1. Advantage

2. What Is A Foul ?

3. Unsafe Play Unfair Play Cheating What Is A Foul ?

4. What are the Most Important Decisions in a Game ?

5. SAFETY ! Anything Involving SAFETY ! No matter what the age No matter what the level of skill

6. Major Decisions Occur During “Active Play”

7. Fouls … Player Safety Goals … Referee Safety Offside … Cheating

8. What are the Defined 4 Criteria for a “Foul” in Soccer? (with the exception of “Handling”) 1. Committed by a player 2. Against an opposing player or team 3. On the field of play 4.While the ball is in play

9. Kicking Tripping Jumping At Charging Striking Pushing Handling Tackling Holding Spitting At Direct Kick Fouls Indirect Kick Fouls Playing Dangerously Impeding an Opponent

10. FOUL? Law 5 directs and empowers the referee to “enforce” the Laws of the Game, i.e. blow the whistle and stop the game when he observes a “foul”. If any of the 4 stated criteria is missing then no “foul” has been committed.

11. NOT A FOUL ? There may still be an “offense” that is committed requiring the referee to blow the whistle and intervene in the game. An act committed during play by a substitute An act committed during play, but off the field-of-play An act committed by a player or a substitute against a teammate

12. When is Ball Out-of-Play ?

13. Ball Leaves the Field Referee Blows the Whistle

14. What Is Advantage ?

15. Advantage Clause – Law V “allows play to continue when the team against which an offense has been committed will benefit from such an advantage”

16. Advantage Clause Advantage is NOT stated in Law V as: The referee shall where doing so would be giving an advantage to the offending team The referee shall refrain from penalizing in cases where doing so would be giving an advantage to the offending team

17. Remember SEE … (Safety, Equality, Enjoyment). Remember SEE … (Safety, Equality, Enjoyment). A reason for not invoking the advantage clause in the case of a relatively serious foul could be “safety”. A reason for not invoking the advantage clause in the case of a relatively serious foul could be “safety”. The referee must be sure that the players understand what is allowed and not allowed before applying the advantage. The referee must be sure that the players understand what is allowed and not allowed before applying the advantage. Referees must also be sure that the players are aware of what advantage is …. the younger their age the less they understand. Referees must also be sure that the players are aware of what advantage is …. the younger their age the less they understand.

18. Applying “Advantage” Referee Required To: Use Visual Hand Signal and Shout “Play On”

19. Applying “Advantage” Advantage is an “explicit” declaration by the referee that he has seen an offense. Advantage is an “explicit” declaration by the referee that he has seen an offense. Advantage is typically applied to the DFK type “fouls” Advantage is typically applied to the DFK type “fouls” Not a call to be used for an IFK type offense. Not a call to be used for an IFK type offense. Save it for the meaningful situations ….. Don’t overuse it. Save it for the meaningful situations ….. Don’t overuse it.

20. Advantage and Cards If a Caution or Send-Off is warranted: The Law does NOT mandate that the referee stop play immediately The Referee can come back later and card a player.

21. Advantage Not Realized … if the anticipated advantage does not develop at that time … The Referee shall penalize the original offense.

22. Factors Effecting Application of Advantage Timing … early in the game Timing … early in the game Position … location on field Position … location on field Ball Retention … “player” fouled ? Ball Retention … “player” fouled ? Always Applied … penalty area ? Always Applied … penalty area ? Never Applied … defensive third ? Never Applied … defensive third ?

23. Factors Effecting Application of Advantage Timing: Are there times during a match when it is less advisable to apply advantage? Timing: Are there times during a match when it is less advisable to apply advantage? Answer: The referee should refrain from applying advantage in the early stages of the match until control has been firmly established. Answer: The referee should refrain from applying advantage in the early stages of the match until control has been firmly established.

24. Factors Effecting Application of Advantage Position: Position: Does the position of the incident have an effect on whether or not the advantage clause should be invoked? Answer: Answer: The closer the incident is to the attacking goal, the more likely the advantage decision can be exploited by the attacking team. Advantage decisions are less likely to be useful, and could possibly harm game control, if the incident is in the attacking team’s own half of the field.

25. Factors Effecting Application of Advantage Ball Retention: Ball Retention: If the attacker retains ball possession is advantage always justified? Answer:. Answer: No. The example often given is if the defense intentionally handled the ball and the attacker gains possession of the ball, the decision would usually be not to apply advantage unless the scoring opportunity is very great.

26. Factors Effecting Application of Advantage Always Applied: Always Applied: When should the referee always apply the advantage clause? Answer: Answer: When a goal is likely to be scored.

27. Factors Effecting Application of Advantage Never Applied: Never Applied: When should a referee never apply the advantage clause? Answer: Answer: When there is an incident of serious foul play or violent conduct, or if a serious injury has resulted from the incident. Whenever “safety” is an issue.

28. Factors Effecting Application of Advantage Game Control Game Control Skill Level of Players Skill Level of Players Age of Players Age of Players Referee Experience Referee Experience

29. Factors Effecting Application of Advantage  Advantage is NOT a “right” ….. A referee may choose to never apply it.  Advantage is an “earned privilege” …. Constant complaining negates it.

30. Factors Effecting Application of Advantage Advantage is a “learned” skill …. It requires a high level of experience and skill on both sides of the ball, i.e. the referee and the players. Should not be applied: By new referees In the younger age groups With regard to unskilled players

31. Advantage - Other Factors Time & Space Time & Space Refers to playing tactics. When play is open and players are far apart the referee will be able to judge more reliably if an advantage situation is warranted. When play is close an advantage situation is less likely to succeed and game control could be affected. In this case the referee should stop play quickly, possibly anticipating a quick restart.

32. Advantage - Other Factors Communication Communication Communication is for the (a) attacking players to know that they are protected by the referee, and they will not lose an important match opportunity, (b) Defenders to know that they can’t get away with a foul (c) ARs (encourages team work, builds confidence) (c) coaches (same information as for players)

33. No Advantage Throw-Ins Throw-Ins There is no advantage on the taking of a throw-in, i.e. if a throw-in is improperly taken and the ball goes to the other team. Dropped Ball Dropped Ball There is no advantage if a player touches the dropped ball before it has touched the ground and the ball goes to the other team, i.e. the ball must be dropped again.

34. No Advantage Game Score Game Score In a blow-out, a referee may choose to interrupt play …. Slow the game down …. rather than applying advantage. Be careful in tournament games where “goal differential” has some meaning.

35. Advantage Misused Offside Offside Handling When “Offside” has not occurred …. When ball / hand contact is not deliberate ….. DO NOT call out “Play On” You are sending the wrong message.

36. BRAIN TEASER #3 If a second offense is committed by a player of the offending team during the time that the referee is allowing for the development of the anticipated advantage, the referee (assuming no further advantage exists) must stop the game and punish the more serious offense. TRUEFALSE

37. BRAIN TEASER #4 Red #45 has control of the ball in his opponent’s penalty area when he is pushed by Blue #7. Red #45 stumbles and falls to the ground, but Red #3 quickly gains control of the ball and the referee yells “Play On”. Red # 3 takes a shot which goes wide of the goal. Since the advantage wasn’t realized the referee should call the advantage back and award a penalty kick. TRUEFALSE

38. Advantage Advantage The Referee needs to read each game situation in order to judge if invoking the advantage clause will retain or diminish game control. Match officials who insist on enforcing minor violations of the Law but neglect to call significant fouls will lose their ability to control the game effectively. The Referee and ARs must also recognize “trifling” offenses.