The Rules and the Referee – Part 2

During a match, a thousand judgments and decisions are made by the referee. The operative expression in every situation is “in the opinion of the referee…” Those six words drive every decision related to the game. Notice there is no reference to the opinions of the coaches, the players, the parents or even of the ARs. The role of the assistant referees is to assist the referee. They provide input, but the referee always makes the final decision.

So every decision is an opinion. No one sees the game exactly as the referee does. No one else is standing where he is standing when he makes a call or does not make a call. No one else has his exact experience. No one else has his exact eyesight (or lack thereof). No one else has his exact frame of mind.

What factors go into the referee’s decision? The referee is not only judging the actual, individual occurrences on the field, he is also engaged in game management. Players, coaches, and spectators all expect a soccer match to be an exciting, dynamic contest of skills, not some chopped up affair constantly interrupted by whistles for trivial or imagined offenses. But a match also needs to be safe and fair, not some violent free-for-all won by the last man standing. The referee needs to maintain a balance and that can be extraordinarily difficult in some matches.

Anyone who has watched more than a handful of matches is sure to have heard someone on the sidelines offer "advice" to the referee in the quote, "Let 'em play." That takes us back to “in the opinion of the referee…” Only the referee determines what is "play" and what is one step removed from ax murder. It may help to remember that game management involves not only what is happening right now, but also, what has occurred previously and what might occur as the game goes along.

So, the referee considers:

The actual occurrences on the pitch (as seen through the referee's eyes and processed by the referee's brain) vs. the Laws of the Game (LOTG) and other official guidance;

The game situation – how much (or how little) time remains in the match; where on the field is the action (in front of the goal, in front of the team benches, etc.);

The temperature of the match – are the two teams heated rivals;

Has either team (or both teams) shown an inclination toward very physical (but legal) play;

Is it an advancement/elimination playoff match;

Is the score close;

Has there already been a number of fouls committed and are they escalating in severity or frequency;

Is the play safe and fair – note that this does not mean equal or balanced by any stretch of the imagination. Just because a team in losing (or winning) by six goals does not mean the game is unfair;

Would a call be trifling or doubtful; would it contribute to safety or fairness or unnecessarily interrupt the flow of the game.

All these considerations also factor into showing the yellow and red cards, but that is a subject for another column.

Can a referee ever change a decision? Yes, but only prior to the next restart (that is, the next kickoff, free kick, throw-in, etc.) subject to some rare and very technical considerations. So, for example, if the referee awards a goal and the opposing team takes the kickoff, it's too late for any change. More basically, if the referee signals a restart n one direction and the ball is put into play (free kick, throw-in), it is too late to change the call. Keep in mind, however, that the game is subject to the decisions of the referee when he makes them, not when he signals them. So, a decision to change direction before a restart, for example, is valid, even if the restart is taken before the whistle, as long as the referee has already made the decision prior to the restart physically occurring.

The Rules and the Referee – Part 1

The game of soccer is intended to be played according to the Laws of the Game (LOTG). Those are the official rules as established by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). The LOTG are applicable everywhere in the world that soccer is sanctioned as an official sport. The LOTG are supplemented by various official publications such as Guide to Procedures for Referees, Assistant Referees and 4th Officials; Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game; Position Papers, etc.

The rules and interpretations from the U.S. Soccer Federation, the controlling authority in the U.S., are 99.44% identical with FIFA. NASA and other youth soccer organizations play according to a slightly modified version of the LOTG according to the ages of the players. Those modifications generally relate to the size of the field and related field markings, the size of the ball, the length of the game, number of players on the field, etc.

Local competition authorities (clubs, tournaments, etc.) also have rules. These are in addition to, and can never subtract from the LOTG. Officials are also guided by the tradition of the game and the spirit of the game. Neither exists in written form, but examples are easy to come by.

The first sentence of Law 5 states, “Each match is controlled by a referee who has full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game in connection with the match to which he has been appointed.” The phrase “in connection with the match” extends the referee’s authority to the entire length of time during which the players and officials are on, or in the immediate vicinity of, the playing pitch. This includes before the start of the game and after the conclusion of the game. As your kids get older (and bolder), they should remember that. Cursing the referee at the end of the match as they walk off the field will still earn them a red card, and the leagues will enforce the penalties.

The referee has to know a lot and has to be aware of a lot during play. He makes hundreds of decisions in every match. But he has two primary duties – to ensure the safety of the players and to ensure fair play. Soccer is intended to be played with as little interference from the referee as possible. It is the duty of the referee to penalize only deliberate breaches of the law. Whistling for trifling or doubtful violations is to be avoided.

The final section of Law 5 states, “The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play… are final.” There is no appeal available for a referee’s judgment. Right or wrong, good or bad, the referee's judgment is final. Period. End of story. That is simply the way soccer is. And since this is the LOTG, it cannot be altered by local authorities.

But keep in mind that the game is not subject to the whims of just anyone off the street. The soccer administrative hierarchy (locally, in Texas, in the U.S. and the world) provides for certified referees who have received a specified amount of training, and have passed the required testing. Both training and testing are required to be repeated each year. During a match, the referee should wear a badge for the current year on his shirt pocket. That is what indicates his certification. But remember, not everyone with a driver license has scored 100% on the driving test. The same is true with referees.

The finality of the referee's judgment should not be misinterpreted. Game protests for such matters as player ineligibility are not included under the referee's judgment. That is a different matter altogether.

There will always be referees that you believe are good, and those you think are bad. Keep things in perspective. Remember that many of the referees in NASA games are teenagers, some only a couple of years older than the players. Give them the benefit of the doubt. The fate of the free world is not at stake if your team loses.