1. Techniques for Refereeing Younger Players
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2. GOALS Game situation scenarios common in younger players’ games
Not always cut-and-dried answers
Decision making within Spirit of Game
WORKSHOP GOALS:
Scenarios contain common situations in younger players’ games.
Course aimed at Regional and Intermediate Referees who often referee U-12 and under games.
Use of Law 18 – Common sense.
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3. “Refereeing is Thinking”
-Ken Aston
Ken Aston Quote:
“REFEREEING IS THINKING”
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4. Decision Making Recognize Problem Gather Information Consider Options
Make Decision
Implement Decision
Communicate Decision
Decision Making—Six steps
Recognize Problem
Gather Information
Consider Options
Make Decision
Implement Decision
Communicate Decision
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5. Scenarios
Go into scenarios.
Breakouts.
Ground rules.
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6. Scenario #1
You are the referee in a GU-12 match. The Red team is awarded an indirect free kick within Red’s own penalty area. Red #12 kicks the ball to a teammate standing in the penalty area who then quickly kicks the ball back to the Red goalkeeper, also in the penalty area. The goalkeeper picks up the ball and prepares to kick it up field.
Recommendation
Retake the indirect free kick since the ball was never in play.
Rationale
This feels like a “pass back” to the goalkeeper, but the IFK never left the penalty area and so was never in play.
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7. Scenario #2
You are the referee in a BU-10 match early in the fall season. A Red attacking player dribbles the ball on a counter-attack and is soon past the last Blue defender with only the goalkeeper between him and the goal. As the attacker approaches the penalty area, the Blue goalkeeper comes out of the penalty area, falls on the ball, and collects it in his arms. The goalkeeper’s actions did not affect the safety of the Red attacker.
Recommendation
Stop play and award the Red team a DFK. No caution or send-off for DOSGO.
Rationale
The DFK is for deliberate handling by the Blue keeper outside the penalty area. Verbal admonishments are more appropriate than cautions or send-offs at U-10.
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8. Scenario #3
Red player #12 takes a corner kick against the Blue team. He kicks the ball to a teammate who is 10 yards from the goal line. Red #12 then runs along the goal line toward the goal. From your vantage, it appears that only the Blue goalkeeper is on the goal line. The Red player with the ball passes it back to Red #12 who scores.
Recommendation
A/R should be signaling for offside. If not, confer with him. If you decide there was an offside, award an IFK to Blue.
Rationale
There is no possibility of offside while a corner kick is in progress, but the corner kick ended when Red #12’s teammate touched the ball. Once he passes it back to Red #12, Law 11 (offside) applies.
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9. Scenario #4
You are the referee in a BU-10 match. A Blue defender is standing in his penalty area with his arms at his side when the ball bounces up and strikes him on the arm. Immediately the excited coach of the Red team yells in a booming voice, “Handball! We get a penalty kick!” Hearing the voice of authority, all the players stop playing.  
Recommendation
Blow the whistle and restart with a dropped ball. Allowing play to continue might cause others to blame you if the Red team scores while the Blue team is not ready.
Rationale
Law 5 allows the referee to stop play for outside interference. Law 8 tells the referee to restart with a dropped ball in such cases.
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10. Scenario #5
You are the referee in a GU-10 match. A Red attacking midfielder is dribbling the ball. She sends a nice pass forward to her open right wing just as a Blue midfielder makes a late and clumsy challenge. The Blue midfielder collides with her, and then falls to the ground crying out in pain and clutching her knee. You glance forward to see the Red attacker running with the ball on a breakaway heading toward the Blue penalty area.
Recommendation
Stop play immediately and bring the Blue coach on to deal with the injury. If you judge the contact to be no foul, restart with a dropped ball. If you judge the contact to be a foul against Blue, restart with a DFK for Red.
Rationale
There was an advantage situation for Red but at U-10 the primary concern is for player safety. The most appropriate restart is probably a DFK for Red because Blue’s challenge was late and clumsy, and because a DFK will fairly take the sting out of Red’s loss of advantage.
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11. Scenario #6
In a BU-12 match the ball enters the Blue goal and you (as the referee) point to the center of the field indicating that a goal has been scored. As you turn to go back up field you notice that your assistant referee is standing at attention with her flag at her side, near the corner flag. It appears that she does not intend to move toward the halfway line.
Recommendation
Run to confer with the AR, who most likely saw something that you missed.
Rationale
As the referee it is your duty to consult with the AR before finalizing your decision. As long as you have not restarted play, you are free to change your decision if the information you receive warrants it.
In the future, always look for a confirming goal signal before you give your own signal.
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12. Scenario #7
You are the referee in a BU-12 match. As Red #7 dribbles past the referee at midfield, Blue #12 wins the ball and sends it in the opposite direction to a Blue striker far up field. You turn quickly and check with your lead assistant referee to see if the Blue striker is offside. Since there is no signal, you relax and run toward the Red penalty area where the play is heading. Suddenly, there is a commotion and a resulting outcry from spectators and players behind you. You turn to discover Blue #12 sprawled on the field with blood running from his nose. No opponent is near and there is no sign of any fighting going on.
Ignore the Blue advantage and stop play immediately. Call the Blue coach onto the field to deal with the injury. Ask Blue #12 or a teammate what happened. Have Blue #12 brought to the sideline to have the blood dealt with (the coach may substitute or play short). Confer with the trail AR (and, if necessary, the lead AR). If they saw nothing, ask Red #7 if he struck Blue #12. If he admits doing so, send him off for this extreme violent conduct and restart with a DFK for Blue at the point of the foul.
If Red #7 does not admit it, he cannot be disciplined. Communicate this to the players and coaches. When ready, the restart will be a dropped ball where the ball was when play was stopped.
Referees should delay at the point of significant physical contact or challenges for a couple of seconds before moving with play.
ARs should always watch players that the referee cannot see.
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13. Conclusion
What influence do you think these scenario outcomes will have on your ability to deal with difficult or complex real game situations when refereeing younger players?
CONCLUSION:
Successful officiating in youth games requires recognition of complex situations
Evaluating options
Using effective management tools and communication methods
Scenario analysis helps referees meet challenging game situations with success and confidence
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14. “Think, Consult, Decide, Announce.”
Remember…
“Think, Consult, Decide, Announce.”
-Ken Aston
Last slide:
Ken Aston Quote:
“THINK, CONSULT, DECIDE, ANNOUNCE”
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