Welcome to the 61st edition of The Corsham Referee monthly International Football/Soccer Referees' newsletter.

Greetings to everyone.

There are over 1,000 referees of all levels from all over the world that subscribe to this newsletter. Your comments and contributions are always welcome

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

The new Law book for season 2008 - 2009 can be downloaded from the FIFA web site here: http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/lawsofthegame.html

The new Law book contains a completely re-written chapter entitled, 'Interpretation of the Laws of the Game and Guidelines for Referees'. This chapter contains compulsory advice that supplements the Laws. It is based on the old FIFA Questions and Answers, and the previous Law book chapter entitled, ' Additional Instructions for Referees, Assistant Referees and Fourth Officials'. 

You all need to read this new chapter, as it is now part of the Laws, even though it contains one very strange dictate on page 65.

'If a referee is temporarily incapacitated for any reason, play may continue under the supervision of the assistant referees until the ball next goes out of play'.

The above compulsory advice, is maybe less compulsory that the remaining compulsory advice!

The FA Respect Campaign.

The FA's Respect Campaign kicks off in earnest with Sunday's 10 August FA Community Shield (formally known as the Charity Shield) match between Manchester United and Portsmouth at Wembley London. The Referee for this game has a huge responsibility to set the 'Respect' benchmark for the rest of this season. The match officials are:
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Northumberland FA)
Assistant Referees: David Richardson (West Riding FA) and Ian Gosling (Kent FA)
Fourth Official: Andre Marriner (Birmingham FA)

All the professional leagues have signed up to The FA's Respect campaign, and you will see less tolerance from Referees when dealing with dissent and technical area misbehaviour. The captains will have a greater role in maintaining discipline within their respective teams. To promote Respect, the referee will also work with the team captains, to manage the players and the game effectively.

"It's not enough to be a great player to be a captain. You have to be a great leader who commands and shows Respect." (Fabio Capello, England manager.)

26,000 Referees in England will be taking their steer from what happens on Sunday. Let's all make an effort to be champions of The FA's drive to get respect back into the game.

Seven thousand referees are dropping out each season in England because of the abuse and intimidation they receive. It ruins games and can cause matches to be abandoned. Then we've all lost.

Respect is aimed at helping us all to work together to change the negative attitudes and unacceptable behaviour on the touchlines and on the pitch.

Good luck to Mark and his team for Sunday - we are all behind you.

From this weekend, when the Football League programme starts, referees will be instructed to clamp down instantly on any shows of dissent, such as those displayed by Cole and Javier Mascherano last season. If officials stick to FA guidelines, the red-card count will rise. 

The authorities will announce that a version of rugby’s “captains-only’’ rule will come into force. Following a pilot scheme at county level, referees told the FA that they found it restrictive being allowed to communicate only with captains, as they feel it important to keep lines of communication open with all players. Referees will continue to talk to all players but will summon the captain over if a player questions their authority. This “stepped approach’’ will involve a captain being ordered to tell his errant team-mate to get a grip, with a caution or dismissal following. 

Referees perform a vital role in the game, and with the growth in the popularity of football, particularly for women and children, the demand for match officials is increasing.

The Football Association in England, estimates that in some areas of the country, 20 per cent of games are played without a qualified match official. The FA National Game Strategy goal is to recruit 8,000 new referees by 2012 as well as retain the existing 26,000 officials to ensure that in future, every game has a qualified official who is receiving regular training and support from an FA mentor programme and helpline.

The first stage involved in becoming a referee is to register with your local County Football Association and the second stage is to attend a basic Referees Course.

Come the Whistle:
Capricorn Productions are looking for video / film footage in any format plus strong, absurd or unusual stories that help illustrate the current plight of children’s football. If you would like to submit any stories no matter how ludicrous to be considered for the programme please contact Ernie Brennan at ernie@capricornproductions.co.uk 

Come the whistle will be  a one hour documentary film on an aspect of grass roots football that tells the real life stories of players, coaches, parents, officials and supporters in the children’s game.

The ultra-competitiveness that exists on the touch line of training grounds and match day pitches in junior / youth leagues is now cause for concern. 

Visit here for more detail: www.capricornproductions.co.uk or contact them at:

Capricorn Productions
23-29 Albion Place
Maidstone
Kent
England
ME14 5DY

tel. +44 (0)1622 766998
fax. +44 (0)1622 673787

The Referee: A short history by Julian Carosi. 

It has taken hundreds of years for the role of the referee to develop into what we take for granted today. It was the early pioneers that set the scene in an era where Rules were almost non-existent and punishment unheard of.

It was way back in the mid-1500s that football's first administrator, Italian Giovanni Bardi (Count of Vernio, literary critic, writer, composer and soldier), produced the first known set of rules for calcio storico, a rudimentary game similar to football. The first 'arbiter' appeared as early as 1688 and was probably known as the maestro de campo, the year in which Memore del Calcio Fiorentina was published, believed to be the first book dedicated to the game. The maestro was responsible for keeping the peace and passing judgments on disputes. It was nearly 200 years later that the referee as we know him today, originally appeared in the form of two umpires. The non-existent referees of the English Public School days in the 1800's would have been the actual players themselves or the team captains. So long as football was played purely for recreation between friends, the onus of control remained with them. Rule 16 of Harrow School Football, expected all "new boys to be required to make themselves thoroughly acquainted with them [the Rules]." It's a great pity that modern players are not given the same advice, for seldom today do they actually study (or know) the Laws of the game that pays their salaries. 

The duty of the umpires is to score the goals!

As the game progressed in popularity, it became clear that in the interests of school discipline and personal safety of the players, some form of external management was needed. This lack of neutral control was further exacerbated by the introduction of a competitive element for a specific honour such as winning the Harrow School Cock House trophy. Following an established practice (probably copied from the game of cricket) of using two umpires to control games, it was in1847 that Umpires were first mentioned in the Laws of the Game. When these two officials were unable to come to a conclusion, disputes were 'referred' to a third man who later became known in football as the referee (i.e. the man referred to). He originally took a subservient role as a mediator whilst patrolling outside of the touchlines. The umpires were bound to accept the referee's ruling if he was appealed to. Umpires could only intervene in a game after an appeal by the team captain of the opposing side! This is something that the modern game is reconsidering - to minimise the dissent that is the scourge of the modern game. The match officials in the early days would certainly not have been neutral, but were in fact, school colleagues or associates chosen by each team. The two umpires originally stood at opposite corners of the field of play, commanding a view along the touchline and the goal line. They later moved onto the field of play.

Winchester Rules: "The duty of the umpires is to score the goals and in all cases of doubt in which they are referred to, to give their decision, which is final".

It is interesting to note how the above words 'score', 'referred' and 'their decision which is final' remain part of our football culture. Of course, the umpires did not actually score the goals, but rather scored the details into their notebook, or sometimes gouged (scored) them into the sides of the wooden goalposts.

The referee now had the power to award a free kick, "without any appeal".

In 1871, the first official reference to a 'referee' in Association Football occurred when The Football Association inaugurated its own F.A. Challenge Cup. Rule 15 of the competition read as follows:

'The Committee shall appoint two umpires and a referee to act at each of the matches in the Final Ties. Neither the umpires nor the referees shall be members of either of the contending clubs, and the decision of the umpires shall be final, except in the case of the umpires disagreeing, when an appeal shall be made to the referee whose decision shall be final'.

It was at this time that the match officials were also asked to be the "sole judges of 'fair and unfair' [dangerous] play", as well as deciding infringements of the Rules, such as "neither tripping nor hacking shall be allowed". It is also here, that the neutrality of referees was born.

Professionalism for players was legalised in 1885. Winning games assumed a greater importance for the contestants. With greater financial incentives to be had, players' conduct began to deteriorate during matches. Countermeasures were quickly and drastically introduced into the Rules, thereby giving match officials more power to make the decisions. The referee now had the power to award a free kick "without any appeal".
It is here, that the referee moves from being 'only a person "referred" to in the case of need', to becoming an important match official with punitive power, higher than that previously possessed by the two umpires.

In 1890, it was also the referee (still positioned on the touchline) who was given the power of determining if an offence was committed intentionally, or if it should be punished by awarding a penalty kick. It was here, that mention of referees first appeared in the Laws of the Game.

'By mutual consent of the competing matches, a referee shall be appointed whose duty shall be to decide in all cases of dispute between umpires. He shall also keep a record of the game and act as timekeeper.'

This greater delegation in 1890 created a more powerful referee. He inevitably usurped the umpires by making his way into the middle for the first time, to take sole charge of games in 1891. The dual-control on the field of play was therefore abolished and the two umpires were relegated to patrolling the touchlines, thus becoming the equivalent of the modern day Assistant Referees. The referee was now in full command of the game. He was now empowered to make decisions without having to wait for appeals. 

There are always two pairs of eyes watching every movement on the field of play from opposite sides.

The first major overhaul of the Laws took place in 1891 and was undertaken by the International Football Association Board (IFAB). Prior to 1891, the two umpires who governed play on the field, used to wave a stick in the air to allow an appeal to be made by the captain. In 1891 the sticks became flags for the two linesmen (ex-umpires). Flags were also mentioned in 1896 in a column entitled 'Hints to Referees' in the first Referees' Chart (known today as the Laws of Association Football or the LOAF). 

By 1923, FIFA had its own committee to look at the Laws of the Game, the Comte consultatif des regles du jeu et de l'arbitrage. The most important task of this Referees' Committee, as it was later known, was to ensure that the Laws were followed by all of FIFA's member associates. Moreover, this was complicated by what became known as the 'Spirit of the Law'. The Committee were keen to know how the many affiliated Football Associations were organising their referees and how they appointed them to international matches. 

British referees remained the very best in the world for the first 80-90 years of their existence. Following a change in the Offside Law in 1925 (from 3 to 2 defenders required) the game speeded up considerably. Many referees could no longer keep up with the game and were generally vague about what position they should take in relation to play. It was following this that the diagonal system actually began to slowly take shape.

Stanley Rous (later to become Sir Stanley Rous) developed the diagonal system of control after, according to Belgium Referee John Langenus (1930 World Cup Final referee), he had seen Belgium referees making a similar attempt at scientific positioning on the field of play. This was destined to become the blueprint for all refereeing. A group of referees, including Rous in particular, used the system with some success when refereeing international matches on the Continent. But the 'Diagonal System of Control' had yet to receive recognition by The Football Association (FA). There were a number of referees and officials who were opposed to it. The breakthrough came in 1934. Rous used the system when he refereed the Manchester City v Portsmouth 1934 FA Cup Final. Six days after the Cup Final, Rous attended an interview for the post of Secretary of The Football Association. Two months later Rous Rouse was confirmed in post and continued there for nearly 28 years (1934-62) until he became president of FIFA. Following the Cup Final of 1934, Rous submitted a Memorandum for discussion with the Association. After the pros and cons had been carefully considered, the FA approved the 'Diagonal System' for use in matches under their jurisdiction.

The system proved to be a success, particularly with The Football League (England) who sent out instructions to all of its referees, stating that they must use this method of control. The Diagonal System of Control was featured in a long article in Football World in 1939. It was nearly 10 years later in 1948, when foreign delegates at the International Conference of Referees held in London, also approved the adoption of the system, which has since been used throughout the footballing World. The great advantage of the diagonal system when it is properly carried out is that there are always two pairs of eyes watching every movement on the field of play from opposite sides.

Ken Aston, on his return from military service in 1946, became the first League referee to wear the black uniform with white trim, which became the standard for referees. The following year (1947) he introduced bright yellow linesmen's flags in place of the pennants in the colours of the home team, which had been used before. In 1956, the following Decision of the International Board was added into the Laws. 

"In International Matches, Linesmen's flags shall be a vivid colour, bright reds and yellows. Such flags are recommended for use in all other matches".

Modern day flags are luminous yellow or orange, and can be seen much easier by the Referee.

The idea of using red and yellow cards to indicate dismissals and cautions also came from the great English referee Ken Aston. Following the infamous sending off of the Argentina captain Antonio Rattin by the German referee in the 1966 World Cup quarter-final between Argentina and England, Aston (who was acting as a FIFA official) went onto the field to remonstrate with Rattin by trying to make him leave the field of play. It is difficult to know whether Rattin genuinely did not understand that he was being sent off, although the referee constantly pointing to the touchline must have given him a clue! Subsequently, Aston tried to think of a better system of allowing a referee to make his intentions clearer to a player who might not speak the same language. 

As Aston drove away from the stadium, the solution came to him:

"As I drove down Kensington High Street (London), the traffic light turned red. I thought, 'Yellow, take it easy; red, stop, you're off'." 

Aston later become chairman of the FIFA Referees' Committee and introduced the red and yellow cards to the game. Red and yellow cards were officially introduced to the game at the World Cup finals in 1970. But it wasn't until 1992 that the cards were actually incorporated into the Laws of the Game and made mandatory at all levels.

One of the most significant modern changes to the refereeing world has been the number of successful women referees taking up the whistle. They have added a breath of freshness into football that will certainly continue to grow as the history of referees evolves. 

In 1991, the referee's team grew from 3 to 4 when FIFA introduced the Fourth Official into the Laws of the Game. The 2006 FIFA World Cup introduced us to the 5th Official as a replacement for one of the Assistant Referees should they be injured or unable to continue the match. 

I wonder how many match officials there will be for each game in 2108?

''SET PIECES' Decision-making
In the previous newsletters, I reiterated how a game of football/soccer consists of many - what can best be described as 'set-pieces', or jigsaw puzzle pieces that add up to form the whole 90 minutes. Each 'set-piece', if successfully managed, will result in the Referee maintaining control. One of the first aims of every Referee should be to use 'best-practice' techniques when managing 'set-pieces' . Once the standard 'set-piece' techniques have been mastered, the players' confidence in the Referee will rise, and they will more readily accept those awkward (non-set-piece) match-changing decisions, which seem to crop up in nearly every game. Subsequently, the Referee will feel more confident, in the knowledge that at least he has a structured way to deal with the majority of situations in a game of football. 

In the article below, we add to the previous ideas on how to manage set-piece throw-ins, how to issue cards, how to manage goal kicks, how to build a positive image, how to establish a rapport with players by gaining their trust via the TRUST triangle, how to deal with simulation, how to manage a penalty kick, how to approach the kick-off at the beginning of each game, how to manage the first 10 minutes of each game, by offering you some advice on self-evaluation.

These ideas are not prescriptive; rather, they will hopefully give you some new things to think about, and encourage you towards adopting a consistent approach by dovetailing them into your own style of refereeing.

Self-Evaluation for Referees

Self-assessment is the process of judging one's own performance for the purpose of future self-improvement. It is based on facts by which you can learn more about yourself - what you like, what you don't like, and how you tend to react to certain situations. Knowing these things can help you determine which refereeing situations could be a better managed by you.

Such assessment may involve comparison with standard, established criteria to identify where you have been going wrong. It also supplements the advice received from official assessments and from colleagues. It produces immediate feedback and direction that can be used to improve performance. It gives you a chance to do better next time. And it's less painful to look in a mirror, than to be forced under the match assessor's telescope!

Below is one simple method that can be used to over a period of time to help you to keep control of your emotions during difficult moments in a game. 

Displaying a calm body language whilst dealing with conflict, is a difficult skill to learn and control. 

Marks 0 to 10.

During a game, when a serious incident occurs (and they nearly always do in every game) - as you make your way towards the incident in readiness to deal with it, and before you have done anything else - say (or think) to yourself:

"Let's see how calm I can be when dealing with this incident."

When you have dealt with it, make a mental note by awarding yourself a mark out of 10, along the lines of either:

"Nahh I dealt with this too quickly, made a fool of myself and showed the players that I was unsure of what I was doing - marks out of 10 = 3".

Or

"I approached the players in a calm way, took my time, isolated the players, dealt with them politely, ensured that everyone knew (by the raising of my whistle) that play should not be restarted until I give my signal, and have made my way calmly to my restart position etc. etc. marks out of 10 = 9"

Tot up your average score at the end of each game.

For example: How did I do overall in this game out of 10 = 6 Repeat this throughout your next few games, and aim to force up your score so that you remain calmer at each situation.

You only need to do this for a few games and you will find yourself automatically starting to deal with conflict in a much calmer manner. Once you have honed your technique (so that dealing with conflict automatically becomes less stressful), you can will only need to resort to this method in future games, when you get a 'really serious incident' to deal with, and the old nerves are starting to jangle again!.

It works. It's easy - and it will make you a much more confident Referee.

One last note - the trick is not to necessarily worry about how nervous you are, but to train yourself NOT TO SHOW IT to the players. In other words, the marks out of 10 that you award yourself, are more to do with how you control your body language and deal with the incident, despite how nervous you might feel inside.

Everyone gets nervous, it's a good reflex to have, as it keeps you on your toes - so don't fight it.

Accept that you will get nervous sometimes! Just learn to control it.


Following each game, any form self-evaluation will surely be of great benefit to you.

The following advice is taken from The FA Learning booklet entitled 'Advice for Newly Qualified Referees' and applies to Level 7, junior referees just beginning their career.

It is not always possible for an assessor to observe your performances, so it is important for you to be able to measure your own performance on a match-by-match basis. You are the only person at every game you Referee, so you may find it helpful to keep a record of how you feel you have refereed each of your games.

The self-evaluation list below will assist with this exercise. Simply ask yourself each of the 50 questions after each game and then enter a tick in the box on the grid entitled 'Strengths', if your answer to a question is 'Yes'. If, however, the answer is 'No', then enter a tick in the box of the grid entitled 'Shortcomings'. Soon, you will build up a profile of your performances, which will help you to address those areas that you feel a need to be improved upon. It is recommended that you discuss your entries with your Training Officer once you have completed a few matches.

SELF EVALUATION LIST FOR REFEREES

You, the referee, are usually your own most severe critic and this should be the case. After every game you should analyse your match performance and identify those aspects of your game that you did well and those that you feel you may have done better.

In order to assist you in an honest arid constructive evaluation, it is suggested that you ask yourself the following questions in relation to your recent performance:

DID I

Appearance
1. Look smart and confident when I entered and departed from the field of play?

2. Approach the game calmly and fully prepared and not distracted in any way?

3. Appear confident, without being "gimmicky" or unnecessarily the "centre of attention"?

Signals
4. Make the whistle "talk" for me with proper variation and emphasis?

5. Consider my whistle to be effective?

6. Give the proper standard arm signals on all occasions?

7. Give the correct direction signal on all occasions and not only point to where the offence occurred?

Stoppages
8. Deal effectively with players who wasted time?

9. Get the game restarted quickly after each stoppage?

10. Move into position before signalling for restarts?

Advantage
11. Apply the "Advantage Clause" when wise to do so?

Co-operation with Assistant Referees
12. Properly indicate "Advantage" application and speak to the offender and inform the offended?

13. Develop and maintain genuine teamwork with my assistant referees?

14. Issue proper instructions to my assistant referees and make certain that I was understood?

15. Use the assistant referees to assist my match control?

16. Look to the assistant referees only for help with decisions which were not initially clear to me?

17. Where necessary, consult with assistant referees quickly, privately and briefly?

18. Thank my assistant referees after the game (and discuss relevant factors afterwards if they were assistant referees)?

Application of Law
19. Enforce the Laws correctly?

20. Apply the Laws correctly in relation to fair and unfair physical challenges?

21. Interpret dangerous play correctly?

22. Allow or condone the entry to the field of trainers without my signalled permission?

23. Caution or send off any players and record the necessary details?

24. Deal promptly and correctly with players not retiring the correct distance?

25. Allow substitutes on only after the players being substituted had left and at the halfway line?

Positioning
26. Anticipate play and quickly move to be as near as possible to incidents?

27. Aim to keep a position where the play was between my location and that of the appropriate assistant referee?

28. Always face the area of restarts after indicating free kicks, etc?

29. Make full use of the Diagonal System of match control?

30. Move along my diagonal patrol path while not becoming too distant from the play?

31. Keep clear of the immediate location of play?

32. Get a good side-on view of midfield challenges?

Movement
33. Maintain maximum activity throughout the game?

34. Move around the field of play when necessary?

35. Move sufficiently from end to end of the field of play?

36. Move to the extremities of the field of play when necessary?

37. Penetrate the penalty areas when necessary?

38. Keep all possibilities in view by not turning my back on the action?

39. Run through play to the goal line when required?

Control
40. Deal with misconduct sensibly and correctly?

41. Properly deal with any dissent from my decisions?

42. Communicate effectively with players?

43. Remember not to place my hands on a player's person for any reason?

44. Avoid wagging my finger at players or in any manner to suggest that I was belittling them?

45. When necessary, approach players, rather than demand they approach me?

46. Act decisively, suggesting that I was fully interested in the game?

47. Concentrate on the game and my responsibilities at all times?

48. Properly establish and maintain general control of the game?

49. Deal with players who surrounded me to appeal against or question my decisions?

50. Control myself using an effective whistle and calm voice to control the players?


The following advice is taken from The FA Learning Football Association booklet entitled 'A Guide to Assistant Referees' and applies to all Levels of Assistant Referees.

An opportunity may have presented itself either at half-time or after the game for you to discuss aspects of your performance with your colleagues. You should always view these opportunities as a positive contribution to your development as an assistant referee.

It may transpire that the referee may contact you at home when no suitable opportunity has presented itself on the day of the match. The referee may choose to review match incidents on a personal level drawing your attention to various aspects of your performance that he considers may benefit future performances.

However, this will not always happen, so you will have to rely on your personal reflections of the game in order to evaluate your performance. You should reflect on each performance by referring to this checklist.

Self Evaluation List for Assistant Referees
(Source - The Football Association booklet `A Guide for Assistant Referees')

Did I?.................

1. Thoroughly prepare myself for my role as an assistant referee?

2. Arrive at the ground at or before the prescribed time?

3. Ensure all my equipment including flags was clean and serviceable? 

4. Adopt a friendly and fully co-operative attitude towards colleagues? 

5. Listen carefully to the referee's pre-match instructions? 

6. Clarify any uncertainties arising from the pre-match briefing? 

7. Take all the necessary equipment with me onto the field of play? 

8. Enter the field of play in a smart and confident manner? 

9. Thoroughly carry out any pre-match duties required by the referee? 

10. Take up the required position at the start of play?

11. Take up the appropriate position for corner kicks, goal kicks, throw-ins, and penalty kicks?

12. Follow the ball towards the goal line at long range goal-scoring attempts or when long passes were made and move quickly to act as `goal judge' when the need arose?

13. Remain alert to possible repositioning signals from the referee at certain restarts? 

14. When a goal was scored, correctly proceed swiftly towards the halfway line, maintaining a clear view of subsequent developments?

15. Unless other duties required it, maintain my position in line with the second rearmost defending player?

16. Correctly judge offside offences?

17. Carry the flag unfurled and towards the field of play when I had no advice to offer to the referee?

18. Pass the flag from hand to hand before raising it in the air?

19. Avoid incorrect signalling technique, by ensuring the flag was in the correct hand before signalling?

20. Hold the flag aloft until the referee acknowledged my signal? 21. Use only the recommended flag signals?

22. Only use the flag when necessary?

23. Avoid using my free hand/arm as an indication to the referee?

24. Have an awareness of the referee at all times during the game so that eye contact was achieved when necessary?

25. Only signal when the referee was in a position to see and act upon it? 26. Remember not to anticipate the ball out of play and incorrectly signal? 27. Remember to confirm the time remaining with the referee, if requested? 28. Communicate effectively with players to ensure their co-operation when appropriate?

29. Ensure that substitutions were carried out in accordance with law?

30. Effectively communicate with personnel in the Technical Area? 

31. Avoid being distracted by remarks by spectators?

32. Communicate clearly with spectators to keep my touchline clear of obstructions throughout the game?

33. Accurately record match information as requested by the referee?

34. Convey concise and accurate information on incidents either at the request of the referee, or unseen by him?

35. Adhere to the correct procedure when leaving the field of play? 36. Adopt a positive supportive attitude at all times during the game?

37. Take the opportunity to discuss aspects of my performance with the other members of the team?

38. Give accurate information confirming misconduct or match incidents to the referee in the dressing room at half-time or after the game?

39. Leave the ground feeling I had been totally supportive of the referee at all times?

You may like to keep an ongoing record of your personal responses by using the following evaluation guidelines. It is recommended that you create these grids on your personal computer to ensure that you have an ongoing detailed record of your self-evaluation. This may be helpful when reflecting on your development with a mentor as well as helping you to pinpoint areas that you need to focus on in order to improve your skills as an assistant referee.

Julian Carosi www.CorshamRef.org.uk

Happy reffing.

THE REFEREE'S SURVIVAL GUIDE

A fantastic referee book written by Jeffrey Caminsky from the USA was featured in the 2007 April edition of The Corsham Referee newsletter, where you can get details of how to buy Jeff's book entitled 'The Referee's Survival Guide'. Can be bought from Amazon.com. The book comes highly recommend by me (Julian Carosi) and provides answers to many of your problems on the field of play. Clearly written and easy to understand. The Referee's Survival Guide explains many of the "what's, how's, who's and why's" of life on the soccer field, as well as many of the things for a referee to avoid.

Below is a monthly excerpt to whet your appetite for Jeff's brilliant book.

After the Game
Once the game is over, the officials still have work to do before their job is done. They must gather and return the game ball, then fill out and distribute the game reports, and return any collected pass cards to the respective teams.
Usually, the official nearest to the bail will run to fetch it before joining',-, the other officials in the middle of the field. Typically, they all walk to their, area of the game site to help the referee fill out the report. Goals and card, for misconduct must be recorded, and the result of the match needs to be reported. Typically, all send-offs require an explanation, to help the League determine the appropriate sanction. These explanations need not be long, but they must be objective and specific enough to convey the nature and circumstances of the offence. The officials, and a representative of each team, will then sign the form, and copies are dispersed according to the league rules. And then, unless there is another game to do, the Officials are free to leave. Officials should always try to leave the field together, however. It not only looks more professional; it sometimes helps prevent trouble.

Different Levels of Play
It will not take long before you notice a substantial disparity in the playing Styles and skill-levels of the players. The level of play will often determine how you should officiate the match, as well as how you interact with the participants.

Recreational games are played mostly for fun. At this level, problems with players will be few and far between, usually involving either competitive players who are "playing down" and insist on showing off, or refugees from other sports where the players crash into each other.' Spectators and players alike are generally well intentioned but often quite ignorant about the game. On occasion, ignorance and bad manners will merge, creating Fans from Hell-who, unfortunately, sometimes roam in packs. In most cases, the referee's authority will go unchallenged because nobody else knows the rules, coaches and players included. Exceptions are handballs (on which everyone is an expert) and, every once in a while, the six-second rule (since everyone can count). From the referee's perspective, fouls at this level are often clumsy, but rarely malicious; from the perspective of the players and most spectators, fouls occur whenever someone falls down.

Open, or Select games involve players who are more skilled, and games that are more intensely competitive than those at the recreational level. Players at this level and beyond generally try out for positions on their teams and often travel a considerable distance for a competitive match. Players and spectators are usually more sophisticated about the game and may challenge the referee who seems to lack confidence or exhibits an occasional unfamiliarity- with the rules (which everybody knows perfectly, even though few have actually read them). Physical play ranges from gentle to very rough, and games at this level of play will sometimes get quite nasty.

Premier games are intensely competitive, for the players as well as the officials. At this level of play the participants-players, coaches, and many spectators-are often highly sophisticated about the game. A number of them will be referees themselves, although some may occasionally let their emotions interfere with their otherwise sound judgment. While the games are challenging and exciting, officiating at this level is not for the faint of heart, and the new referee who tries to do so is likely to find his head spinning and his confidence sinking to new lows. On the other hand, the participants are usually knowledgeable enough to appreciate a wellofficiated match. Most, but not all, premier-level players dislike rough or reckless play, preferring to win by skill rather than brute force, and even strong, physical teams will be disciplined and well-controlled in their contests for the ball. At times, however, the intensity of the matches will induce some players to seek an unfair advantage when they can, and "diving" can be rampant, especially if the players sense that they have a referee who is easily fooled.

Many thanks to Jeffrey Caminsky for giving his permission for this article to appear.

SOCCERPEDIA

(A monthly extract from the brilliant book 'Soccerpedia' by my friend Andrew Ward. Arranged in A to Z format, this entertaining and authoritative book offers the chance to get to know the Laws of the Game and its history in detail.  Publisher Robson . Publication Date 28 September 2006: ISBN 1861059833 
Size (h x w) 234x156mm Pages 368  Normal price  £10.99 (approx. $20.35) Can be bought from Amazon.com

ADVANTAGE CLAUSE
In a 1974 FA Cup semi-final, Malcolm Macdonald (Newcastle United) was pulled back by a Burnley defender on the edge of the penalty area. The linesman flagged for a foul but the referee allowed `advantage' because he could sense that Macdonald was using his strength to ride the challenge. Macdonald's shot hit the goalkeeper but he scored from the rebound.

Referees were first given the power to refrain from awarding a penalty-kick if they thought the attacking side would benefit by play continuing (1903). This `advantage clause' was later extended to all free-kicks (1938). When an infringement occurs - advantage cannot be applied when the ball goes out of play - the referee must quickly assess the situation: is it better for the nonoffending team for play to continue? In 1956, Colin Grainger (England) put the ball in the Brazil net at the same time as the referee awarded a penalty. The penalty-kick was missed. This was obviously unjust,
The FIFA Referees' Committee clarified that a referee couldn't go back if no real advantage accrued (1934). This led to problems too. At Colchester United, in the 1950s, a Plymouth Argyle defender stopped a pass with his hands but the ball dropped kindly into the path of a Colchester forward. `Play on,' shouted the referee, but the Colchester player, anticipating the free-kick, bent down and picked up the ball. The free-kick had to be given against the Colchester player instead.

When Watford played Blackburn, a player was brought down for an obvious free-kick (February 1973). The referee waved play on and the player was still shouting for the free-kick when his colleague rammed home the loose ball. The player was so busy complaining that he hadn't seen his team-mate score the goal.
Novice referees are usually advised to use the advantage clause sparingly, especially when the team deserving a free-kick is defending. Gordon Hill provided a salutary tale in his autobiography. He was refereeing a Bristol derby match when the linesman flagged a City player offside (1974-75). When Hill saw the ball dropping kindly for a Rovers defender he shouted, `Play on.' Unfortunately the ball then bounced badly, the defender mis-kicked, and a City player scored.
One common use of `advantage' comes when an assistant referee flags a player offside but the ball runs through to the opposing goalkeeper. A free kick would slow down the game, and goalkeepers usually prefer to punt the ball rather than kick a stationary ball. `Play on - advantage,' says the referee, signalling with arms raised to chest-level and palms up.

A problem arises if the three officials have not worked out how to handle advantage. For instance, the assistant flags for a free-kick twenty yards out, but the referee allows the advantage and then gives a penalty-kick for the next tackle, which is inside the penalty area. The defenders point out that the flag was raised for the original free-kick, so the referee goes over for a chat, and says that the advantage has been played. It can be confusing.
If the referee does allow play to proceed, the culprit is not pardoned from disciplinary action (IFAB 1960). In a 1996 play-off final, the referee allowed a flowing Crystal Palace move to continue despite a bad tackle by Izzet (Leicester City). When play next stopped, the referee cautioned Izzet. But advantage may not be prudent if the original foul is a sending-off offence, if there is a serious injury, or if it seems likely to provoke retaliation or a melee in the same passage of play.
From 1996, referees were officially allowed a few seconds to see whether a team gained an advantage before deciding whether to award a free-kick in the place where the offence happened (although top-class referees had been doing this anyway). The referee is now expected to assess the situation in, say, the first three seconds after the offence. If the anticipated advantage doesn't materialise, then the referee can penalise the original offence. But this is just a few seconds. It is not like rugby union, where the referee can allow play to proceed for thirty seconds.

Kings Lynn took the lead at Fisher Athletic with a disputed penalty (May 2004). A shot was handled on the goal-line. The referee waited a moment to see what happened when the ball rebounded to an attacker, but the attacker's shot was blocked on the line. The referee then gave a penalty and punished the offender. The defending team complained that advantage had been played. In contrast, a referee at Preston blew for a penalty-kick for the home team only for a Preston player to latch on to the loose ball and put it into the net (October 2004). That penalty was missed, but Preston still won 2-1. Similarly, Beardsley (Liverpool) put the ball in the net during the 1988 FA Cup Final only to discover that the referee had already punished a shirt-tug outside the penalty area by Thorn (Wimbledon). Nothing came of the free-kick, and within two minutes Wimbledon scored what would be the only goal of the game.

While some top-flight officials are confident enough to say `advantage' a lot, other referees are more cautious. Playing advantage too many times may set a bad standard for the game as it could be misinterpreted as tolerating bad tackles. It is difficult to achieve a balance. Referees ask themselves, `Should I let things go for the sake of a flowing game, or will I be running the risk of losing control if I don't use my whistle?'

When the advantage clause works well, it can be breathtakingly satisfying for the beneficiary and a peak experience for the referee. Consider the feelings of the referee at Bolton who allowed Barton (Manchester City) to score the only goal of the game rather than awarding City a penalty (December 2004). Or the one at Charlton who acknowledged his assistant's flag but let play continue and saw the ball passed upfield for a superb Charlton goal against Norwich (November 2004). Or the referee at Leigh RMI, who agreed with his assistant's flag-waving but allowed Bishop (York) to stumble back to his feet and continue forward before crossing for Nogan to score. You could sense the satisfaction of these referees: `My two-handed signal had a hand in that goal.'

Many thanks to Andrew Ward for giving his permission for this article to appear.

NEW NEWSLETTER FEATURE:

These regular articles by Stanley Lover can also be found on the www.CorshamRef.org.uk web site along with any respective images. 

Variations on a Uniform: By Stanley Lover
With his white shirt and tie he didn't need to change for dinner.
Uniform does not have to mean dull, drab, or characterless.

Referees in football have quite a pedigree of fashion to distinguish them from players. In the 1890s life was simple for the arbiter because the gentlemen players decided most of their differences between themselves. The referee, usually bearded, could stand in the centre of the field in a long black coat, top hat, polished shoes with spats, and communicate directions by waving a gold-topped cane. He could even be smoking a cigar and digesting a copious Old Boys lunch, rounded off with a fine brandy. Those were the days, my friends; those were the days.

During the 1891 FA Cup Final two umpires holding small flags were on the field to act mainly as goal judges, kitted out for action and wearing glasses. In 1892 at Charterhouse School, the Old Boys met the Old Carthusians Internationals on the playing fields in front of the impressive college chapel. The referee looked elegant in a black cap, white short-sleeve shirt, cream breeches, grey-brown stockings and tan boots. He epitomized the image of a gentleman amateur referee of the time. William Pickford wrote in his 1906 book How to Referee that 'In the first place, the Referee must be a gentleman.' He enlightens us as to the qualities of a gentleman thus;

'It is to be firm as well as courteous, to treat all men as brothers until they prove unworthy of the confidence, to be tactful in manner, to be honest and truthful, just to all, bearing neither temper, malice or ill-will, and yet fearless, decisive, and capable.'

With the arrival of competition, the game needed an active official to follow the play and be close to incidents. For ease of movement Pickford advised 'a light, loose garb - attire of simple character, avoiding flaring colours and any eccentricities of dress.' The front cover of his rare book 'How to Referee' shows a turn-of-the century referee in full sprint wearing a cap, shirt and tie, jacket and knickerbockers, tucked into black stockings with white tops. He wore football boots - probably the celebrated McGregor laced-ankle-to-toe model available for 9shillings and 3pence, or large sizes at 11/9, post free.

The three contrasting styles worn at the 1927 Italy v Spain match refereed in Bologna by Stanley Rous, emphasised the lack of uniformity in uniforms. John Langerus, the Belgian referee of 81 international matches, wore riding breeches at the historic 1930 World Cup Final in Uruguay, and sometimes a woollen cap in sweltering heat. With his white shirt and tie he didn't need to change for dinner.

Jim Wiltshire from Sherborne, Dorset, refereed the 1947 FA Cup Final, and preferred a comfortable black woollen pullover - smart and very practical in British winters - and wore it for this 1947 match Belgium v Holland.

After World War II, Ken Aston put his mind to the need for a standard design for referee uniforms and persuaded manufacturers to buy up stocks of wartime blackout fabrics. The good quality cotton proved ideal for all seasons and was adopted for thousands of uniforms to a basic design. Referee logos were also becoming a regular feature of the uniform; B.M Griffiths the first Welshman to referee an FA Cup Final in 1953, proudly wore his RA crest.

Nylon edged out cotton after a few years because it was cheaper and easily cut to patterns. Although it lacked the softness and warmth of cotton its glossy sheen, looked more modern. The style spread to other countries but at the 1966 World Cup Final we saw the Russian referee, Tofik Bakhramov, displaying his country's preferred style in black wool and a white belt. Black remained the official choice, although in matches where players wore colours which could cause confusion, the referee might choose something less conflicting - such as the multi-coloured college blazer worn by Leslie Mackay at an international where Scotland played in dark blue. In Ghana my white face and knees were not enough distinction to avoid a possible clash when First Division Sekondi Vipers turned out in all black strip in a match against Accra. My only alternative was a blue and white striped towelling beach shirt - that served the purpose without fuss. 

In the 1960s some of us got fed up with the funereal black for match officials - it had become too dull for the third team in a modern game blooming as an exciting colourful spectacle. We had admired a trio of Dutch officials who came to London for a European match. Even before setting foot on the pitch they created a favourable impression by their dress and demeanour. All three were groomed in smart black blazers, white shirts, colourful Dutch FA ties, grey worsted trousers and polished black shoes. With short hairstyles they looked fit - athletes in civvies - a team proudly representing their FA and country. 

But it was their field uniform, which opened dulled eyes. Over black shorts, white-topped stockings and lightweight football boots, they sported letterbox red rugby style long-sleeved shirts with white collars and cuffs. They contrasted sharply with the players and looked an elegant integral part of a sporting spectacle. The match was hotly contested but the third team had an excellent game and kept it in check with impressive confidence. 
In 1967 the Association of Football League Referees and Linesmen (AFLR&L) organised a groundbreaking Annual Conference at the Crystal Palace Sports Centre. 

Denis Howell, popularly known as the 'M.P. Referee' and the first Minister for Sport in England, described it as 'an exciting development' in his book SOCCER REFEREEING.
He wrote;

'The Association has turned its Annual Conference from a talking shop about refereeing politics into practical sessions dealing with techniques of match control. This is a very sensible and worthwhile development which must bring good results.'

Previous conferences had attracted mostly retired referees and the event was more a social gathering than a meeting of active League officials. The new format appealed to the majority of serving league officials and drew many to the sports complex. Top administrators of The FA and the Football League attended and took part in discussions ranging from on-field control to protection against violence. 
One topic focussed on referees' uniforms. We arranged with a supplier to provide several alternative styles to the familiar all black image. Varied designs and colours of half and full-sleeved jerseys and shirts, jackets, shorts and stockings, were displayed by self-conscious volunteers in a fashion parade, which drew humorous banter from their colleagues. A questionnaire invited comments and votes for preferred models but the outcome was disappointing - by a small majority those present indicated they were not ready to move away from the old black attire.

It would be another twenty years or so before colour and styling came into the British version of the referee's uniform. The Premier League, formed in 1992, introduced green shirted officials with green-topped black stockings, and has since changed styles and colouring fairly regularly. Shockingly, for old timers, some referees are obliged to wear uniforms bearing publicity logos or a sponsor's message. On the global scene FIFA World Cup tournaments since 1990 have featured uniforms in black, grey, burgundy, yellow, blue, and green. Most modern styles fit the image of an athlete with a vital role in today's game. Despite the rainbow selection on offer in other countries The FA still prefers its referees in traditional black but allows a little styling with white flashes or lines. The RA Shop presents the latest designs modelled by male and female referees. With increasing numbers of the fair sex taking up the whistle it may not be long before the referee's uniform shows interesting variations to cater for the fashion-wise ladies.

Lace cuffs perhaps, gentlemen?

Thank you Stanley, for another interesting article. 

Referees yet to agree pay deal 

Scottish referees have yet to agree a new pay deal 
The Scottish Referees' Association have yet to agree a financial deal ahead of the Scottish Premier League season commencing on Saturday. 

A senior referee told BBC Scotland that there is a real threat of strike action by officials ahead of the weekend. 

The referees met with the SPL on Monday without agreement and have further meetings planned for later in the week. 

"We expect the matter to be resolved soon," said an SPL spokesman.

YOU MUST BE JOKING REF?

After a game, an angry player who had just been sent off says to the Referee, "Stand in the centre circle while I smash up your car."
"OK' says frightened the Ref."
So the player kicks in the headlights, and the Ref. starts to giggle. Then the player smashes the windscreen, and the Ref. starts laughing. Finally the player backs over the Ref's car with his own car. By now, the Referee is in hysterics, so the player says, "What's so funny? I've just wrecked your car." The Referee replies, "Ha ha! But what you didn't know is that every time you turned your back, I took my foot out of the centre circle."


A Referee who is sprinting to keep up with play, slips up on a cow pat and falls flat on the ground with his yellow and red card, whistle and false teeth flying out in all directions. He picks up all of his displaced articles and is about to continue his run, when a player who is running in the same direction also slips up on the same cow pat.
"I just did that" says the Referee.
"Well next time, clean it up after you"; shouts the angry player.


A Referee went to his doctor complaining of problems with coughing and feeling feint. The doctor gives the Referee a thorough examination and informs the Referee that he has got bronchitis and a severe form of memory loss.
"Phew, that's a relief Doc.", says the Referee. "Thank God that I don't have bronchitis".



A young fellow found himself transferred to a new city for work and joined a local football club to get back in the game and meet new friends. He noticed that his new team was well followed by the locals, and attracted quite a few attractive young ladies as fans. The thing that puzzled him, though, was that most of the chicks seemed keenly interested in the attention of one particular Referee that worked many of their games. Every game this fellow worked resulted in him making a date or getting a new phone number from one of the girls who were watching the game.
Frustrated over his lack of success with the ladies, the player determined that he must learn the ref's secret and managed to stop him outside the dressing room after a match. " Oh, it's easy" said the ref. "You don't have to be good lookin' or anything, just ball up a spare sock in the right shape and put it in your shorts before you go on. After that the girls will come to you."
The following week the ref didn't work the players game, but was enjoying a pint at the local bar when the player burst in breathing fire. He stormed up to the ref and growled "I ought to beat you senseless after the joke you played on me! The chicks won't come near me, the other team made fun of me, and even my own team was laughing behind my back through the whole match! Some secret advice, you bastard!"
The ref looked the player in the eye and simply said " Yes I heard all about the match. I just didn't think it should have been necessary for me to stress that you needed to but the sock in the FRONT of your shorts!"

A male Referee turned up at a game and was very pleasantly surprised to see that the Referees' Appointment secretary had allocated him two gorgeous looking lady Assistant Referees, Claire-Lee and Lorraine. Although he took an instant liking to the absolutely gorgeous Claire-Lee, he could only manage to persuade Lorraine to give him her telephone number, and they went out a few times together. He became quite besotted with Claire-Lee, and after a while it became obvious that she was interested in him too, but the Referee was a loyal man, and he wouldn't do anything with Claire-Lee while he was still going out with Lorraine...
He decided that there was nothing left to do but to break up with Lorraine and get it on with Claire-Lee... 
He planned several times to tell Lorraine but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Then one day, they were all appointed to another game taking place alongside a local fast flowing river. In the last minute of the game, Lorraine flagged for an offside, thus ruling out a potential match winning goal and promotion. The scorer of the goal was incensed with her decision and promptly threw her in the river where she drowned. The player turned around to face the Referee, fully expecting to get a red card. But instead! the Referee looked at him with a strange grin on his face…… and ran off smiling towards the remaining Assistant Referee singing 

"I can see Claire-Lee now Lorraine has gone"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THIS MONTH'S QUESTION and ANSWER TOPICS:

Question 1: An issue that always annoys me and many of my older acquaintances is the habit if protecting the ball on its way to the goal line, particularly in premiership matches. When we learned to play football the ball had to be within 1 yard or playing distance or you were guilty of obstruction.
Currently the defending player has no intention of playing the ball, nor is he close enough to play the ball and is preventing access by arms and legs outstretched. (a practice that would definitely incur an indirect free kick in the field of play) yet because it is going behind all rules are forgotten. WHY?

Answer 1: This is one of those things that has over the years been accepted by the players as being acceptable, so we as referees have to go along with it, as it's their game and not ours. If you were to try and penalise players every time for this, they would soon let you know about it! Nevertheless, when the
ball really is a long way away from the player, then it's easy to justify a decision to penalise him for impedance. But I don't recommend that you start a one man crusade!
Playing distance is roughly about a pace to a pace and a half away, but this obviously differs depending on the size of the player. Over here in England, we don't have an issue about this, and in most cases, the ball is retained roughly not much more than a pace and a half away. The speed that the ball and the players travel would make it very difficult to make a slide-rule judgement each time, so we give players the benefit of doubt.

Question 2: Can a player charge the goalkeeper (not excessively), when he is not holding the ball inside the goal area?

Answer 2: Historically speaking, there was a time not so long back when Law 12 stated that an indirect free kick should be awarded if a player charges a goalkeeper except when he:

(a) is holding the ball,

(b) is obstructing an opponent

(c) has passed outside his goal-area

In other words, players were allowed to charge a goalkeeper in his goal-area when the goalkeeper was holding the ball, or obstructing an opponent. It was also generally accepted in those days, that to charge a goalkeeper fairly, he must have his feet on the ground. If the goalkeeper was outside of his goal-area, players were only allowed to shoulder-charge the goalkeeper if he was not holding the ball or if he was obstructing an opponent.

The Laws were rewritten for season 1997/98, and this is when the wording above disappeared. From this time onwards, Referees began to give goalkeepers much more protection. Charging goalkeepers became an offence irrespective of whether the goalkeeper was holding the ball or not, or if he was inside or outside of his goal area.

This is an example of how the Laws evolve over the years to increase the enjoyment of the game for players, by dramatically minimising the injuries previously inflicted on goalkeepers by over-excessive challenges.

Question 3: 'Studs up' - what does this phrase actually mean, and when should it be penalised?

Answer 3: It's not difficult to identify a 'studs-up' tackle. They are the type of tackles that make a Referee 'wince'. Players' intentionally raising their feet above the level of the ball when tackling, can cause untold (career ending) damage to an opponent's lower leg.

One type of tackle that we are describing here is the well known "over the top" tackle. This is where the perpetrator has little or no intention of playing the ball, and stamps down over the top of the ball without making contact with the ball. This sort of tackle is the most hated by players - as it can do untold injury if the studs connect with a player's leg or ankle. Players will get very irate when a tackle of this nature is committed against them, or one of their team mates. The Referee must act very quickly to diffuse any further trouble following "over the top" tackles. The punishment for such a tackle is at the very minimum a yellow card - and more that often a red card. The restart is a direct free kick (or penalty kick) to the opposing team. 

"Over the top" tackles are not 'dangerous play' (indirect free kick restarts). An 'over the top' tackle using reckless or excessive force is a Law 12 Direct Free Kick offence (kicks/trips or attempts to kick/trip an opponent) - it does not matter whether the studs catch the opponent or not - the attempt is enough to warrant a direct free kick (or a penalty). 

Tackles of this nature have no regard for the 'spirit of the game', and are usually committed in a pique of temper without any regard for the damage it may cause to an opponent. The Referee who does not penalise the perpetrator with at least a yellow card - will certainly regret not doing so, because players who feel that they have not been protected by the Referee against such spiteful tackles, will no doubt, take the Law into their own hands and seek retribution against the perpetrator and his team at the very next available instance. 

Question 4: Should compassion be used by Referees in a youth contest when a young goalkeeper illegally handles the ball thus denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity, - i.e. can the Referee ignore the first occurrence of this offence and just teach the young keeper about the Law?

Answer 4: Although the sentiments above are understandable, there are many factors that make the statement very complex to apply fairly.

For example, at what age would you start applying the Law correctly?
What action would you take in a mixed-age team - and how would you know the ages of each player?
What would you do as a Referee say, if you failed to apply the Law to a 16 year old goalkeeper playing in a youth team on a Saturday - and the same player repeated a similar offence whilst he was playing for an adult Sunday team the next day.

By not applying the Law correctly, young players will expect to be treated the same when they get older - and if they are not, will undoubtedly protest to the Referee. Albeit that some leniency and understanding must be show during throw-ins and kick-offs when very young players are concerned - the goal scoring opportunity is a serious offence that can immediately effect the result of a game - and should therefore always be penalised properly.

Ignoring such incidents will inevitably lead to serious problems with astute parents and coaches.

Compassion in Youth games is a two edged sword that the Referee needs to use very very carefully - it relies on the goodwill of the coaches, managers, players, parents and spectators. 
And goodwill can turn nasty in an instance. 

As a general rule, goal scoring opportunities should be penalised properly at all ages - or else trouble is surely waiting around the next corner.

Question 5: Is the goalkeeper allowed to bounce the ball once he has gained possession of it in his hands?

Answer 5: Yes, this is acceptable within the 'spirit of the game'. A goalkeeper has always historically been deemed to be in possession of the ball when he bounces it on the ground.

Bouncing the ball has always been considered as being "in the possession and control of the goalkeeper". This originates from the time when goalkeepers were allowed to run around the penalty area so long as they bounced the ball after a certain amount of steps. The bouncing of a ball in the goalkeeper's possession originated from an earlier Law which stipulated that a goalkeeper could run two paces with the ball in his hands before kicking it away. This was changed to four steps in 1931. In those days, goalkeepers were allowed to take a further four steps (or two steps prior to 1931) so long as they bounced the ball once or twice after the first four steps - thus allowing them to run with the ball in hand for another four steps - and so on. To prevent a goalkeeper from holding on to the ball for too long, the 1967/1968 Law limited his movement to "four steps only". The 1996/1967 version of Law XII included the goalkeeper bouncing the ball and throwing the ball into the air and catching it again as equivalent to retaining possession for purposes of the four-step restriction. In 1998, the Laws were completely rewritten and this additional language was removed from the 1997/1998 version. 

Today, the goalkeeper is allowed to take as many steps as he likes, but is penalised if he takes more than six seconds while controlling the ball with his hands before releasing it from his possession.

The goalkeeper can be said to have lost possession of the ball if he drops the ball purposefully (or accidentally) to the ground. If he subsequently picks the ball up a second time, the punishment for doing this, is an indirect free kick to the attacking team at the position where the goalkeeper touched the ball a second time. (If in the goal area then the indirect free kick is taken on the goal area line parallel to where the infringement occurred).

Referees should therefore not take any action when goalkeepers, bounce the ball in their possession while inside their penalty area. This is NOT seen as being an infringement of the Laws (and never has been).

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 (Editor)
  www.CorshamRef.org.uk Newsletter Editor, Referee, FA Licensed Referee Instructor, FA Referees' Assessor Wiltshire, England..
The new web site address is www.CorshamRef.org.uk

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 applies 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.