Law 5 – The Referee

1. Law 5 – The Referee 2017

2. Law 5 Elements of Being a Good Referee

3. Topics • Duties of the Referee – quickly review • Powers of the Referee – quickly review • When to penalize • Using Advantage • Critical Techniques of good officiating • Fitness, diagonal and positioning of the Referee • Pregame briefing • Required Equipment of the Referee

4. Duties of the Referee • These are Things the Referee MUST Do • Enforce the Laws of the Game. • Keep time and a record of the match and report on its outcome at the end. • Make sure players, their equipment, the field and the ball are all safe and okay for play. • Make sure only authorized persons come on the field. • Restart the match after any stoppage. • Use your ARs and act on their advice. • Make sure a bleeding player leaves the field.

5. Powers of the Referee • These are Things the Referee SHOULD Do • Stop the game for infringements. • Apply advantage as appropriate. • Discipline players (caution or send-off offenses). • Stop game for serious injury, allow it to continue for a slight injury. • Stop, suspend, or terminate the game if necessary. • Make sure coaches/team officials behave. • Reverse or change an incorrect decision (must be before play is restarted)

6. Decisions of the Referee And remember… The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play are final. The referee may only change a decision upon realizing that it is incorrect, provided that play has not restarted or terminated.

7. When to Penalize • One of your duties is to “Enforce” the Laws of the game. Does this mean you call everything??? • FIFA advises…. • “The Laws of the Game are intended to ensure games be played with as little interference as possible. Therefore, it is the duty of the referees to penalize only significant breaches of the Law.” • Constant stoppage for trivial infractions makes for bad feeling, loss of temper and spoils the pleasure of the game. This means…. Fouls that don’t impact the ability of a player to play the ball should not be called.

8. Advantage One of Referee’s Powers is to “Apply Advantage … as appropriate”. • Yell - “PLAY ON!” • Visual - Arms swing in front • You canchange mind if advantage doesn’t occur • But be Careful …. • May Not be Appropriate for games with less skilled players. • Less experienced players/teams/fans want justice – not advantage.

9. Critical Techniques of Officiating • Know the Laws • Positioning - Be near the play but not in the play • Fitness • Body language • Indicate your decision - Do not explain it • Use common sense

10. Referee Positioning

11. General Positioning AR 2 • The Referee runs diagonal • Referee area of responsibility • Each AR covers ¼ of the field • sees what’s ahead and behind the Referee • judge most offside calls AR 1

12. Fitness and Diagonal EXAMPLE - UNFIT / LAZY REFEREE • Stayed in center of field • Narrow corridor of patrol • “Slave” to diagonal?

13. Fitness and Diagonal FIT / EXPERIENCED / ACTIVE REFEREE • Close to assistant referee in some cases • Close to play but not interfering • Anticipates play and action

14. Critical Techniques of Officiating Fitness: • A referee who is not fit cannot properly cover the field of play • Must get to drop zone -- near center of action • Must be within 10 - 20 yards of significant challenges

15. Critical Techniques of Officiating Body Language Do not let negative body language show • Fatigue or Tiredness • Exasperation • Frustration • Fear • Disdain • Arrogance

16. Critical Techniques of Officiating • Eye contact – keep your head up!!! • At every stoppage - make eye contact with assistants to ensure that you know if they have information for you. • After foul - make eye contact with player who fouled as you point direction.

17. Critical Techniques of Officiating Move toward fouls when: • Challenge was very hard/physical • A player remains on the ground • Opponents are not departing the area • You must move in quickly to control the situation and prevent/stop/deal with misconduct

18. Critical Techniques of Officiating • Watch play - not the ball • Ball gone - start move to next position, watch for late contact • Ball coming - move to position, watch for foul prior to ball arriving • Set plays - vary position, use voice to manage players, signal when ready • Signal your decision (use standard signals – later)

19. How to Sell your Calls • Accurate decisions will sell your calls! • Know the Laws (facts) • Where are free kicks taken • Is it Direct or Indirect • Is the ball in play or out • When are signals required • Exercise judgment (opinion) • Was that a foul? • Is that misconduct? • Is that player offside? • Signal your Decision • Indecision can be fatal!

20. Pregame The referee and assistants should arrive early (at least 30 minutes) to complete the following tasks: • Inspection of field markings, nets, goalposts, safety issues • Conduct a crew pre-game meeting • Check players’ equipment • Check game balls You should never be the cause of a delayed start.

21. Uniforms and Equipment Shirt, Black Shorts, Socks, Shoes

22. Required Equipment Referee’s book 2 Watches w/alarm Flags, fancy or basic set Writing tools Air pump and Gauge cards Whistles (2 different sounding) Wrist lanyard Flipping coins

23. Law 18 Extra Equipment Extra watch Different shoes Shoe care Extra lanyard and whistles Sun-block and Chapstick Extra socks or matchrecords Waterproof card set First Aid Kit

24. Review A referee must: • Know the Laws of the Game • Be firm (Not overbearing) • Signal calls (Do not explain them) • Be near to play (If nothing else) • If in doubt - don’t interfere Use Common Sense (Law 18)