Question Number: 18273

Mechanics 1/21/2008

RE: Rec & Comp Adult

kasey of Tampa, FL USA asks...

I am a first year ref. I've done a handful of younger age group and a few older age groups (U13 & U14) My question is not technical in nature.

What are some tips or tricks refs use to remember which direction a team is attacking? Sometimes in the middle of the play, I get turned around and forget which direction a team is attacking. For example, a ball is kicked out of bounds and I have to think about it.

I am sure it will come with time.

Thanks....

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

It does come with time, absolutely. In the meantime, get in the habit of yelling or saying to yourself the color of the team who gets the throw. This is especially helpful during the first few minutes of the second half, when the teams have switched halves. I'm sure my colleagues will have other useful suggestions, but one I used was to associate the goalkeeper color with his team's color somehow, so all I had to do was glance at the keeper, and I knew which way we were headed.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Happens all the time, I even coined a phrase to explain what happened when I come up wrong way 'round -- interval dyslexia. It will work out over time and concentrating on who is going where. Remember no matter how fast or slowly you signal the direction of a throw-in the fact it is going one way or another isn't going to change. Take your time and get it right. Yes use the color to aid in telling which team has the throw-in, they will throw it and after that a signal is moot. Just learn quickly in that match so you can signal most of the time.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

When you are sure of the color but temporarily confused about the direction, it is helpful to simply call out, "Green's ball." Then when you remember which way everyone is going, you can start pointing again.

A related question is how to remember which team is going in which direction when you are an assistant referee. I sometimes find it helpful to think of the team going to the goal nearest me as "my team". "My team" gets the throw-in, "my team" is offside, etc. Just remember to switch allegiance at halftime.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I do what Ref Voshal does all the time. If you know which color gets the throw but can't remember which way and you want to signal, oftentimes looking at the color of the keeper's socks will help. Since you're new, this will get easier for you over time. Then, like me, you will become old and extremely forgetful and be glad you learned some tricks of the trade when you were first starting out.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

It takes some practice and experience and you will get better at that. All referees struggle with that at first. I know that I did,

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 18342