Question Number: 12101

Character, Attitude and Control 1/25/2006

RE: Rec-select. Other

melissa dipietro of vancouver, bc canada asks...

At a recent assessment the assessor felt I had only fair foul recognition....I know it can always improve, thus, my question is how to improve one's ability to recognize fouls at flash point....ciao !

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Melissa,

You can review video (both (personal your game} and the instructional ones by your association), attend training sessions not just the manditory ones, observe others, however by having a quality mentor and or colleagues work closely with you as my colleague Ref Lacy suggests is a most excellent way to get feedback and honest review.

A very good friend of mine Julian Carosi has an excellent website with MANY interactive features and great advise. You will benefit from reviewing this material.

http://www.carosi.freeserve.co.uk/corshamreferee/index.htm

I would hope the assessor pointed out the WHYS and the WHENS and the WHERES these missed fouls occurred! What were his or her suggestions?
Were you too far away?
Bad angle on positioning?
Not using your Ars?
Were you more scared of blowing your whistle at a wrong moment than blowing it when needed?
DO you know the penal fouls?
Can you list the critical points for Impeding or Playing in a dangerous manner?
Is offside recognition second nature to you?
You have DOGSO criteria nailed?
If I ask you to tell me what a foul is and what is required could you spit it out no problem?

Foul recognition is art as much as science. It is a marriage of the application of text law to practical understanding of game conditions so that the spirit lives.

The ten penal fouls are relatively simple in functionality
TRIP (stick out the leg)
PUSH (stiff arm in the back or chest)
STRIKE (fist or throw )
JUMPS (leaps into the air feet off of the ground)
CHARGE (football blocking technique ramming speed)
KICKS (a rap on the ankle or shin instead of the ball)

The key in the above six is we apply a MISCONDUCT standard that is in our opinion covers the circumstances and force used to perpetrate the penal foul action

NOTHING
TRIVIAL or DOUBTFUL verbal warning
CARELESS a mistimed try DFK
RECKLESS a mistimed try that was painfully obvious we caution
EXCESSIVE force used was dangerous to the players safety we sendoff

TACKLE (unfair contact to the player before the ball is contacted)
DELIBERATE HANDLING (ball to hand, hand to ball, big difference)
HOLD (grab the shirt or hand on shoulder )
SPIT (just gross water goblets)

The above four simply have to occur.

We are instructed to avoid calling doubtful or trifling yet what that is, maybe different match to match, even within the game itself. Each match breathes its own a distinctive rhythm of player tolerance and referee acceptance as to what constitutes fair-play.

Advantage as a conceptual tool indicates you SEE the foul but recognize the PLAYER being fouled wants to continue playing.
In fact it is advantageous for the aggrieved team to LET PLAY CONTINUE as attacking play is obvious or a goal scoring attempt is likely in the offering. You must be adapt in displaying that READ to the players by the intelligent use of the advantage signal and ensuring an advantage truly exists. Youth football or senior or recreational football many coaches/players will want a free kick.
FOUL RECOGNITION must be displayed so those watching will know, you know, they know, well you get the picture. LOL!

You NEED to learn to READ body language!
Listen to the interactions of the players watch their reactions.
Sense the atmosphere and observe which player is best positioned to play a contested ball. Look to see how the other adapts or if he plays the ball or man.

In collision sequences as in jumping up to head the ball was he backing in or his opponent coming over the top?
Were the eyes focused on the ball or did he look at the man and place the arms to counter his superior position?

Be proactive, if no foul in your opinion and they have doubts.
"Nothing there! GET on with IT! "
or" IT is 50/50 GET on with IT!"

If the fouling is niggle or in bug mode verbally get in their face a bit and point out ENOUGH of that!
If you get dissent or flack and you think you COULD have made a mistake or it becomes obvious you missed something. As in blood running down the back of the heel on a step grind. I said I was fair not perfect if I missed it sorry but I can only call what I see. I am aware of it now thanks. Get on with it!

TECHNICAL FOULS
are infringements that require INDFK restarts,
impeding
playing in a dangerous manner
offside
2ND touches on restarts.
keeper restrictions as to handling the ball
player restrictions on bugging the keeper
ANY misconduct not covered directly in law

Work on seeing past the obvious and listen to the feel of the match.
Fitness and anticipation are vital you can not achieve effective positioning without it .
Positioning is CRITICAL. You MUST see it to call it!
Communication between YOU and your ARs. Are you trapping play in between so we have six or four eyes not just two?

Are you quick to the flash points in collisions or heady looking challenges? Can the players rely on you to protect them to prevent the retaliation? Developing presence and character as a referee you can save a player from himself simply by doing your job. It is a mistake to say a referee is to be unnoticed the game was easy it is far more likely you MUST step up and be noticed WHEN it is time to do so.

Understanding and interpreting what you see is a perception of tolerance and the wisdom of experience which only comes, as a good friend pointed out 'in the fullness of time'
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Nathan Lacy

Wow. That was a pretty comprehensive answer Ref Dawson gave. The best teaching I received in this regard involved my mentor. He and I would work tons of matches together and, because we had a very high level of communication, he was able to actually help me recognize and deal with fouls during actual play. (HIS instructions to ME when he was my AR was, "When I put up the flag, you blow the whistle.") We would then discuss the game(s) on the drive home ad nauseum. Now this was a very unique refereeing relationship that he and I had in being able to communicate this well during play BUT if you can find someone to help and mentor you in such a manner, I personally see no better approach. All the best,