Welcome to the 40th edition of The Corsham Referee monthly International Football/Soccer Referees' newsletter. 

I hope that all of you continue to enjoy your role in the world of refereeing. Please let me have any contributions for the newsletter, as readers are always interested in hearing about Refereeing from around the world. Please let me know if you have any difficulties in receiving or reading the newsletter; and let me have any suggestions on how it can be improved. It is issued free by email in both html (web page format), and plain text format. Previous issues (and printable pdf versions) can be seen by using the 'Previous Newsletters' link on the home page of my http://www.corshamref.org.uk web site. This newsletter is issued approximately on the 1st day of each calendar month.

Keep up the good Refereeing work wherever you are in the world; and my best wishes go to you all. Editor Julian Carosi.

DEALING WITH INJURIES ON THE FIELD OF PLAY

Next month's newsletter (Nov 06) will be a little bit different!

As an FA Referees' Assessor here in England, one of the most frustrating things that I see most weeks, is the haphazard way that Referees deal with injury situations. I am constantly having to provide advice to develop them to use a standard process that manages the situation in a sensible way. Thereby, keeping hasty trainers off the field until they are called for, actual sprinting to the scene instead of waddling there!, monitoring the situation and correct positioning etc.....

The whole of the next newsletter will be on this subject, so if you have any advice or would like to contribute, please email me. 

Regards, Julian Carosi 

WARD'S SOCCERPEDIA

A friend of mine has just released a great new book in A to Z format, covering the lore and Laws of the Beautiful Game. 

In this brilliantly comprehensive book, Andrew Ward explores the laws of football through anecdotes, incidents and precedents. He uses hundreds of examples to show the extraordinary range of events that can happen in a game, any game. Read about the player who lost a finger while celebrating a goal, the referee who dismissed himself, the player who ate a referee's notebook, the penalty awarded with two balls on the pitch, and the player who was sent off after just two seconds.
Ward focuses on the eleven-a-side contest rather than off-the-field distractions such as celebrity girlfriends and mega-bucks transfer deals. Here is a book that will settle arguments and open up debate. Find out why the penalty-area arc was added to the pitch markings in 1937; why a new injury procedure was introduced in 1997; and discover key points affecting issues such as technology, the two-referee system and ex-players as referees.
Arranged in an accessible A to Z format, this entertaining and authoritative book offers all football followers the chance to get to know the laws of the game in detail. It is often said that football is a simple game but in fact its legal system is exceedingly sophisticated. This complex set of rules has spread successfully to all parts of the world, and it is arguably the most pervasive and frequently used legal system on the planet. At times, however, it is also one of the most misunderstood.
Andrew Ward is a freelance writer whose numerous books include Kicking & Screaming (with Rogan Taylor) and I'm on Me Mobile (with Anton Rippon). He wrote five books in Robson's best-selling 'Strangest' series,
including Football's Strangest Matches.
You can order the book here: http://www.anovabooks.com/book/1861059833
Publisher Robson 
Publication Date 28 September 2006 
ISBN 1861059833 
Size (h x w) 234x156mm 
Binding pb 
Pages 368 
Cost £10.99

PASSING THE FITNESS TEST — how frequent and how hard should I train?

By Matthew Weston BSc (Hons) MSc 
(Matthew provides the fitness regimes for the Premiership Referees in England)

One of the most important fixtures in any referees calendar is the day they take their fitness test. In order to be successful on the day, a thorough preparation period must be followed. This article outlines some of the key principles of fitness training that should be followed in order to ensure success when it comes to passing the fitness test.

All fitness training programmes contain the elements of frequency and intensity. Training frequency refers to the number of training sessions performed. Whereas, training intensity is the effort required to perform an exercise. It is usually referred to as a percentage of maximum and common tools used to measure intensity are heart rate monitors and scales of perceived exertion.

Improvements with fitness will occur with an increase in weekly training frequency. Research has demonstrated that a frequency of 3 to 5 training sessions per week will improve cardiovascular fitness levels. However, the magnitude of the change becomes increasingly smaller and tends to plateaux after a frequency of 3 sessions per week. Whilst the risk of injury increases disproportionately if training is performed too frequently due to the excessive strain applied to the joints, muscles etc. 

When considering which of the two elements, training frequency or intensity, have the greatest effect upon fitness levels, it is the intensity at which exercise is performed that counts. Although a structured training programme should allow for both.

For example, a recent study by Donovan et al. (2004) examined the effects of 24 - weeks of moderate and high intensity training on the cardiovascular fitness of previously untrained, middle aged men. The group who undertook the moderate intensity training improved their fitness by an impressive 14%. However, the group who performed the high intensity training improved their fitness by a massive 22%. Despite both groups training at a frequency of 3 sessions per week!

In terms of percentage gains per minute of training performed, training intensity has the greatest impact. That’s more improvement in less training time! This has massive implications for those referees who find it hard to train 3 times per week due to work, family and geographical constraints. Therefore, if training frequency needs to be decreased, then simply increase the intensity of your remaining sessions.

However, a word of warning in that high intensity training can also be associated with an increased risk of overtraining, i.e., a decrease in physical performance despite continued training, as high intensity takes more out of the body and consequently takes longer to recover from — you should not commence your next training session until the body has recovered from the previous one. High intensity training also requires a decent level of initial fitness in order to perform effectively.

Also, the principle of specificity plays a major role in the changes to fitness levels that occur following exercise training, as adaptations are highly specific to the nature of the training performed. Ideally, training should mirror as close as possible the movements and energy systems employed used during refereeing in order to maximise gains. Referees run and the fitness tests involve running — therefore, most of your training should be running.

In conclusion, the best advice to anyone worried about passing their fitness tests is simple - get the preparation right. Follow a structured training plan that contains an appropriate amount of training frequency and intensity that will improve fitness levels (see below). More is not always best! Also, ensure that your training is specific as possible to your refereeing, as the overall aim should be fit to referee not just fit to pass a test.

PREMIERSHIP REFEREE LIST 2006/2007

The list of Premiership referee's for season 2006 / 07 are as follows:-
Martin Atkinson*     Steve Bennett*     Mark Clattenburg*     Mike Dean*     Phil Dowd            Steve Dunn         Chris Foy             Dermot Gallagher        Mark Halsey*         Barry Knight         Andre Marriner         Graham Poll*        Mike Riley*         Uriay Rennie         Rob Stiles*         Peter Walton        Howard Webb*         Alan Wiley
All referee's marked with an asterisk are on the FIFA list of referee's for season 06/07. 
Martin Atkinson and Mark Clattenburg will be in their first season on the FIFA list.
Dermot Gallagher has this season been given an extra season after reaching the age of retirement. Last February when reached the age of 48 he thought it was his last year, but his boss, Keith Hackett, has decided to invoke a loophole in the law of anti age discrimination which begins in October. Keith decided to award one of his most respected men, but said he will only make exceptions where form and fitness warrant it. 
Last season Dermont was refereeing as well as he's ever done and deserved this extra year.
Assistants on FIFA's list for season 2006 / 07.
This season there are ten Assistants on the FIFA list, as follows:-
David Babski     David Bryan     James Devine     Roger East     Peter Kirkup     Roger Lewis     Kevin Pike     Philip Sharp     Mike Tingey     Glen Turner
Peter Kirkup will be in his first year on the FIFA list of Assistants

(Courtesy of The September 06 Midland Referee Newsletter by Colin Hewitt)

STURROCK RAGES AT PENALTY DECISION  (Sturrock seems to rage at everything! Ed.)

Paul Sturrock made an astonishing attack on Steve Bennett in particular, and Premiership referees in general, in the immediate aftermath of Sheffield Wednesday's Yorkshire derby defeat by Leeds yesterday.

"The first thing I want to say," he began, "is to the Premiership: they can keep their referees. There are too many games I've watched and been involved in, over the last couple of years, where the referees don't seem to be able to make the step down from the Premiership to this division. "The pace is much faster down here, and there are more tackles and headers in the game. I just feel they could leave us alone and let us have our own referees.

"I think it is a subconscious thing, but they seem to have real problems changing from the Premiership. We have hardened referees [in the Championship], and they make mistakes as well, but I'd prefer to have them."

( www.telegraph.co.uk 28 Aug 06)

REFEREES NOT UP TO SCRATCH

Premiership referees who do not come up to the expected standard will not be "relegated" to the Football League in future. The Football League are unhappy about being used as a refereeing sin-bin so the plan is for errant officials to either be the fourth official at a Premiership match or have no appointment after a below-par display.

( www.telegraph.co.uk 31 Aug 06)

BLATTER CALLS FOR END TO FINAL PENALTIES

Sepp Blatter, president of football's governing body FIFA, believes that World Cup finals should not be decided by penalties, describing such a solution as "a tragedy".

In a move that is sure to please England's footballers, who are notoriously inaccurate from the spot, Blatter said a replay or gradually deducting players in extra time would be a better solution in the event of a draw.

"We have four years or so, so I think we have time," said Blatter, who added that high-level discussions would start soon.

"Maybe to replay the match if it's the final – you can't do that through the tournament because of lack of time. Maybe to take players away and play golden goal."

"Football is a team sport but from the penalty spot it's an individual match."

( www.telegraph.co.uk 28 Sept 06)

(News from FIFA.com)

THE RECIPE FOR SUCCESS 

13 Sep 2006

The final sessions of the three day FIFA International Football Symposium / UEFA Conference for National Coaches Berlin 2006 provided fascinating feedback from many of world football's leading coaches. 
The recommendations from the coaches included many points for FIFA and IFAB to consider and also many where opinion was still mixed on certain issues. Goal-line camera technology and the use of natural grass were two areas where the response was almost unanimously in favour, but over more contentious issues like the offside law, some argued for the status quo, some for a return to the old interpretation and others for a compromise. All expressed some sense of unease about the current interpretation tempered with the certainty that it remains one of the most important Laws of the Game.

Moves to encourage former players to become referees would be welcomed by the coaches - this would give referees experience of playing the game which could be vital in determining questions of simulation and delaying of restarts, both hot topics in this year's FIFA World Cup™. There was a call for more substitutes to be allowed in the preparation phase before the FIFA World Cup and perhaps three substitutes plus a keeper at finals matches. 

DEVELOPING THE GAME 
A day of discussion in Berlin 

13 Sep 2006

Day Two of the FIFA International Football Symposium / UEFA Conference for National Coaches Berlin 2006 saw the world's coaches give their views on a wide range of subjects after the 2006 FIFA World Cup™. FIFA Director of Communications Markus Siegler opened the day by introducing a session entitled 'The Coach - The Referee - The Laws.' This was a groundbreaking event for FIFA and UEFA, as it had a coach and a referee sharing the stage to provoke debate around the interpretation of the Laws of the Game. 

Representing the Coaches was Roy Hodgson, Coach of Finland and for the referees Peter Mikkelsen, FIFA and UEFA Referees Instructor. Mikkelsen outlined a number of areas which would be debated - Law 12: Fouls and Misconduct, Law 11: Offside, Law 14: The Penalty Kick, and the Technical Area. The wording of the Laws was explained before video clips of incidents from Germany 2006 provoked discussion between the two experts on the possible interpretations. 

The area of simulation was one where there had been a lot of debate since the summer. Both Mikkelsen and Hodgson agreed that it was the players and coaches' responsibility to ensure that this form of cheating was stamped out. Hodgson was also keen to point out that it should be remembered that in a contact sport such as football, a player can fall after a challenge without necessarily either being fouled or having dived.

The area of handball is also one which continues to provoke debate among coaches. Law 12 states that "A direct free kick should be given if a player handles the ball deliberately", which gives rise to many 'ball-to-hand?' or 'hand-to-ball?' discussions.

Law 11 regarding offside was explained by Mikkelsen, and he reiterated an important point, "It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position." That provided more food for thought for the afternoon discussions.

A DROP OF SPIT IN THE ROMANIAN OCEAN

PROTEST: Romanian referee George Luca left the field of play in the middle of the game, accusing the way in which delegations and promotions are being made by the Romanian Referees' Committee. The most important sequence of the game CFR Timisoara - CSM Ramnicu Valcea (the second league) took place in the 56th minute, without having anything to do with the final result.

The referee, George Luca from Bistrita, who led the game correctly up to that moment, stopped the game and called the two team captains. Considering the tension on the field at that moment, the spectators thought that he was going to calm the players down, but he talked to them for about one minute and… then, to the great surprise of the players and the officials on the bench, he went back to his changing room! His place was immediately taken by the Senior Assistant Referee, Adrian Lungu, and the Forth Official, Ionut Juravle, became an Assistant Referee.

"What I did today is a protest towards what is happening in Romanian refereeing, towards the way in which promotions and delegations are being made. I had decided from last night what I was going to do and I let my colleagues know my intentions at half time, in the locker-room", Luca said.

His personal reasons for taking this action, was to highlight his dissatisfaction at not being delegated to a second league game for seven stages due to, he says, the fact that, "Each president calls for or arranges favourable referee appointments, which is a shame, especially for those poor players who travel for hundreds of kilometres only to be humiliated by a dishonest referee. I never took dirty money. You'll probably say it's a cliché, but it's the truth. I am a dentist in Cluj, I don't live by bribes. I am very much aware that my gesture is only a small drop of spit into an ocean, but, since I will now give up refereeing, I want to point out that things aren't going so well in this field", Luca concluded before getting in his car, in the 70th minute of the game.

DECLARATION
George Luca is a doctor and a man of character whom I promoted and who refereed only out of passion. I have no comment upon the current situation of the Romanian refereeing. (Ion Craciunescu, ex-president of the Romanian Referees' Committee)

According to George Luca, the changing of the president of the Romanian Referees' Committee brings a change into the zone of influence, considering the town the president is from. "It used to be Timisoara, when Grigorescu was in charge, now it's Valcea. Underqualified referees are being promoted only because they are Abrudan's brother, Avram's son or Huzu's son". George Luca, the referee from Bistrita used the occasion to announce his resignation from refereeing. (Prosport, Sept 16th 2006)

(Romanian Newspaper 18 Sept 06)
http://www.prosport.ro/index.php?section=articole&screen=index&id=6430

UEFA'S DISSENT DIRECTIVE

Friday, 1 September 2006

UEFA has asked referees to clamp down on dissent after the UEFA Referees' Committee, together with top officials, discussed various refereeing issues at their fourth annual gathering.

Bookable offences
Following the outcome of the discussions in Nyon on Wednesday, UEFA wants to emphasise that it has asked match officials to take immediate action by cautioning players in the case of the following offences: waving of an imaginary card to have an opponent booked; crowding around the referee, when at least one player should be cautioned and not only the initiator; and dissent by gesture or running towards to referee. 

Immediate application
UEFA is determined to stop dissent and the harassment of referees and wishes to make players and team officials aware that referees in all UEFA competitions will punish such on-field confrontations appropriately. These additional instructions for referees should be applied immediately.

Advice and instructions
On the second day of the seminar, the referees were also given advice and instructions on how to act in various on-field situations. They were advised to consider a "wait and see" approach on the advantage rule, to see if a team benefited from advantage being played. In the case of pushing and jostling at a set-piece, referees were, among other things, encouraged to be proactive and try to prevent such offences before the set-piece was taken. 

Confrontation action
In cases of confrontation between players, the match officials were encouraged to take immediate disciplinary action, in particular against the player initiating the incident, and then against any other player who becomes involved. Brutal acts involving excessive force should always result in a red card, while physical harassment of referees in particular should not be tolerated.

( www.UEFA.com )

THIS MONTH'S HOT TOPICS:

This month, we look at an interesting pass back question; showing the amount of time allowed at the end of a half; goal or not?; an unknown substitution scenario made at half time; can a penalty kick take place if there is only 6 players on the field of play? and finally, can a player with one stud missing play in the game?

Regards Julian Carosi

I hope that you have enjoyed this issue of the newsletter, and that you are all continuing to enjoy your refereeing roles.  All the very warmest wishes to you all, wherever you are in the world.

Regards, Julian Carosi (Newsletter Editor):

Disclaimer: The content of this newsletter is not sanctioned by or affiliated with any governing body of soccer. The opinions expressed here are sometimes those of the Corsham Referee webmaster and the readers, or from other media sources. Reference to the male gender in this newsletter is for simplification only, and apply to both males and females. All rights of the current Laws mentioned in this newsletter are reserved by FIFA, and they are the official laws of the International Football Association Board. The Editor is not obliged to publicise unsolicited manuscripts or photos.

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