| RULES CLARIFICATIONS - REF'S ADVICE:
Part 2 From MISL report
(Aug 03, 2001) written by Herb Silva (MISL Director of
Officials, who’s also a USSF National Emeritus
Referee, National Assessor and National Instructor in the
U.S. Soccer National Program for Referee Development, has
worked games in leagues like the NASL, the original MISL,
the MSL, the CISL, the WISL, as well as collegiate and
high school games) .
Answers for controversial incidents.
DELAY OF GAME - VS-
ENCROACHMENT:
MISCONDUCT TECHNICAL INFRACTIONS: A five
(5) minute non-Power Play penalty may be assessed for the
following offenses:
(c) Delay of Game: Players of either team shall not
engage in tactics that delay the restart of the game
immediately following the Referee’s whistle to stop
play. The attacking team is entitled to a quick re-start.
It is suggested that encroachment should not be called
until and unless the ball is put in play.
DELAY OF GAME TACTICS:
Work on interpreting delay tactics. Deal with players who
are in gross violation of delaying the restart. If
blatant, the rules are specific. Focus on the obvious
delay, kicking of the ball away after the whistle. The
action may be frustration- emotional or it may be
tactical, designed to allow subs to enter the game. Teams
are using the time after a free kick is called to make
player substitutions. Referees should not be part of such
time wasting. Once the ball is placed close (enough) to
the place of the foul start the five-second count down.
Further, once the countdown has started, the attacking
team should not be allowed to ask for the 15-foot
distance. If the defenders play the ball a simple
encroachment warning or misconduct could be assessed. If
the defending team does not play the ball and/or the
attacking team plays the ball in a different direction
there is no harm done. Encourage kick play whenever
possible.
Insure 15’ especially goal side of yellow line. An
honest 15’ often leads to goal scoring opportunities.
Foster the quick free kick by doing nothing. Unless
attacking players ask for distance. If defensive player
is less that than 15’ when the ball is placed in
play and interferes by playing the ball. The first
violation is a team warning. Subsequent, violation(s) is
misconduct.
Second Touch: Monitor the kicker to ensure that he does
not play the rebound off the wall or glass before being
played by another player. This responsibility falls on
the trail referee because the lead referee is monitoring
the goal and players close to the goal.
RESTARTS: Required Distance - The
referees started the 5- second count without getting the
required distance. The players were asking for 15 feet,
but were not getting any help from the referees. On a
number of occasions, the referees realized they were in
trouble. They reacted by slowing the count down, usually
at 3 seconds. On one occasion, a free kick at the top of
the arc, the referee moved the defending players back to
the penalty spot, which is well short of 15 feet. On
another occasion, neither referee was near the free kick
being taken out of the defensive zone. The player taking
the kick was begging for help, as the opposing player had
encroached to under 10 feet. Unfortunately, neither
referee was close enough to help. The player was forced
to play a bad ball because the referees did not do their
job.
GAME FLOW:
Practice delayed calls. Do not blow the whistle and pull
the blue card without reading the play for possible
advantage and therefore a delayed blue.
GAME CONTROL:
FROM KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL REFEREEING:
Prevent violence by preventing frustration. Calling the
simple holding fouls will reduce a player's tendency to
lash out at the player holding him with an elbow. Once
game control has been achieved, then the referee can
allow the game to flow more freely. Stamp out serious
foul play & violent acts that have no place in the
game, including over the ball tackles, tackles into the
Achilles tendon, elbows to the head and off the ball
fouls.
FROM RECENT FIFA MEMO:
1. Applying 'Advantage”: It was recommended that
referees should not use only the single criteria of a
player keeping possession of the ball in deciding to
allow play to continue after an offence has been
committed on that player. The emphasis must be on any
benefit arising being allowed to the team suffering from
the offence, but only after consideration of the position
of the offence in the field of play and the locations of
opposing players etc. Referees were also reminded of
their obligation in respect of penalizing the original
offence if an anticipated advantage does not immediately
occur. Also, it is their obligation to take the
appropriate disciplinary action against the offender,
after allowing advantage and when the ball next goes out
of play.
2. Hand and ball contact: It was confirmed that only
deliberate handling of the ball by a player should result
in a direct free-kick and that accidental hand and ball
contact is not an offence, even if the ball falls
favorably for the player in such a case.
3. So called "back pass" situations: Referees
reported difficulties in deciding whether a 'back pass'
was deliberate or not. They agreed that an accidental
deflection of the ball, as a result of a tackle being
made, did not constitute a 'deliberate kick' of the ball
to the goalkeeper and play should continue.
4. Better use of time when the ball is not in play: It
was concluded that, for example, when the ball is being
positioned in midfield for a free kick to be taken,
benefit could be gained by anticipating the next phase of
play and moving early into a good viewing position,
before the free kick is taken.
5. Being close to play, but ...: Value was recognized in
the referee being close to the play action when signaling
an offence. The close presence added creditability.
However, it was also recognized that being too close
sometimes got the referee involved in the action itself
and limited the options of players in trying to play the
ball. The correct balance of being close enough to be
convincing, but not too close to be in the way of
players, was desired.
6. Monitoring areas of danger: Benefit was seen in being
aware of possible 'risks' after some tackles resulted in
players being left behind on the ground, after the ball
had been played away. Referees were encouraged to monitor
the behavior of such players, possibly by backward
running and keeping the area of danger in view as play
progressed.
7. Eye-contact with assistant referees: The value of
recognizing that certain attacking movements may well
develop into possible offside decisions caused referees
to think of the value of making almost 'automatic' eye-contact
with an assistant referee in such situations i.e. read
the pattern of play and then quickly establish eye-contact.
The assistant referee should read the play similarly and
anticipate the referee wishing to make eye contact.
8. Discreet signals: In connection with the use of
helpful discreet hand signals by assistant referees,
referees agreed that it was necessary to discuss fully
such signals in the pre-match preparation so that signals
given were understood very clearly and confusion was
avoided.
9. Gaining respect: It was felt that those referees who
were seen to show obvious concern for the safety and
welfare of players when judging challenges, more easily
gained the respect of teams.
Do not relax if game slowing down. Stay at top of your
game at all times. Be prepared from the first to the last
whistle. There is no directive to ignore penalty
situations late in a contested match. Referees need to be
in proper position to make the correct. Proper position
leads to credibility of calls.
“ Talk to players to prevent emotions going wild.
Watch during dead ball situations for emotional triggers.”
Focus on the players and not on the ball and position of
the restart. Get there; in many instances you can diffuse
the situation with your presence. Watch for taunting
signals (negative body language between opponents).
PLAYER AND FAN FRUSTRATION: “…one
area of continued non-calls. There is way too much shirt
and arm pulling of players who are in a position to pull
away for a good shot or to make a good pass. Surely the
officials see these infractions, but do nothing about it,
resulting in the negating of good scoring chances and
creating frustration and anger from the player who was
restrained.”
DEAD BALL SITUATIONS:
Insure “management” of players during dead ball
situations especially following goals or penalties.
Priority of managing players begins with observation
during critical times when emotions running high.
Presence lends conviction.
MUGGING:
There has been a lot of no calls for shirt pulling
because the fall under the advantage or trifling category.
However, there is still too much mugging by the defenders.
The mugging involves bumping, holding, pulling and
blocking. You must deal with excessive “mugging”.
A recent quote from former basketball coaching legend
Wooden on Basketball that is also applicable to other
sports as well. “They permit too much physical play…it’s
not a non –contact game, but it shouldn’t be
wrestling.”
MISCONDUCT:
Misconduct: Player simulation/faking of a foul. This not
delineated specifically in MISL rules. Therefore it is a
judgment call and not a mandatory misconduct. However, it
is within the Referee’s discretion under 12.7
MISCONDUCT PENALTIES: A five (5) minute Misconduct
Penalty shall be assessed against players who “ in
the opinion of” the referee… acts in a severe
un-sportsmanlike manner.
If a coach enters the field of play and/or a player
approaches the ref’s crease and visibly/verbally/demonstratively
argues/questions a particular call you must deal with it
with appropriate use of cards. Avoid going to locker
rooms to confront players/coaches before the game in
front of their peers.
DELIBERATE TRICKERY:
A defensive player kicking to juggle the ball and head
back to GK who used hands should be punished with
Misconduct. The restart should be a simple FK at the top
of the arc.
GOAL CELEBRATIONS: Monitor/control
exuberant goal celebrations involving players taking off
their jerseys. Review the Federation guidelines
delineated in topics 0-253; Subject: Removal of Jersey to
Celebrate a Goal. Be alert for taunting opponents and
fans. Otherwise, just observe.
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