Question Number: 18791

Mechanics 4/14/2008

RE: Youth Soccer Rec, Classic Adult

Michael Shealy of Gilbert, SC USA asks...

On a free kick, corner kick etc. when the players set up for the kick to be taken I would like to get the views from a seasoned referee on what as a center and a Assistant referee do you focus the most on during the kick and how close do you call the 20 players all going for the ball at the same time?

I covered some U15 challenged teams this weekend and would hear some players making comments on the defenders and attackers pulling on them during the kick but I nor did my AR see anything.

Thanks for your valued insight and I really enjoy this website it's very helpful in the application of the Laws.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

First of all, a referee must position themselves to see as much as possible - get an angle that allows you to see the goalkeeper, as many of the players as possible and your AR. Next, have an idea who needs to be watched carefully - this you will know from either experience with the teams, or from careful observation during play. You will need to watch the area around the goalkeeper for impeding or for the transgressions of goalkeepers. You will need to watch the best or most skilled attackers for unfair tactics being used against them, such as holding them down from jumping, shirt or short pulling or that they use against defenders angling for a PK call. Your AR should be focused on offside first, and on trouble spots you probably cannot see from your angle second. Is it hard? Absolutely. Gets easier with practice, but the more skilled the teams the more vigilant you must be - they are sneaky!

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Sometimes it's surprising what you will see at set plays. At a corner, I saw an attacker in front of the goalkeeper stumble - did the keeper just push him? The ball bounced out off a defender, so we had a retake of the corner kick. This time I moved very close to the keeper - a couple yards off the endline, near the corner of the goal area - and looked right at the keeper. He saw me looking at him. The ball came in, and sure enough, the keeper pushes an attacker out of his way - the attacker wasn't doing anything but standing his ground. Whistle, and I told the keeper, "I sure didn't think we needed a PK now." I didn't like having to give one, especially since they were down something like 0-7, but that's what the keeper's actions required.

I was fortunate that the 2nd corner kick gave me an opportunity to relocate and see the shenanigans clearly. Varying position, not letting the teams know where you will be, is another technique you can use to catch things.

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

See Question: 18800