Decision-making

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Decision-Making on the Field of Play. (by the web master Julian Carosi)

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Referee decision making during a game, is a fascinating and fraughtly complex area. Referees will approach, and deal with decision-making in their own individual ways, and will often rely on a combination of intuition and Law facts concerning play. Some Referees are capable of making instant decisions, whilst others do not like making important decisions without having first weighed up in their minds all the relevant information. Experienced Referees rely on their 'gut instinct', and their own automatic conscious or unconscious reactions when making judgements. Decisions made using instinct are very often proved to be correct. Referees will make hundreds (and probably thousands) of decisions during every game. Each decision must be calculated in the very smallest fraction of time. The human mind is capable of making this quantity of decisions automatically without having to think about the rational behind each conclusion.

Dopey is the BOSS Referee Cartoon by Julian Carosi

"When a Refereeing judgement is based on opinion, the ability to execute such a decision with conviction, relies on the unquestioning outcome of the players. If you can do this within the blink of an eyelid – and do it in such an authoritative way that it must seem correct at that time (even though others may have decided differently) – then football is your oyster!"
Julian Carosi

An astute Referee understands that there will be many decision-making situations in a game that do not neatly fit the answers provided by Law. The ability to interpret the Law is therefore an important asset in the Referee’s power. It is not only a deep understanding of the 17 Laws of Associated Football that make a good Referee. It is the decision-making ability to use the Laws as the main component, in conjunction with the further ingredients of common sense, self-assessment, and post-match debate, the ‘Spirit of the Game ‘and’ Fair Play.

To enable Referees to make more correct decisions, a thorough knowledge of the Rules is essential. It is an injustice to players, if Referees constantly makes wrong decisions based on an ignorance of the Laws.

Being physically and mentally fit also helps towards making correct decisions. Becoming tired easily, as the game progresses impairs the ability to judge incidents correctly. Thus, tired Referees will become more prone to errors in their decision-making processes. An over-tired Referee, or one suffering from a hangover, cannot officiate properly. Decisions on the filed of play should be made quickly, confidently and calmly. Believe in yourself, and be confident that your decisions will, for the most part, be correct.

There are many questions that a Referee will need answers to in his career.

It is no good looking to FIFA as a single repository for ‘official’ answers because they do not have one that covers all scenarios – and to build one would constrict the human decision-making flexibility that each Referee relies on. In cases where there is no ‘black-and white’ answer to a question, an individual Referee will need to consider the opinions of others before he can feel comfortable with his own final version. Interpretation is an individual characteristic that enables two opposing answers to both be correct. The trick is to assess all of the information and advice around you and then make your own choice. Unless specifically mentioned in the Laws (or authoritative guidance), the individual Referee’s interpretation just as correct as those black-and-white answers provided inside the Laws themselves.

It is impossible for a Referee to believe that someday he will have learnt and seen everything that there is to now about the game an its Laws. This ideal Nirvana is unachievable. So instead of continuously pushing himself to the forefront of ability - he should consider taking a day off once in a while to contemplate that his completist paradise is just not going to happen. A Referee's understanding of the observable world, in which he moves in, can never be complete. When this has been understood, he can consolidate more on what he has already achieved without the constant pressure of "choice fatigue" and "information overload" that can sometimes make his learning task more difficult, rather that easier. A Referee is more likely to make a sensible decision if there are one or two choices to make rather than ten. An astute Referee has the ability to use common sense to turn the sensory mush of opinions into a hard-baked conclusion. This conclusion is inescapable: less choice makes a Referee perform better - and consequently, feel better.

In time, the spirit of how the game is supposed to be played will have provided most of the answers for a Referee. But the inevitable evolution of Law changes means that the Referee will always need to find some of the missing answers for himself. He can do this, by agreeing in his mind, how he will react to given situations that have caused trouble in the past. In doing this, he has used common sense to provide a store of decision-making scenarios in his mind. These will be of more use to him in future games, than the easily understandable Laws themselves.

Some self-assistance and self-preparation before each game, will undoubtedly help the Referee in:

(a) making consistent decisions, and

(b) lessening the chances of the Referee becoming anxious because he is not quite sure which way to give a decision - or

This article offers an insight into the process of decision making by Referees on the field of play. It also explores psychological preparatory work that the Referee can employ with himself to help his decision making capability - particularly in those situations where it is impossible for the Referee to make a correct decision, or where a decision is equally applicable to both teams at the same time! This article does not cover disciplinary decision-making (for example, to caution a player or not)? - But concentrates mainly on the play action of the game, and how the Referee controls that action by the application (and interpretation) of the Laws.

"To be a good Referee, you must be able to isolate yourself from the crowd and the constant moaning players when you make a decision. If you cannot do this, then you will struggle as a Referee. Each situation that a Referee judges, must be made as if it is the first decision that he has made in the match. Referees must not carry any baggage from the past".

"Every Referee should have good eyes and bad ears!"
(Dutch FIFA Referee Jan Wegereef)

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There are three main types of decision that a Referee will need to take during a game.

1. Statutory decisions: (The Laws of the Game) Statutory decisions: (The Laws of the Game)

2. Interpretation decisions: (How the Referee interprets the Laws) Interpretation decisions: (How the Referee interprets the Laws) Interpretation decisions: (How the Referee interprets the Laws)

3. Impossible decisions: (A 'best guess' or 'benefit-of-the-doubt' or equal decision) Impossible decisions: (A 'best guess' or 'benefit-of-the-doubt' or equal decision)

There are three main types of decision that a Referee will need to take.

1. Statutory decisions - are judgements based on the Laws of the Game - i.e. decisions that the Referee must make as prescribed to him by the Laws. Statutory decisions - are judgements based on the Laws of the Game - i.e. decisions that the Referee must make as prescribed to him by the Laws.

Statutory examples are:

(i) A player who strikes another player must be sent-off.

(ii) A throw-in is the proper restart when the ball has travelled wholly over the touchline.

(iii) If the Referee has awarded a goal, he cannot disallow that goal if play has been restarted.

(iv) A goal cannot be scored direct from an indirect free kick.

(v) A player cannot be offside if he receives the ball direct from a goal kick.

Making statutory decisions depends greatly on the Referee's knowledge of the Laws and keeping abreast with Law-change developments during his career. Statutory decisions are the easiest to make - because the Referee knows (or should know) beforehand, exactly which punishment or conclusion or outcome to apply. Referees should endeavour to refresh their memory of the Laws on a regular basis. It is very much like passing and studying for your vehicle driving test - when you first pass this test, the rules and situations concerning driving are easily remembered, but as time wears on, facts that once seemed perfectly clear or situations that were reacted to automatically, suddenly become muddied in the memory.

Creating an aide-memoir can help a Referee to remember any particular problems that he has encountered in previous games. Most of the Laws are easily remembered, and a Referee will cope with those automatically - but there are numerous other parts of the Laws that a Referee will never automatically remember when officiating at the beginning of his career. By simply listing down those vague Law areas on a piece of paper, and reading them before each game, the Referee will build up his knowledge of the Laws - which in time, he will be able to eliminate from his aide-memoir listing.

Having Refereed for some years, I still use my aide-memoir listing to remind me of any ultra-vague interpretations - and am still learning from each game. Refereeing is a life-long apprenticeship of constant learning, interpreting and application.

Some of my very first aide-memoir listings included:

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"When a free kick is taken inside the penalty area by the defending team, the ball has to come outside of the penalty area before it comes into play, and before another player can touch it."

I clearly remember in one of my first games, a goalkeeper taking a free kick inside his own penalty area very near the penalty mark, tapping the ball to a colleague who continued on with play. As a new Referee, I could not instantly remember whether I should have allowed play to continue or not? If I had been allowed a few moments in the game to think about the correct decision, I would have stopped play, and asked the players to re-take the kick. In my mind I knew the correct application of the Law, but I just needed a few moments to think about it. The 'moral' of this is – is that a Referee does not get "a few moments to think about it" - he is expected to make an instant decision - and he can only do this by experience and by recognising his weaknesses, and by constantly strengthening his understanding of the Laws.

Of course, I can now know make this correct decision automatically, without having to think about it - but this is just one example that I listed on my early aide-memoirs. It was not very long before I crossed this one out, and replaced it with many others.

2. Interpretation decisions: Interpretation decisions:

Football is a sport that allows its Referees a great deal of flexibility in interpreting and applying the Laws subjectively. Albeit that Referees are trained to be consistent in their application of the Laws - they are written in such a way, that the individualism of each Referee is allowed to flourish and enhance the game of football. Each Referee will have his own style, his own limits, and his own tolerance levels. This flexibility adds to the uncertainty, unpredictability and excitement envisaged in the game world-wide. The Laws allow both the Referee and Football, to retain their human characteristics. Referees like the dual role of 'peace keeper' and 'adaptability'. This allows Referee characters to develop - this in turn, enhances the match excitement further.

Interpreting the Laws is a skill gleaned from both experience, and by interacting with fellow Referees. Learning the Laws by rout and passing the Referees' exam is the easy bit. The hard part is applying the Law interpretations and dealing with man-management on the field of play.

Common sense and Law interpretation used fairly and correctly identifies a good Referee from a bad Referee.

Interpretation examples are: Take me back to the top of this page

(i) Should a player who fouls another player always be cautioned?.

(ii) Is the attacking player standing in an offside position, actively involved with play?

(iii) Was the tackle a completely accidental tangling of the players’ legs?

(iv) Was the handball intentional?

(v) Can a Referee drop the ball to the goalkeeper alone?

The quickest way for a new Referee to learn Law interpretation skills, is to:

(a) officiate in as many games as possible, and learn by experience:

(b) interact with Referee colleagues. e.g. by joining and participating in Referee Societies, and reading Refereeing material.

A new Referee who does none of the above, will undoubtedly take much longer to build up his interpretation and interpersonal skills. A Referee who does all the above, will swiftly improve his skills, and will quickly become acceptable within the footballing community.

3. Impossible decisions: Impossible decisions:

There will be many occasions in every game, where it will be impossible for the Referee to make a correct decision. For example, when the unsighted Referee is 60 yards away, and the ball quickly ricochets out of a ruck of players and goes out for a throw-in.

Throw-in to the attacking team, or throw-in to the defending team?

Another example........Following a challenge for the ball between an attacker and a defender on the edge of the penalty area, the ball was seen to squirm off one of the players and deflects towards a second attacker who is standing in an offside position near the penalty spot. Both of the players were taking a kick at the ball at the same time whilst making the challenge. In reality the defender made the last contact with the ball, a fraction of a second after the attacker. The Referee who is still catching up with play and is on the halfway line (50 yards away) does not have a clear view of the incident, but nevertheless needs to make a decision to either allow play to continue, or to stop play for offside. Should the Referee allow play to continue, or should he penalise the offside attacker for being in an offside position when the ball was deflected (touched) to him buy a colleague? (This question assumes that the Assistant Referee or Club Linesman is unable to help the Referee.)

When a Refereeing decision is required during a game - making a bad decision is better than making an unsure decision - and making a bad decision is certainly better than making no decision at all.

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There will also be moments in every game when both teams are equally entitled to the decision. For example..... whilst making a tackle to gain possession of the ball near the goal line - both the attacker and the defender touch the ball simultaneously before it crosses the goal line. Goal kick or corner kick?

During on-the-field impossible decision type incidents, when the Referee believes that both sets of players are as ‘guilty’ as each other, the option of a 'dropped ball' is usually an accepted method - so long as the dropped ball is not too near one of the goals or involves a goalkeeper in his own penalty area - in this case, the Referee would be better off giving the decision one way or another - (Referees usually give the benefit of the doubt to the defending team in situations of this nature).

There is much useful advice given to Referees to "keep up with play" - "make sure you are as fit as possible" - "try and attain a sideways view of play at all times" - "learn the Laws inside-out" etc.etc..... The advice given here, is not to countermine such useful advice, but to provide the Referee with an additional structured psychological method that allows him to make an instant decision, when all the previous advice methods have failed. This allows the Referee to feel confident with his judgement making - and completely rids his performance of those wavering decision making incidents, where players are very quick to criticise the slightest indecision. Players are certainly more receptive to decisive strong Refereeing (even when they know that some of the Referee's decisions were wrong), than they are too weak indecisive Refereeing.

The secret of impossible decision making is to look and remember the following key phrases:

Be firm:

Be quick.

Be positive:

Stand erect.

Signal clearly.

Do not waver.

Do not be influenced.

Make honest decisions.

Your decision counts and nobody else's.

You are right even if you are really wrong!

Don't worry if everybody else thinks you are wrong – you’re right!

Making impossible decisions depends on the individual Referee's perception, and his Default Automatic Method Navigator (D.A.M.N.) because you're damned if you do, and you're damned if you don't!). The Referee needs to agree with himself before each game, how to deal with the impossible. He needs to 'psyche himself up' to prepare for his impossible decision making role. It does not matter what name you call it (I have called it the D.A.M.N. method for ease of reference) but the players will look to the Referee to make all the decisions in a game - the easy decisions, the hard decisions and especially the impossible decisions.

A Referee who prepares himself with a standard method for dealing with impossible decisions, will eventually find that although impossible decisions are the hardest to make, they are probably the easiest to make - because he makes them consistently, quickly, without worrying and makes them automatically. This may seem like a contradiction - but let me explain. Firstly, the Referee must recognise that there will be many times during each game, where it is impossible to make the correct decision.

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This is due to a number of factors.

the speed of play:

the distance between the incident and the Referee:

the fitness of the Referee:

whether there are players in the Referee's line of sight:

the shielding of the ball by the players' body:

whether there are any Assistant Referees or not:

- and dare I say it "the Referee's eyesight"!

In situations of this type, the Referee can give the decision to the attacking team or he can give it to the defending team (or he can sometimes award a dropped ball).

Some Referees automatically give 'unsure' decisions to the defending team - this is how it has been sportingly done historically in the past. For example, during an unsure throw-in, the Referee will give the benefit to the defending team, and award the throw-in to them.

Some modern Referees give 'unsure' decisions to the attacking team, thus embodying a modern movement to give the attackers the advantage, therefore increasing the chances of a goal being scored - which in turn will increase the enjoyment of the spectators. For example, if a Referee or an Assistant Referee is unsure whether an attacker is level or not with the second last defender during an offside judgement, then the benefit of the doubt normally goes to the attacker.

Other Referees will use a combination of the two paragraphs above, and give the benefit of the doubt during offsides to the attacking team, but conversely, give the benefit of the doubt during throw-ins to the defending team – this combination method is the most widely used.

Referees are advised before the game, to choose which of the (to the attacking team or to the defending team) D.A.M.N. methods to use when being unsure on which way to give a decision. Of course, the above advice also applies to the Assistant Referee, particularly when judging offside situations.

The Referee should not 'lose any sleep' worrying about whether he has made the correct decision or not during a game - so long as he has made an honest decision at that particular time. Even if the Referee (or Assistant Referee) makes the wrong decision - it is the right decision as far as the match is concerned, because the decisions of the Referee regarding facts connected with play are final. Impossible decision type incidents happen in a split second, and Referees have to make an instant judgement and continue onwards with the game. If a Referee shows any weakness or uncertainty when making decisions, the players, the crowd and the team's officials will certainly make the most of it! Be firm and positive and accept that you will make genuine honest mistakes, but that they are certainly not made on purpose.

Regardless of whether you decide to give the ‘benefit of doubt’ to the defending team or to the attacking team, or a combination of both, ALWAYS be consistent throughout each game.

When you have made a judgement on the field of play, even if in an instant you have the slightest doubt that you think you might have made the wrong decision, do not covey this to the players - be POSITIVE and do not change your initial decision.

There will be many times when you, as a Referee, will have to make decisions that are correct in Law, but nonetheless, decisions that you don’t personally want to make. It has been noted that when Referees make these types of decisions, their head drops and their shoulders go forward. Stand upright with shoulders forward when making decisions – this will impart an authoritative confidence that will help you gain the co-operation of the players.

There will of course, be the odd times when as soon as a Referee makes a decision, he suddenly realises that he is woefully wrong. (Don't worry when this happens - I've done it on many occasions, and still do.) Honesty is the key word here. In situations where the Referee has made a genuine mistake, he can change his decision so long as play has not restarted. Players are usually receptive to an honest mistake being rectified - the Referee just needs to admit that he was wrong in the first place.

Whether an impossibly made decision is really factually right or factually wrong does not matter. What does matter, is that the Referee always makes an honest decision - which in that fraction of a ‘decision making second’, seemed correct in his opinion, at that particular time.

Intuition:

The most accurate single decision-making attribute that a Referee has, is not human eyesight, but the Referee's own natural intuition (instinct).

When any decision is made, it should not be made on eyesight alone (which can be notoriously unreliable). An astute Referee will have conditioned his mind to totally accept the accuracy of his intuition, which is very rarely proved wrong. A Referee who can accept a decision made by intuition (and instinct) without dwelling on any doubts that may arise, is using a very powerful and efficient human mechanism that can actually be felt by the players around him when he makes a decision. The trick is to totally believe in it yourself, and to unquestioningly accept it every time.

If a Referee only relies on his eyesight when making decisions, any delay can result in players trying to find ways of 'sowing further doubt' into a Referee's mind. Intuition, is a naturally supersonic mechanism that subconsciously computes all of the decision-making evidence and probabilities in milliseconds. It is a facet of the human being's ability to survive that gives it such speed and accuracy.

An intuitively made decision is automatically done with 100% conviction. If there are any unseen or unheard facets of a particular scenario, the mind intuitively factors-in the missing bits by using probability and experience. The result is a very accurate decision (even though inside your mind, you think that you may have only got 70-80% of the evidence to work on).

If a Referee can condition his mind, to accept that it is impossible to make every decision 100% correct; and to understand that it is very rare to have 100% of the evidence in front of your very nose prior to assessing a situation - then the Referee's intuition will make the decision for him.

The trick is to totally believe in it yourself, and to unquestioningly accept it every time.

Question 1: "When does play actually stop? Is it as soon as the Referee makes a decision to stop play in his mind? Or does play only stop at the precise moment when the Referee blows his whistle?

Answer 1: There will always be a delay between the Referee ‘making his mind up’ to stop play, and the act of physically blowing the whistle. This delay, is not an excuse for the Referee to change his mind should two separate (but not simultaneous) infringements occur in very quick succession. For example – Yellow player impedes Red player. Referee decides in his mind to stop play and award an indirect free kick to the Red team. ("Law 12 – an indirect free kick (IFK) is awarded to the opposing team if a player impedes the progress of an opponent.") But before the Referee has actually blown his whistle to indicate a stoppage of play – the Red player violently kicks the ankle of the Yellow player. The Red player should be sent off for committing a (Law 12) ‘Violent Conduct’ offence. Play should be restarted with an indirect free kick to the Red team, for the initial offence of impedance. It is very important to note, that Referees’ ‘honesty’ is paramount when making decisions of this nature. In other words – because the Referee had already agreed ‘with himself’ to stop play for the original impedance offence, he should NOT restart play with a (DFK) direct free kick (for the Violent Conduct offence) to the Yellow team. In cases where two offences are committed simultaneously by a player, Law 5 allows the Referee to punish the more serious offence. In cases where two offences occur in quick succession, the Referee is still obliged to issue the correct punishment. But he should not restart the game based on the second (DFK) incident, just because he was unable to get the whistle to his mouth quick enough to stop play immediately at the first (IFK) incident.

The only exception to this, is if following the first incident of impedance of the Red player, play continues to the advantage of the Red team, and the Referee applies (in his mind or by signalling) the advantage clause. In this case, because the Referee had allowed play to CONTINUE following the impedance offence, if he subsequently stops play because the Red player kicks the Yellow player – the restart is a direct free kick to the Yellow team.

To summarise this scenario – if the Referee stops play (in his mind or by blowing his whistle) for the impedance, the restart is an indirect free kick to the team being impeded against (irrespective of what happens after the impedance.) If following the impedance offence, the Referee applies the advantage clause (in his mind or by signalling), play can be restarted in accordance with the nature of the subsequent, second offence (a direct free kick for Violent Conduct in this example.)

Question 2: What percentage of mistakes does a Referee make in a game?

Answer 2: Match analysis has shown that in the 1986 World Cup, 17.4% referee decisions were apparently wrong. Similarly, in a major football tournament, 26% of offside decisions were wrong when closely examined using TV images. Referees have been shown to have to make a decision every 40 seconds at the top level.
(Source)

Detail from the 1998 World Cup

Observers from the football association noted down the referees' errors, of which there were 61 over the tournament. Converted to a standard match of 90 minutes, each referee made almost 23 mistakes, a remarkably high number," Verheijen says. Verheijen then studied videotapes of the action to analyse the matches in detail. Surprisingly, he found that errors were more likely when the referees were close to the incident. When the officials got it right, they were, on average, 17 metres away from the action. The average distance in the case of errors was 12 metres. "My research shows the optimum distance is about 20 metres," says Verheijen.
(Source)

Quote from 2002 World Cup "Italian referee Pierluigi Collina, who took charge of the World Cup final, joined the discussions in Warsaw and called on the coaches to remember that "just as players and coaches make mistakes, we must accept that referees can make mistakes as well".

Question 3: How do you (the Referee) deal with players screaming for infringements, and then you giving the sanction they claimed.

Answer 3: Sometimes they are correct, but players may realise you are not concentrating and begin to yell whenever a tackle results in them losing the ball, or when the defenders have been caught flat-footed and scream for an Offside.

If you find yourself frequently blowing for offences after their yells you have a problem as this will be interpreted as you allowing the players to tell you how to run the game.

In most cases your whistle should be heard a split second after the foul [often you can anticipate what is about to happen] so the players have no time to yell � your decision has been made quickly.
(Q3: Source Donald Campbell AUSTRALIAN SOCCER REFEREES FEDERATION [South Australian Division ^#27 INSPECTORS� & INSTRUCTORS� INSIGHTS ^#27 'THE IN THING' : JUNE 2003]

Question 4: Is there a method that Referees and Assistant Referees can use to help them remember which way a team is kicking, and how to remember which team is defending and which attacking?

Answer 4: All Referees and Assistant Referees will have at some time or other in their careers struggled with getting the direction of flag and arm signals correct. It does take time to perfect the art of refereeing and 'lining', and it is quite normal for new (and even some old!) Referees and Assistant Referees to easily get confused with the direction in which teams are playing. This is problem is usually at its worse at the beginning of the second half, especially for an Assistant Referee who has remained on the same touchline, because the teams are kicking in opposite direction to the first half.

The following are some simple methods that can be used to help:

Firstly, the greatest piece of advice is to work very hard at retaining your concentration at maximum levels. It is so very easy to 'switch off' and get distracted. And the more you can relax yourself, the easier and more natural and correct your signals will be.

Throw-ins: - Concentrate on the team colours. Most teams will have different predominant colours. If not, then one team will probably have stripped or patterned jerseys. Whilst you are in the centre circle as a Referee awaiting the start of the game, or alongside your touchline as an Assistant Referee, and before the game commences, concentrate one of the team colours, and say to yourself: "RED LEFT". IN other words, the RED team are kicking to the left of you. Repeat this phrase a number of times. If the field of play has a slope, or a distinctive feature at one end (a tree for example), you can use "RED DOWN", or "RED TREE". The direction of which the Red team are playing is towards the 'LEFT' or 'DOWN' the slope, or towards the 'TREE'. Choose one method and stick to it. RED LEFT or RIGHT is a good phrase for an Assistant Referee to use, whereas, RED DOWN, or RED TREE is a better phrase for the Referee to use.

As the game progresses, you do not have to be a 'rocket scientist' to anticipate when the play action is approaching your area of responsibility, or towards a touchline or goal line. As play gets nearer, start repeating in your head, the phrase you have chosen above:

For example: "RED LEFT - RED LEFT - RED LEFT - RED LEFT)". If the ball goes out of play for a throw-in, you will have consciously prepared yourself to make the correct decision before it actually happens. There is no need to think "BLUE RIGHT" for the attaching team's direction, because you will automatically know that.

As play moves away from your area of responsibility, you can relax a bit. The idea is not to look as though you are 'staring into space' and talking to yourself, but to increase your levels of preparation as play approaches you; and think the words in your mind "RED LEFT - RED LEFT".

It is more difficult to keep concentration in games where you do not have much to do as a Referee or Assistant Referee. This is when you have to also keep saying to yourself: "KEEP CONCENTRATING - KEEP CONCENTRATING"

In situations where you are not sure which way to signal a throw-in, if you are an Assistant Referee, make yourself some time by raising your flag straight up. At the same time look towards the Referee for help. An astute Referee, will give you a discreet signal as to the direction of the throw. It is also useful as an Assistant Referee from time to time during the game, to get a 'fix' on the Referee's position, so that if you need to make eye contact with him, you know roughly where he will be. If all else fails, have a pre-set direction that you will use (for example, if you are unsure, give the throw-in to the defending team). Whatever pre-set direction you use - use it in all of your games, and make sure you give a strong signal, as this will lessen the dissent you may receive on a dubious decision. Of course, if the Referee overrules you, drop your flag immediately and go with his decision. Players, by their action, can also very often give you some idea as to which team should take the throw-in. So do not disregard any of the things that may help you make a correct decision.

If you are still unsure as a Referee, which team is playing which way, you can also buy yourself some time by shouting out "RED THROW" instead of worrying about which way to point your arm signal.

Goal Kick, Corner Kick?: As play approaches the goal line, in addition to the above method, you can say; "RED DEFENDING - RED DEFENDING" instead. Once again, you are preparing yourself up to make the correct decision should the ball ricochet quickly out of play and over the goal line. This is also useful during the taking of corner kicks: Say to yourself, "RED DEFENDING - RED DEFENDING" as the ball is kicked from the corner arc and into the centre of the penalty area. It then becomes easy to give the correct decision if the ball is deflected once again out of play over the goal line.

They do say that the first signs of madness is when you start talking to yourself. But don't worry too much, because you have to be mad to be a Referee!

All Referees in their career will have struggled to remember which way teams are kicking. It becomes easier with experience, and the more relaxed you can be, the less confused you will be also.

Question 5: As the Referee, I gave a penalty to the away team for foul committed on them in the penalty area. One of the home team players started giving me the usual grief about awarding a penalty kick for something trivial....no problem there, but he wanted me to point out the offending player. While I had a clear view of the incident, I did not make a mental note of the offending player. I guess I fell into a trap, as I could not identify the defender who gave away the penalty. At which point, the defender who had asked the question said: "Well, it was me Ref!'
How could I have got out of jail in this situation ?

Answer 5: Firstly, you can improve your observational skills by learning from this incident. Because of the speed of the game, and the constant pressure to make decisions instantly, it is very easy to lose track of the initial perpetrator on an incident. Try slowing down just a tad, and making a mental note of the perpetrators number when you make your decision next time. Say the number to yourself in your head.

"Red No. 10", for example.

This will register it more strongly in your memory. If you get into the habit of doing this, it will greatly minimise this situation ever happening again. The Referee is not obliged to point out the perpetrator, when an offence occurs.

In this scenario, it is important to note, that the reason why the home team asked you the question - was not because they really wanted to know who it was that committed the foul, but to try and sow a seed of doubt in your mind, and maybe persuade you to change your mind. This is a common ploy after a penalty has been awarded.

In these types of situations, the Referee should try not to be influenced by these ploys. Just wave away any questioning players with a strong arm, and quickly organise the taking of the penalty kick.

Question 6: Location of Play: Close to the centre line of the field of play, very close to the touchline. A Red team attacking player is just about to receive a pass from his colleague.
A Blue team defender who sees the play develop, runs as fast as he can to intercept the pass, and slides aggressively with his cleats/studs exposed and makes a powerful contact with the ball from behind the Red team player.
No contact is made whatsoever with the Red team player.
However, the act itself looked so dangerous, that had the Blue defender made contact with the Red attacking player, then it would have definitely been a very serious foul.
What should the Referee do?

Answer 6: A Referee's duty is not to just apply the Laws as they stand in black and white, but to interpret them, so as to provide the greatest enjoyment for the players.

If a player makes a challenge that oversteps the way that the game is meant to be played, then the referee MUST do something about it (even if there is no opponent immediately involved). A Referee who does nothing, will show to the players that they, and not him are the deciders of what type of behaviour is allowed and what is not. This of course will lead to anarchy, and before long, it will be the players who are controlling the game, and not the Referee. This will most likely lead to trouble, and possibly injuries caused to players, by opponents who have no respect for the Referee; because he provides them with no guidance, and he allows them a free reign to do exactly what they like.

If a player makes a challenge on the ball using a force that is clearly outside of what is normally expected to win the ball, then the Referee must judge each situation as it occurs.

This can range from:

(a) an angry player sliding in, to kick the ball forcefully away in frustration, when there is no opponent anywhere near the ball - to

(b) a situation where a player uses excessive force to tackle an opponent from behind, having no intention of playing the ball, but rather, to cause the player a serious injury.

The action that a Referee takes will range from a quiet word of advice, to a sending-off for violent conduct (or serious foul play).

The degrees between examples (a) and (b) are limitless, and the Referee will need to consider more than just the challenge itself, before he decides what to do about it.

For example:

(c) if the game so far, has been played in a good spirit, and this is the first challenge of this nature, and no opponent has been seriously effected, then this will be an excellent chance for the Referee to take some action that will impart a clear message to all the players; that "a repeat of this type of challenge will not be tolerated". In this instance, the referee should give the perpetrator a public warning, by isolating the player and advising him accordingly. Note: If a player makes a robust challenge on the ball by 'playing dangerously', whilst being aware that an opponent is within playing distance of the ball (and the Referee decides to stop play), this is a penal offence punished by a direct free kick. Playing dangerously should not be confused with the indirect free kick offence of playing in a dangerous manner, which in simple terms can be described as an action taken by a player who is unaware of the potential consequences to, or relative position of an opponent.

(d) If the challenge is a culmination of growing tension in the game, and the challenge involves an opponent, then this will be another excellent chance for the Referee to take some strong disciplinary action that will impart a clear message to the players.

The action that a Referee takes will range from a public warning, to a caution, to a sending-off for violent conduct (or serious foul play).

Once again, the degrees between examples (c) and (d) are limitless.

The position of the incident, the time in the game, and the affects of the incident are also factors to be considered by the Referee when making his judgement.

For example:

(e) if the game so far, has been played in a good spirit, and this is the first challenge of this nature, where an opponent was nearby, but was not seriously effected, and the ball falls to the advantage of the offended team, the Referee can allow play to continue. And a warning can be delivered to the player when the ball next goes out of play.

(f) if the incident (e) takes place on the edge of the opponent's penalty area, then the Referee could consider stopping play and awarding a free kick, rather than allowing play to continue.

The scenarios are endless, and the examples above, demonstrate that it is not the type of challenge alone and the proximity of other players, that decides the outcome, but a number of other factors also. This is the nub of Law interpretation; and why it is difficult to provide a black-and-white answer to what at first seems like a simple question concerning a single match incident.

The only answer that covers all scenarios, is that a Referee MUST do SOMETHING.

Once the Referee has mastered the above methods for decision making, and gained more experience with his officiating - if a decision doesn't come naturally, then leave it - and allow play to continue.

The one factor that Referees have trouble with controlling when making rational decisions, is to make decisions independent of their physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual state in which they happen to find themselves before every game.

This can lead to Referees applying varying levels of tolerance towards players, and thinking to themselves:

"You infringed the Law, but because I'm in a good mood today, and I like you, and the moon is in the correct position! – well maybe I’ll let it go this once".

This is human nature, and what makes us all so very interesting - and is beyond any help that I can give you................except be fair, and above all be honest........

Happy honest decision-making.

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Regards

Julian Carosi (WebMaster)