SOCCER

From left, Washington referees Richard Meeks, Renton; Brian Armes, Snohomish; and Chase Parker, Seattle, walk around the field before a match. Meeks, Armes and Parker are looking for proper field markings, as well as identifying any safety concerns not only within the field, but around the perimeter of the field.

INSPECTION DIRECTION

Field Examination a Must for Every Match

By Ross Meloan, Ph.D.

Picture a high school soccer game to be played between two very talented teams. The rivalry at a fever pitch, social media abuzz with more than simple trash talking between players on both teams, along with comments emanating from the supporting crowds of both teams. As a matter of fact, the banter is so prolific school administrations get involved to a point the host school requests additional security for the contest. The officiating crew for the contest is made up of seasoned veterans with experience in controlling this type of contest. And while they do not usually listen to the hyperbole regarding any game, the comments

surrounding this contest seem more caustic, more specific and has the crew predicting a very physical, hard-fought match.

Based on experience, the referee crew made the decision to arrive at the game site a bit earlier than the norm. The logic was their presence might just avert any pregame shenanigans. It was even decided each assistant referee would take one half of the field for pregame team warmup observation. The referee would maintain vigilance at the halfway line. Surely nothing would get by them prior to kickoff, would it?

The officiating team was so busy reflecting on the preventive officiating techniques prior to the game, it almost forgot one of the most important responsibilities of the officiating crew prior to a game — the pregame field inspection. It just so happened one of the crew mentioned it might be a good idea to walk the field to further the notion of presence and control. This is part of a referee team’s duty and should be accomplished before every match.

NFHS rule 1, The Field of Play, covers all aspects of the high school soccer playing field. Anything anyone would want to know about dimensions, nets, technical areas, corner flags, etc., is contained in this rule. Rule 1 even explains the degree of slope for natural or engineered turf fields. NFHS 1-7, Field Conditions, specifically states the home team administration/ game management is to “judge whether or not the condition of the field, the elements and other conditions affecting the safety of the field of play allow for a safe game to begin.” After the game begins, the officiating crew makes that judgment.

Who is responsible for making sure the field is safe to play on? Again, NFHS rule 5, The Officials, describes those responsibilities very well. Rule 5-2-2a indicates “the head referee or center referee shall inspect and approve the game balls, field of play and nets, inquire about local ground rules and determine whether a fair game can be started.” This clearly indicates field inspection is in the list of pregame responsibilities. The referee team must take this responsibility seriously. The safety of players is critical.

The referee team began to walk the field per their usual routine. They walked along the touchline down to the goalline. They inspected the corner flags, arcs and hashmarks, and all seemed to be in order. They returned to the point where they started the field inspection. An assistant referee moved to take up a position and observe the home team half of the field from across the field.

The remainder of the crew observed the assistant referee abruptly stop in his tracks and stare at his feet. Thinking he dropped something, the team continued their gaze until he sprinted to the visiting team bench, at the same time motioning the entire referee crew to his side as he stopped the visiting team from taking the field for pregame warmups.

Without telling the visiting coach much of anything, the assistant referee explained the visiting team was not to take the field and to wait in the bench area until they received permission to warm up.

What was he doing? Seriously, what was going on?

As they approached the center circle, the crew noticed the assistant referee purposely stepped in almost the exact same place as he did when he started across the field the first time. He told the crew to look down by their feet, where there were some nails.

But who was responsible for making sure this field was safe in the first place? The school administration, as clearly indicated in the NFHS rulebook. Although it is the administration’s responsibility, the referee team must also check the field. If there is something dangerous and a player is injured, the referee team could be named in a lawsuit for failure to complete their duties.

QUICKTIP

The offside rule indicates there must be two or more defenders nearer the goalline than the ball.

Do not be fooled and assume the goalkeeper is one of those

defenders. There are plays when the goalkeeper has moved up to make a save and there is only one defender nearer the goalline. The assistant referee must always be concentrating on the play to ensure the offside decision is accurate.

SIDELINE

FIFA World Cup to Deploy New Officiating Tech

“Limb-tracking technology” and sensors planted in the soccer ball will assist match officials at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, scheduled to begin Nov. 21 in Qatar. Calling it a “semi-automated” video review system, FIFA said in a press release the match will continue to be officiated by humans, but the new review process will help match officials “make faster, more accurate and more reproducible offside decisions on the biggest stage of all.”

FIFA said the new process will combine the limb- and ball-tracking data in an artificial intelligence process to provide video match officials with an automated offside alert. Before informing the onfield referee, the video match officials will validate the automated decision by manually checking the automated kick point and offside line. Turned into a 3D simulation, the same positional data points will be shared on stadium video boards and made available to FIFA’s broadcast partners.

Previously collected data during online and offline tests was analyzed and validated by the MIT Sports Lab, with TRACK at Victoria University scientifically validating the limb-tracking technology and additional support coming from a research team at ETH Zurich.

“VAR has already had a very positive impact on football and we can see that the number of major mistakes has already been dramatically reduced,” said Pierluigi Collina, chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee. FIFA previously implemented video review at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

TEST YOURSELF

In each of the following you are given a situation and at least two possible answers. You are to decide which answer or answers are correct for NFHS, NCAA or IFAB rules/ Laws. Solutions: p. 85.

1. The home team is wearing white jerseys and the visiting team arrives wearing blue jerseys. a. Legal since the jerseys contrast each other. b. Illegal since the home team must wear dark jerseys. c. Legal provided that socks match the color of the jerseys.

2. A1 takes a powerful shot on goal. B2, who is very close, puts hands in front of the face as a reflex action to protect the face and the ball hits B2’s hands. a. Stop play and award a direct free kick or penalty kick for team A. b. Allow play to continue since this was not a deliberate attempt to use the hands. c. Caution B2 for stopping play by using the hands.

3. B1 is about to take a goal kick when A2 enters the penalty area. With A2 now in the penalty area, B1 takes the goal kick and the ball goes to B2, who moves with the ball upfield. a. Stop play and have the kick retaken since A2 entered the penalty area. b. Stop play and award an indirect free kick for team B at the point where A2 entered the penalty area. c. Allow play to continue since A2 did not interfere with play.

4. A1 is moving toward team B’s goal, which is defended only by a goalkeeper. A1 is approached by the goalkeeper and A1 passes the ball back to A2, who is nearer to team B’s goalline than the second-to-last opponent. A2 receives the ball and scores a goal. a. Goal. The player was behind the ball so cannot be offside. b. No goal. This is offside since there was only one defender nearer the goalline. c. No goal and award an indirect free kick since A1 used trickery by passing the ball back.

5. A1 prepares to take a corner kick at the end of the second half. Before the ball is in play, a spectator enters the field and kicks the ball. A1 then strikes the spectator in the face. a. Eject A1 and restart with an indirect free kick for team B. b. Wait a few moments for time to expire and end the match. c. Eject A1 and restart the match with the corner kick since the ball was not in play.

The field was cleared; volunteers came out of the stands to help host management ensure there were no remaining nails anywhere on the field. Once completed, the crew and school administrators walked the entire field together to ensure there were no further issues. The kickoff was almost 30 minutes late but the match was played on a safe field.

The importance of a thorough field inspection cannot be diminished. Never anticipate everything is perfect and the inspection can be waived. Some examples of problems that may be identified are standing water, an exposed sprinkler head, a deep rut that can turn an ankle, a piece of wood lying on the ground, etc.

Goalposts must be closely inspected as well. If they are portable, are they properly anchored? If not, the match cannot be started until that is corrected. Never start a match with unanchored portable goalposts. If a goal tips over, a player can be severely injured.

Also, are the goalposts on the goalline? If it is a combination football goalpost and soccer goal, are there any issues that might develop as a result of the ball striking the football post? Are the nets pulled back to a sufficient distance to protect the goalkeeper from getting a hand stuck in the net? Are the nets properly fastened to the goalposts? A hole in the net can result in major problems for the officials. Did the ball enter the goal properly or did it go through the hole? A question no crew wants to answer.

The markings on the field must also be reviewed and if there are any improper marks, the school administration must be notified. One of the most critical is the penalty mark. If it is less than 12 yards from the goal, the referee team should try and eliminate it and pace off a penalty kick when it is awarded.

Another common error in field markings is the corner kick hashmark that should be 11 yards from the intersection of the touchline and goalline. It is often 12 yards because it was measured from the edge of the corner arc. It should also be five inches off the goalline. While this is a minor issue, it should be corrected, if possible.

Coaches and team areas are to be properly identified so everyone knows where they are allowed to sit or stand during the match. Coaches are not permitted to wander the length of the touchline.

Safety is a critical component of the referee team’s duties. The field must be safe to play on, otherwise the match should not commence. Also, if there are field marking issues, the referee or head referee must report the issues to the school administration or state association. Ross Meloan, Ph.D., Murray, Ky., is a NISOA National Clinician and NISOA’s liaison to NFHS. *

What’s in Your Pregame?

By Joe Manjone, Ed.D.

An important referee function must occur prior to the start of each game. Clear and complete communication of expectations and requirements by the referee to those who, other than the referee, have roles in the operation of the game. These include the officiating team — assistant referees or side referee(s), the fourth official (if there is one), the game manager, the timer, the scorer, the ball holders and the head coach and captains from each team.

Meeting the game manager

When reaching the game site, the referee should introduce the officiating team to the game manager. The game manager is responsible for spectator control,

and the safety and security of the officials and teams. The referee should ask the game manager if there are any ground rules that will impact the game, and that must be communicated to the coaches and captains. One example is if the game is being played on a football field. What lines are for the soccer boundaries? If the ball hits the football crossbar and not the soccer crossbar, what will occur?

Another point is the importance of playing the whistle, since the referee or assistant referee will determine if the ball is still in play after hitting a crossbar. The referee should also ask the game manager to review any security procedures in place and procedures that should be followed if any problems with spectators occur. How the game manager can be contacted and where he or she will be located should be established.

As required by NFHS rule 5-2-1, the referee should conduct a pregame conference with the other member or members of the officiating team. NFHS 5-2-1 indicates the officials should arrive at least 15 minutes before the game and duties of the officials should be briefly reviewed. An earlier arrival is strongly recommended so there is sufficient time to go over the referee team’s responsibility.

Items covered in the pregame conference are determined by the referee and can include the duties and expectations of each team member, positions of each official during a variety of play situations, game control, problem rules, assistant referee signals as listed in the rulebook, control of the team, substitutions, backing up the official time, caution and disqualification procedures, eye contact between team members, legal and illegal equipment, and pregame and postgame procedures.

The referee may also during this pregame conference communicate additional signals that could be utilized by the officiating team. One such signal is the communication of the position of a defender’s foul near the penalty area.

5 MINUTES WITH PAUL SCOTT

NPSL director of officials outlines officiating side of the Dallas Cup.

Resides: Draper, Utah Current Roles: National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) director of officials, coordinator of officials for the Western Athletic and Rocky Mountain Athletic conferences, U.S. Soccer National Referee Coach and state referee administrator of Utah.

Previous Officiating Experience:

CONCACAF manager of refereeing, 2013 MLS Cup and All-Star Game, 2010 U.S. Open Cup Championship, more than 200 MLS regular-season assignments, 2013 and 2014 NCAA Final Four, 1996 Atlanta Paralympics.

REFEREE: Tell us about the Dallas Cup.

SCOTT: The Dallas Cup is a world-renowned, invitation-only youth tournament that draws top teams and more than 500 future World Cup players. As the oldest and most prestigious international youth soccer tournament in the United States, Dallas Cup consists of 40 percent international teams, 40 percent U.S. teams, and 20 percent local teams. It creates a premier opportunity for high-level referee development. Referee academies across the globe partner with the tournament, helping Dallas Cup build its reputation of having the best officiating of any youth soccer tournament in the world.

REFEREE: What is your specific role with the Dallas Cup?

SCOTT: Jim Mills, the assigner for Dallas Cup, invited the league to sponsor a camp in conjunction with their games. U.S. Soccer and CONCACAF have been doing something similar for a number of years which I have been fortunate enough to participate in. My role will be coaching the 12 referees participating in the camp.

For years, the NPSL has supported U.S. Soccer’s referee program. The league believes that in order for the league to improve, the referees must as well. We are a development league not only for players but for league not only for players but for referees. Most of the officials referees. Most of the officials working the National Women’s working the National Women’s Soccer League and MLS Soccer League and MLS have at one time or another have at one time or another officiated in the NPSL. The officiated in the NPSL. The NPSL Referee Development NPSL Referee Development Program encompasses the Program encompasses the NPSL Referee of the Year NPSL Referee of the Year Awards, the NPSL U.S. Soccer Awards, the NPSL U.S. Soccer Coaches Convention Coaches Convention Referee Scholarships, Referee Scholarships, development, and to the SRAs.

They’ll provide feedback on the effectiveness of this program.

Obviously, I hope there is an improvement which will enable us to expand this event. Who knows? One of these officials may become a FIFA referee.

funds to sponsor the assessment of NPSL matches through U.S. Soccer, sponsoring referee courses, the Disciplinary Code and Disciplinary Committee that ensures the protection of match officials and the NPSL Dallas Cup Referee Camp.

Although the NPSL has teams across the United States, many of our markets do not have strong referee programs. Each state referee association is responsible for the development of Grassroots and Regional referees, but many lack the sufficient number of elite games required to develop highly talented referees. In collaboration with Dallas Cup, this camp will address this by targeting this population of officials, ultimately resulting in a better NPSL product on the field.

REFEREE: Do referees need to be invited or can they just sign up?

SCOTT: To participate in the camp, referees are submitting an application. Last month, I sent to the U.S. Soccer National Assigners and State Referee Administrators (SRA) who are in our markets an email that contained a description of the event and a link to apply. They were asked to share this with referees who are up and coming.

REFEREE: What criteria do you use to select referees for the tournament?

SCOTT: The first criterion we are weighing in the selection process is referees from those areas that haven’t traditionally had the opportunities for intense one-on-one high-level coaching. The second is those referees who are not quite the top in their area. We are looking to help them join the assigner’s pool of their go-to referees.

REFEREE: Do you track the success rate of officials who attend the Dallas Cup to see how many advance to high levels of matches?

SCOTT: Our short-term goal is for these referees to have a greater rate of correct decision-making during their matches. After the tournament, we will provide feedback to the national assigners who are responsible for their development, and to the SRAs. They’ll provide feedback on the effectiveness of this program. Obviously, I hope there is an improvement which will enable us to expand this event. Who knows? One of these officials may become a FIFA referee.

CASEPLAYS

Wall Movement

Play: Team A is awarded a direct free kick approximately 25 yards from the goal. Team B forms a wall with four players. A1 takes up a position near the wall approximately 1-1/2 yards from the wall. After the ball is struck by A2, A1 moves toward the wall (encroaches) and a goal is scored. The referee allows play to continue and awards the goal. Ruling: There is no violation. Once the ball is in play, A1 has the right to move toward the wall or any direction (NFHS 13-3-1; NCAA 13.2.2; IFAB 13.3).

Goalkeeper Dropped the Ball

Play: Play is restarted with a drop ball for team A. After the ball touches the ground, A1 makes a short pass to A2, who notices the opposing goalkeeper is far from the goalline. A2 immediately takes a shot and kicks the ball directly into the goal. Ruling: Goal. The ball was in play and the goal is allowed because it was touched by two players (NFHS 9-2-6; NCAA 9.3.3; IFAB 8.2).

Promising Attack or Offside?

Play: A1, who is near midfield, passes the ball toward A2, who is in an offside position and challenges for the ball. After that, B3 pulls A2’s shirt outside the penalty area and, in the judgment of the referee, stops a promising attack. The referee stops play and notices the assistant referee has indicated an offside offense. Ruling: The referee is to award an indirect free kick for team B for the offside offense. B2 is not cautioned since a promising attack did not materialize because of the offside infraction (NFHS 11-2; NCAA 11.2.a; IFAB 11.2).

Goalkeeper Has a Cannon

Play: B1 is injured within the penalty area and the match is stopped for B1’s injury. The referee restarts the match with a drop ball to B2, the goalkeeper. B2 picks up the ball with the hands, throws it downfield and the ball enters team B’s goal. Ruling: The referee shall disallow the goal and restart the match with a goal kick for team B. Note this is a rule change for NFHS effective with the 2022-23 season (NFHS 10-2f; NCAA AR 10.4.1.c; IFAB 12.1).

Fourth official

If there is a fourth official, the pregame conference should address fourth official expectations. Items include location of the fourth official, substitutions (including making sure substitutes are listed on the roster and are legally and properly equipped), team area and coach control (as well as keeping the coach in the team area and informing the referee of improper behavior), recording of cautions and disqualifications, observing and noting of team area personnel leaving the team area during an altercation, informing the referee of timing device and other irregularities and observing the game for any problems that may occur. A sample list of fourth official duties is available in the back of the NFHS soccer rulebook.

All pregame conferences between officials should be complete, concise and an open dialogue between the referee team. If there are any questions about game management, they should be discussed during the pregame conference. There should never be any surprises or confusion between the officials during the game. A complete pregame discussion should prevent this.

Referees must have a pregame discussion, preferably before taking the field. While no two of these discussions will be exactly the same, the referee — with input from the assistant referees — must identify potential problem areas that may arise. While it can be admittedly difficult for referees fast-tracking it to their assignment after a workday, consider getting the crew together on a phone call (hands-free) if time will not permit the crew to have an effective in-person meeting at the site — even if the crew has worked together before. A pregame discussion allows the crew to be properly prepared.

Meeting with the timer and scorer

As indicated in NFHS 5-2d, the referee must meet with the timer and scorer to discuss specific duties. The timer is to use a visible timing device, which most often is the stadium clock. The review with the timer should include starting the clock when the ball is put in play and stopping it when signaled by the referee. A demonstration of the in-play and stop clock signals is very helpful. The timer should also be reminded of the duty to notify the referee when five minutes are remaining in the game and to watch for the stopping of the clock signal if the team in the lead substitutes. The referee also should remind the timer to count down verbally and loudly the last 10 seconds of each period, and to signal the end of each period with an appropriate device.

Fewer directives are required when communicating with the scorer prior to the start of the game. As indicated in NFHS 6-32a, the scorer must verify each team’s roster includes players, substitutes and bench personnel at least five minutes prior to the start of the game. The referee must make certain the scorer has completed this task. The scorer must be reminded to obtain the head referee’s verification of a score before recording it. The scorer should also be told to record all cautions and disqualifications with the reason given, and to notify the referee if clarification is needed. Finally, inform the scorer all substitutes must report to the scorer and be verified on the roster before being beckoned into the game.

The referee or the fourth official (if there is one) must check each of the game balls and give instructions to the ballholders. As indicated in NFHS 6-1-1, at least two ballholders must be provided. Instructions to the ballholders include keeping up with play and getting the extra ball to the player who is making a throw-in for balls over the touchline or to the kicker for balls that go out of play over the goalline. Ballholders are most frequently volunteers, and often younger people, so emphasizing their importance to the game and to keep up with play should be emphasized. After the game, a thank you for their efforts is strongly encouraged.

Meeting coaches and captains

After doing a cursory check of the players’ equipment, and as required by NFHS 5-2-2d, the officiating team should meet and confer with the head coach and captains of each team. The referee team should be introduced. The coaches and captains are then asked to professionally greet each other (shake hands or other methods). The referee should then address any player equipment problems, ground rules that will be in effect and any other appropriate items. This discussion should be short and to the point. It is not the time to attempt to intimidate players or create situations that will be a problem for the referee team during the game. Good sportsmanship by players, substitutes and coaches must be emphasized. Coaches are to be asked if all players will be legally equipped at the kickoff.

State associations may have a pregame card the referee is to read. If this is the case, it should be done professionally and completely. The referee is to toss the coin to determine which team will kick off and which side of the field each team will defend. The visiting team calls the toss with the winner of the toss getting the choice of kicking off or defending a side. The loser of the toss gets the non-selected choice.

Finally, this very important and comprehensive pregame communication comes to an end, and the officiating team must go onto the field to start the game. The referee communications during the pregame should prevent any surprises during the game. Joe Manjone, Ed.D., Silverhill, Ala., is a former chair of the NFHS Soccer Rules Committee. He was inducted into the NISOA Hall of Fame in 2013 and is an active high school referee and a former collegiate soccer referee. *

ASSOCIATION SOCCER LAWS SIMPLIFIED

Take a look at nine aspects of the IFAB Laws that are often a source of confusion for fans, players, coaches and offi cials at the amateur level.

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