Question Number: 25544

Mechanics 10/3/2011

RE: Select Under 18

Mark of Sacramento, CA USA asks...

I have a referee positioning question where outcome is not an issue. The ball is on the far right side of the field moving towards the end line in the possession of the Whites right forward. Clearly a cross or drive up the end line to the near post was developing. The left striker is moving up the field near touch and Reds right back is driving her shoulder into the forward in a series of jumps and challenge to keep her from moving inside to the near post as they move up field.

The Center is moving towards the corner of the Penalty Area up field and nearest to him to see the play that seems to be headed towards the Penalty Area. His position makes it impossible to for him to see the foul play occurring to behind him is in his area of responsibility near the left touch. The trail linesman was in position at the mid line to the see the foul play which began 20 yards directly up the touch line from the half way line but did not call it.

The question is should the center stay wide enough to the left and up field so all the players in active play are in his view.

It seems to me he was out of position, too far to the inside the field of play to see what was occurring behind him. The trail linesman could have made the call assuming he was allowed to by the center.

Your thoughts and guidance are appreciated

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mark
Many times it is not possible for the referee to position himself so that he sees every single player or situation during an attack. From what you describe if most of the play is between the CR and the lead AR that is usually a pretty good position. Too far to the left will place the referee in an unfavourable position too far away from active play. Too close will mean that the referee does not see ?What needs to be seen?. There is not a referee in the world that has 'missed' offences that happened behind him and out of his view in his effort to be close to the action. .
Now the referee crew has to decide if the offence is a tactical foul which has limited bearing on play in which case advantage is the best decision or did it have a significant impact. If it had impact, the trail ref has to intervene. If it is violent conduct the trail AR must bring this to the attention of the referee at all costs. On a tactical foul such as pulling back, unless it has a bearing on subsequent play the trail AR might decide that it need not be called and he has to use his judgement on that.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Defenders know that the most dangerous player is often one who does not yet have the ball. Referees know it too.

The problem, however, is that this event usually occurs as part of a counterattack. The referee is sprinting down field to get close to play and usually is moving from the right side toward the left side of play in a normal diagonal. This changes the angle of the referee's head and shoulders to look too far to the right side (missing what is happening on the left touchline). Sneaky defenders know this too, and that is when they make an off the ball foul.

Sometimes, however, the best position to see the immediate development of play is to run (for the next few seconds) a reverse diagonal pattern. By moving slightly right (while still behind play), the referee sees more of the field and the players. As the attack slows down, the referee can then move toward a normal diagonal.

Referees who occasionally practice a reverse diagonal learn to recognize patterns of play that cannot be seen from the 'normal' patrol.