Into The Book - EPISODE 3
We are beginning playoffs for many Spring Adult Leagues and well into our Summer Pre-Professional Leagues. We want to take this time to again highlight some Technical Area behavior management as well as ways for Referees to manage the game. You will also see in these videos that It is not just the referee that is responsible for the management and suggestion of misconduct. We will see clips where 4th officials and ARs are able to, and need to, be strong and confident in managing behavior or suggesting to the referee that misconduct be given.
Continue to be strong and confident as the seasons go on. Work together as a team and keep up all the great work that you are doing!
Want to see the latest Misconduct Data? - FFL and UPSL Misconduct Data can be found HERE
UPSL Misconduct Charts
FFL Misconduct Charts
Dissent and Technical Area Behavior
Managing the technical area is a crucial part of the game for the referee crew to maintain match control and set a standard for what is acceptable behavior. In this video we are able to see what happens when the behavior is not addressed.
Incident #1 happens in the 86th minute of the match when a goal is taken away for an Offside decision. Right away there are 5 people standing up on the bench. This is too many people standing to start with. Then you clearly see the Head Coach and a Substitute goal keeper showing visual dissent toward the Assistant Referee. As the 4th official this cannot be ignored. A warning to the coach or a Yellow Card to the Substitute Goal Keeper (in Orange) is expected in this situation.
Incident #2 happens 10 minutes later in stoppage time. This is where we see, that by not dealing with the first incident, we are showing that this is acceptable behavior for the technical area. Simply walking over and telling them it is not okay is not enough. A warning or Yellow Card needs to be issued.
Video 2 has a three part breakdown that shows you technical area management as well as managing a restart after a high intensity moment. Several things to keep in mind as you watch this video.
Assistant Referees - It is okay to tell a referee that you need a player to be carded for dissent towards you. The referee may not have seen it.
4th officials - It is okay to walk all the way down a technical area and warn a coach. Biggest part is you cannot let this go unpunished. (coach was given a warning off camera in this clip)
Referee - After high intensity moments we must be in control, it is okay to slow the game down and restart in the fair manner. You see the referee here engage the defending team before the restart. This puts the now defending team out of position AND puts himself almost 60 yards out of position for the next potential decision.
Game Management
Let’s set the stage for this clip. The GK has shown that, with his team in the lead, he is going to be taking his time on restarts. The referee here does a great job of showing everyone, in a public manner, that he has already told him once and that it cannot continue.
What types of cues can we see to be sure this is wasting time and not okay?
What is the score of the game?
How long has the Goal Keeper been taking through out the game? - Keep in mind a GK that takes a long time when they are losing or tied is not afforded the same time when winning.
Did they place the ball down and then pick it up again to re-set the ball?
The amount of time they are taking.
Did they switch who is taking the restart after one player already showed they were going to take it?
Managing Kicks From The Mark
The last video in this section we want to put a spot light on KFTM. Many teams are going into Playoffs for Adult Amateur leagues from the spring and it will be important to know how to manage KFTM.
This can be a high intensity part of the game with kickers and Goal Keepers trying to get any edge that they can. It is important for referees and their crew to remember to be in of the moments that happen during this time.
Set the stage for the players, tell them the expectations
Know the Laws - Warnings, Yellow and Red Cards
Maintain control, not the player
You control the ball
Goal Keepers don’t get to come up to kickers