Question:
I’m confused with some of these procedures. I was made to understand from the laws of the game that a dropped ball is a method of restarting game, that any player may challenge for the ball. And that the referee cannot decide who may or may not contest a dropped ball.

Question: (1) Why do referees drop the ball for a player to play it back to the opponent after a temporal stoppages or why do one team play the ball back to the opponent after it has been dropped by the referee. (2) If the player fails to play it back to the opponent, will the referee caution the player? (3) In what situation can players from different teams contest for a dropped ball (4) In thesame line, when a player is down and the ball is been played out through the touch line so that the player down in the field can receive treatmeant. Why do players always start it by throw-in the ball to their opponent ( i cannot find it in the laws of the game).

Answer (May 2, 2013):
Deciding who “may or may not” contest the dropped ball is a concept that has been refined over the years by the Spirit of the Laws and tradition, which is well known to the players, and the referee. Or most of them. The tradition is outside of the Laws, but even special efforts and instructions by national associations, as well as hints from the International Football Association Board, the people who make the Laws, have not affected any real change.

(1) If play was stopped because of injury to a player of one team that was not caused by a foul (and thus there is no free kick), tradition requires that the referee drop the ball for the team whose player was injured. This includes events in the penalty area where the goalkeeper had possession; the ball is dropped for the goalkeeper and other players stay away.

(2) It is not against any Law to not play the ball to the other team. There is no penalty if the player fails to play the ball to the other team, but even his own teammates and team officials will often criticize him. The referee should not caution the player.

(3) If play was stopped for misconduct or a foul committed by players of both teams, the dropped ball is contested.

(4) If play was stopped when a player was injured and the other team kicks it out, tradition requires that the team that takes the throw-in play the ball to the other team. This is usually done by kicking the ball to the goalkeeper.

I’m sure all of you have witnessed verbal insults directed at referees from coaches, players, and spectators.  Some of these might have been directed at you personally while you were officiating, or you might just witnessed another referee be verbally abused.  The State Referee Committee (SRC) is working diligently to educate the soccer community of the negative impact this behavior has on the game.

 Referees can be proactive to help prevent such verbal abuse.  Here are some tips:

 1.      Enter the field dressed in a professional manner.  Make sure you wear the proper referee uniform, have your shirt completely tucked in, socks up towards the knee, and wear referee shorts.  Referees should arrive 30 minutes prior to a game.

2.      Make sure you follow proper procedures in pre-game. Conduct a proper field inspection, check the players in, collect appropriate paperwork, and conduct a coin toss with team captains.    The decision made by the team winning the coin toss is only which end of the field to attack; the other team takes the kick-off.

3.      Be polite to all coaches, players, and spectators – even if they don’t deserve it.  It’s your job to be professional even though others may not.

4.      Know the rules, hustle on the field, communicate with your Assistant Referees, and have fun.  You’re there to officiate. 

5.      Please don’t take reactionary comments personally.  These include “ref – handball, ref – she is offside, ref – there’s pushing”.  These are just spontaneous comments by overexcited adults who are frustrated by how things are developing in their game.  Notice that these are not verbally abusive comments.  Hopefully these comments are not happening after each call; this can be a form of abuse.

Super Liga only:  referee MUST read the sportsmanship card to both teams near the parents’ touchline.

The “ASK, TELL, REMOVE” process is recommended for all officials to follow regarding conduct by coaches:

 ·         ASK

If a situation arises where there is irresponsible behavior, the referee should ASK the person(s) to stop.

 ·         TELL

      If there is another occurrence of irresponsible behavior, the referee should inform that person that the behavior is not permissible and TELL them (insist) to stop.

 ·         REMOVE

If the non-accepted actions continue, the referee must REMOVE that person immediately.

Please use common sense and try to defuse problems before they get out of hand.  Try to use the least intrusive response that will solve the problem.

Let your referee coordinator know if you are having difficulties with coaches and handling difficult situations.  Each town has an experienced mentor that can work with referees to make sure they are succeeding on the field.  If you need help – ASK!!

The next Monthly Seminar Clinic (counts for two hours towards the 2014 re-certification) is on May 15^th from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at Smithfield High School.  The topic is “Choosing the right battle” and will be very helpful to those referees who seek advice on how to handle difficult situations such as player management and coaching issues.  Miguel Lara, a grade-7 referee with vast experience at the regional level, will be the presenter. 

Let’s continue with a great season!

Adel Cabral

State Director of Instruction

Please review this link for the latest throw in information

It has come to our attention that there was at least one incident this weekend where referees showed up to work a match and the teams asked the referee crew to delay the start of the match by several hours.

ALL changes in game time or location are made by the leagues and will be communicated to you by your assignor.  When you arrive at the field, your responsibility is to determine whether the field is safe and playable, check in the teams, and start the game on time.  If one or both teams are unable or unwilling to play the game at the scheduled time and location, the match may be abandoned.

The referee may abandon a match if there is an insufficient number of players to meet the requirements of the Law or the competition, if a team does not appear or leaves before completion of the game, or if the field or any of its equipment do not meet the requirements of the Laws or are otherwise unsafe. An abandoned match is replayed unless the competition rules provide otherwise.

United Soccer Leagues (USL), best known for its expansive network of pro, semipro and amateur adult leagues, has also had an significant impact on the youth game, having launched the Super Y-League in 1999. USL also operates an Olympic Development Program, a U-20 league, and its Premier Development League (PDL) provides a bridge to pro soccer for young players. We spoke to USL President Tim Holt about USL’s youth soccer ventures past, present and future. 

Please read this entire memo on misconduct. It is important that all referees are consistent when issuing yellow/red cards.

Misconduct:
Law 12 identifies the seven categories for which a player may be cautioned and shown the yellow card along with the seven categories for which a player may be sent off and shown a red card. Below is a simplified list of yellow and red card offenses. Referees should read Part B of Law 12 in the “Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game” book.

When to Punish Misconduct:
Law 5 empowers the referee to take “disciplinary action against players guilty of cautionable (yellow card) and sending-off (red card) offenses. The referee is not obligated to take this action immediately for yellow cards, but can do so when the ball next goes out of play.”

When a referee sees a cautionable misconduct on the field (could be on the bench by a player), he/she shall either stop play for the foul or misconduct and issue the appropriate card or continue play. If play is continued, the referee must then issue the card at the next stoppage and not wait until a later time in the game to issue the card. Make sure the “punishment fits the crime”. Play must be stopped for a red card offense.

Yellow card (caution) offenses:

1. Guilty of Unsporting Behavior
2. Dissent by words or action
3. Persistent Infringement of the laws
4. Delays the Restart of play
5. Fails to Respect required Distance
6. Enters field Without Permission
7. Deliberately Leaves the field Without Permission

*If play is stopped to caution a player, the referee will give an indirect free kick to the opposing team unless the offense included a foul calling for a direct free kick.

Red Card (Send Off) offenses:

1. Guilty of Serious Foul Play
2. Guilty of Violent Conduct
3. Spits at an opponent or others
4. Denies a Goal by Handling the ball
5. Denies a Goal by a Foul
6. Uses Offensive, insulting or Abusive Language
7. Receives a Second Caution in the same match

ALL referees should read the “Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game” book! This book will help you become a better referee, will help you when you take recertification tests, and help you make the correct call using correct procedures.

Have a great season,

Adel Cabral
State Director of Instruction