Question Number: 15346

Mechanics 5/1/2007

RE: AYSO Under 12

ArtK of Culver City, CA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 15321

Mr. Fleischer -- thanks... both the better pregame prep with the ARs and switching diagonals sound good. Unfortunately, I had a rookie AR at that end of the field (asked me "what's keeper encroachement" during our pregame), so I'm not sure that would have worked in this instance, but I'll make sure I do a better job of prepping my ARs in the future.

Mr. Montanino -- sorry for the confusion. We were running a 3-man system, with a left diagonal. The problem player was a defenseman on the attacker's (and my) left, so I was in his neighborhood early on. He switched to the (attacking) right side of the field shortly after I started going deeper into the left corner to better observe him. It may be because he thought I was on to him, or because the attacking team changed their tactics and were pushing harder on the right.

Thanks!

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Art, you might want to consider the following when trying the old change diagonals ploy.

At the time I did this I was a State 1, I was well known as a referee who knew the Laws of the Game COLD, I was known to be one of the few referees in the area, not a National or National Candidate Referee, being assigned to professional league matches, both teams knew I was a late addition because trouble was expected during the match, both assistants were State 2's, the assessor on the match was a National Assessor and International Match Inspector. You might say any shenanigans I tried, with regard to match control, were specifically expected by the assignor and assessor and BOTH team's technical staff. The player who was the bother, wasn't; at least after he figured out what he was up against when he resorted to foul play...

Regards,