Question Number: 18178

Mechanics 12/28/2007

RE: Adult

Melvin Hagerman of Colorado Springs, CO U.S.A. asks...

Some questions about the referee (although they easily could go in other categories, all involve the ref primarily):

> I have seen referees write a player up in their black book, while others seem to actually write the player's name (number?) on the card itself. Is this a personal preference or is a referee just making short notes on the card itself for the match report?

> How is time added-on figured? I have heard that it's figured on the number of subs, goals, carded players, treatment time for injuries, and delays, but watching the games I'm somewhat out in left field when the fourth official holds up the board for time added-on. Is this kept on a second timer on the referee's watch?

> Last, to the entire panel: In American baseball, many umpires seem to have a series of words, phrases, or gestures which would get a player or coach ejected from the game (the "magic word").
Do any of you have such a threshold where if a player or staff says or does something to you, you automatically red-card or eject that person? (i.e. hand to the throat for "choke", insult your family, etc.) Or do you let some things go as "letting off steam" as long as it is not directed at you personally?
And, should refs be more proactive when players start gesturing--waving cards, pointing to eyes, etc.--during matches?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

There are write on cards where a player's name, number and reason the card was issued can be filled in with a special inked pen impervious to water. If a player is booked, we usually do it in pencil and can put a bit more detail if required.

There is a fundamental flaw in perceptions of added time in how it is managed at the elite level and at the unlimited substitute level.
Basically a referee has sole discretion to make up for time wasted Law 7 ? The Duration of The Match, states the reasons why we can make up for wasted time.
Allowance for Time Lost
Allowance is made in either period for all time lost through:
? substitution(s)
? assessment of injury to players
? removal of injured players from the field of play for treatment
? wasting time
? any other cause
The allowance for time lost is at the discretion of the referee.

Penalty Kick
If a penalty kick has to be taken or retaken, the duration of either half is extended until the penalty kick is completed.

Yet at the unlimited sub level of youth tournaments and such often the schedule or even league policy does not permit time to be added in a meaningful way and since we can sub a gazillion times just how much time can truly be added? Also at the elite level we have extra balls to restart immediately how often does that occur at the grass roots?

At the elite level with limited subs (generally about 30 seconds for each ) that said if we are 6 to 0 score line with the possibility of another goal adding nothing to this result that 30 might be much less. Also TV pressure at times is brought to bear telling the referees to curtail time added as broadcast policy ends at a certain time.
This affects extended stoppages with injury concerns or delays for security etc..

At the elite level the ARs 4th and referee are communicating these time slots throughout the match while some referees use a second watch to start or start and keep one running it generally is a decision the referee makes with about 5 minutes left and signals such with the hand or says it verbally. If the team uses delay tactics after this time or while the time added is in progress the amount will change to compensate by an astute referee.
My personal opinion is far too often insufficient time is added but realize the reality of certain situations conflicts with the actual reasons the laws permit.

I judge the actions of each time loss in the manner in which the players retrieve the balls out of play and in how they respect the right to restart as well as the actions of deliberate misconduct to delay or if they simply need a moment to recover from a legitimate incident.

My tolerance level for abuse is much lower now then when I started but I listen differently now then when I first began. I also initialize prompt actions to thwart such nonsense and employ the selective listening if I have reason. You will often hear a good referee allows the game to be played by the players and interferes as little as possible. I tend to think a good referee allows the game to be played by the players and never interferes but steps up when needed to remind the players it is a game meant to be fun and it is to be played fairly!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The kind of booking procedure a referee uses is left to him. The most important part of the procedure is that it's done the same way each time. I once watched a referee try to begin using a new procedure, writing on the card itself, on his first men's amateur match. Suffice to say this cross town rivalry where he expected to be the junior linesman, it was a long time ago, was a bit of a challenge for him. He wound up booking the same player three times. His error was not discovered until the 90 minute ride home when he was required to elaborate on the circumstances of each booking and sending-off. Let's just say sticking to one way of doing things is better. In his prematch instructions he specifically said we didn't have to back him up on cards because he had this new write-on card and it was easier to keep track of things. Many things were learned that day...

Adding time is another thing at the referee's discretion unless the league or tournament committee sees fit to deny the referee his right to do so. Add as appropriate to the nature of the match and the amount of lost time you and your experience tell you. You don't add time for foul play, goals and other small things that happen during play. Think about a side that always tends to delay a restart of play... Isn't that wasting time? Think about a side always putting the ball to touch a bazillion miles away... Isn't that wasting time? How about a side that always has a player offside and always seems to hit the ball to him for a stoppage? Isn't that wasting time? NOPE, that's using time just like dribbling the ball to a corner and holding it.

The last thing, having a hot button. We are neutral judges of what is going on. We are not part of a committee that can discuss what we do next as in baseball or most other sports in America. We judge each happening based on what is being done at that instant -- what we do is temper our decision making on the level of play. An U-9 Girl's match isn't the place for a coach to unload expletives on a referee or his assistants. This guy gets an early bath, an amateur player on the other hand can use adult language to an adult referee so long as he doesn't mind it coming right back at him AND is man enough to shut up when told to. Here we can use the adage in the stuff said is Public, Provocative and Personal it must be dealt with in the harshest manner possible because if not The Game not just the match will suffer. We in our capacity as a Football Referee are the keepers of the history and traditions of The Game. The Game is historically gentlemen competing against each other for sport and enjoyment. If we allow other than gentlemanly behavior or speech we fail in our obligation to The Game. Because each of us has a different tolerance for someone going ballistic and letting his alligator mouth overriding his humming bird brain those engaged if aberrant behavior will find themselves leaving the festivities for different levels of speech, tantrum throwing or bitching about a decision. This is a good thing because once it is known doing something in one match might result in expulsion could cause the "gentleman" to cease the behavior in other matches. Seemingly inconsistent enforcement of good order and discipline forces changes in behavior because the "gentleman" never knows when the finger will point to the locker room. For one referee it could be a screw face look and another it might be the release of tactical nuclear weapons to cause discipline to be taken. Point is discipline must be taken at some point by all referees associated with the club. If not coaches, parents and players will be given free reign to act like they do in little league baseball, basketball, gridiron football or hockey. This is the World's Game, it's better than those "other games" -- make it so!

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Referees are supposed to record all relative info BEFORE showing the card. This info includes jersey number, name, reason for card, minute card was given, etc. Only when it is absolutly necessary for game control purposes should the card be shown before the info is written up. Time added is at the discretion of the referee.