In AYSO we have processes and tools to help recruit, train, assign, and retain volunteer referees. And Regions can reach out to their Area, Section, and the National Office to get help with developing and maintaining a referee program within their Region. However, there are times when there are not enough referees to assign three officials to a game.
Using two referees should not be allowed because it develops poor officiating habits. This approach is a source of frustration as the two referees attempt but fail to provide consistency in making foul and offside decisions. If only two qualified officials are available for a match, one should assume the duties of the referee and the other should become a neutral assistant referee. A “club linesperson”, an untrained, non-neutral person, if available, may be used after receiving instructions from the referee. If a “club linesperson” is not available, the referee must assume the duties of the missing AR as is done in the single referee system (i.e. the referee must make all decisions regarding offside, touchline calls, and goal line calls that would normally be indicated by an AR).
Below are tips to help you develop and maintain a robust referee program, recruit Club Linespersons as needed, and referee games without ARs.
Tips to help you develop and maintain a referee program
•Read the “AYSO Recruiting and Retaining Referees” manual to get ideas and specific steps to follow in order to recruit and retain referees.
•Ask your mentors to read the “AYSO Referee Mentor Handbook” manual to learn the process of mentoring.
•Ask your mentors to read the “AYSO Mentors – Ten Ways to be a Better Mentor”. Mentors are a great resource to help retain and improve referees.
•Network with other Regions and share best practices related to your referee program.
•Contact the National Referee Program Administrator at to get assistance, tools, and training to help you with your referee program.
Club Linesman
•A club linesperson is a volunteer provided by a team on the day of the game.
•The club linesperson has only one responsibility – to indicate when the ball completely leaves the field of play.
•The Regional Referee Administrator and Regional Board should discuss the need for club linespersons with the parents at the start of the season and remind them as required throughout the season.
•Everyone in the Region needs to understand that this is a good option when there are not enough referees.
•Club linespersons are also a source of volunteer recruits to take a referee class.
oA good start for club linespersons and other volunteers is to be trained as an AR. Being an AR provides a comfortable approach to starting a referee career.
Refereeing without assistant referees (ARs)
•The primary objective is to keep the players safe, the same as when you referee with assistant referees.
•Accept assignments where your fitness level will always help you to be close to play. When refereeing without trained neutral ARs you will be running more to stay deep and wide enough to cover goal line calls, offside calls, and fouls in what would normally be the AR’s quadrant.
•Connect with coaches, players, and parents before the match.
oEstablish a good connection by being pleasant and being helpful to the coaches.
oDon’t play the victim but let them know that you won’t have ARs to help you.
oTry to recruit two club linespersons.
oThank them in advance for the support they will provide during the game.
oIf only one club linesperson is available, use him/her. You will only have to help on one end of the field, but remember that the teams will switch sides at half-time so using one club linesperson is a fair approach to managing the game.
•When a player that has control of the ball with little chance of immediate contact by an opponent, or when play stops, look around the field.
oLook behind you so that you have a picture of everything that goes on during the game.
oLook ahead to identify possible offside patterns.
•Talk to players a bit more than normal.
oIt will help the players sense your presence which is good for game control.
oIf needed, talk to players that normally are watched closely by ARs (outside attackers and defenders).
•Apply the same foul recognition that you would apply if you were working with ARs.
•When play goes deep into the corners, get closer than when you work with ARs.
•Make firm, clear signals when you make offside and foul decisions.
For the most part, you should referee in the same manner as you do when you work with ARs. And remember to maintain a good connection with the coaches and parents just as you do when you referee with ARs. Refereeing without ARs makes you pay attention to everything that goes on during the game which helps you develop great awareness as a referee.
Congratulations and Thank You!
Please join us in congratulating the following volunteers. They have worked hard to achieve higher levels of certification in AYSO.
Advanced Referee
Sean Sherlock 11/L/630
Howard E. Doane 10/W/068
Charles Wilson Jr. 13/D/567
Steven J. Wilson 11/L/630
National Referee
Christian Doucette 10/Q/083
Kelly Burgess 01/S/397
Referee Instructor Evaluator
David Story 01/P/020