The ‘R’ Factor Newsletter for The Northern New South Wales State League Football Referees Association Proudly sponsored by McLanahan Corporation.

March 2013 No 73

Tanya De Boer continues to impress internationally with appointments to a World Cup qualifier in Canberra in April and an Asian Cup qualifier in Jordan in June. Well done Tanya!

AND SO THE SEASON STARTS! The 2013 football season is now underway. Some competitions have started, some are about to start and trial matches are underway. You have all been training for some time now (you have, haven’t you) and you have read through the Laws of the Game to refresh your knowledge study the changed (you have, haven’t you). Here are some other things you need to do if you haven’t already done so. Check your past performances. Why not go back through your past assessment reports and summarise the points raised and advice given. You may not agree with all of them, but it is still useful to run through them again. If a particular comment comes up several times from different assessors, perhaps you should seriously consider trying any advice given. Also check any circulars and guidelines that have been issued – they may contain something that you could benefit from. Even the items in past newsletters particularly under the heading “From the Grounds” could ring a bell for you – and before you brush them aside as being trivial or basic, remember they have all come from games officiated on by you or your colleagues at all levels. Check your uniform and equipment. Remember that first impressions count. You will be judged from the time you appear at a ground so ensure that you look smart and professional. Clean shoes and neat, appropriate clothing will be noticed and will set a positive tone from the outset. The reverse is true: If you turn up looking scruffy, everyone will be expecting a scruffy performance from you. Equipment: Are your boots in good order or will you need to replace them shortly (the right ones may be difficult to obtain at short notice)? Do both your watches work? Do you have spare, working pens or pencils? Are your whistles in good working order? Are your flags clean and bright or are they faded, creased or dirty? Remember the weather is still warm so don’t forget water bottles and sunscreen. Changed ground conditions. Even if you have regularly visited a ground in the past, check it thoroughly on your first visit this year. Clubs do maintenance during the off-season and may not have remarked the ground properly – particularly penalty spots and corner arcs. One season saw a club returfed the goal-mouths leaving the ground higher and crossbars 6-8 inches too low. And at a trial match last year, both penalty spots and two corner arcs were missing and there was no centre-circle. Nets may have developed holes; flag-posts may be too low or broken. Insist that anything dangerous be fixed immediately and, if necessary, report the defect to the Association Secretary so that your colleagues and the Football Federation can be made aware the problem. Travel. Again, you may have often travelled to a ground previously – but the road and traffic conditions may have changed; or you may have changed your address. Check that you are still able to reach your appointment at the prescribed time. If it is your first visit to a ground, check these aspects but even then make sure you allow for any traffic problems on the way. You are expected to arrive with time to perform all of your pre- match duties but it doesn’t hurt to arrive even earlier than required. Better that than being late. Club duties. The clubs have certain duties to perform – balls and team-sheets to the referee within set time-frames, etc. Now is the time to set the standard. If there is a problem, firmly, but politely, have it rectified and let them know what is expected.

Thought for the month. The best way to lose weight is to close your mouth (Something very difficult for politicians) Or Watch your food – just watch it – don’t eat it.

Page 1 of 4 LAW 4 - THE PLAYERS' EQUIPMENT Members are reminded of the change to the Laws in relation to players' equipment, which now reads "stockings - if tape or similar material is applied externally it must be the same colour as that part of the stocking it is applied to" The Football Associations want this enforced and now is the time to do it. Some discretion may be allowed if the tape doesn't match exactly but it MUST be close.

TEAM OFFICIALS IDENTIFICATION. Similarly, the rule on team officials' identification tags is to be enforced. This rule has been in force for some years now so there is no excuse for it not happening. If the tag is not visible, the person cannot remain on the bench.

JEWELLERY. Members are reminded that the ban on wearing any form of jewellery not only applies to players but also to the match officials. If you find that you can no longer remove a ring from your finger, then you should either do more training to lose the extra weight gained or get your ring resized.

“SUBSTITUTION” V “INTERCHANGE”. Some competitions allow "interchange" of players instead of the normal "substitution". The rules governing these are basically the same but there are some differences which members should note. . The number of substitutions allowed can vary between competitions and once this number is reached no further substitutions are allowed. The number of interchange players allowed can also vary between competitions. As well as this, the number of actual interchanges in a game can vary between "unlimited" to a maximum number in each half. Members should check the rules for the games they are to officiate on when they receive their appointments. . For substitutions, the player going onto the field must enter from the half-way line but the field player can go off at any point. For interchanges, the player going onto the field AND the player leaving the field must do so via the specially marked "interchange zone" at the half-way line. . For substitutions, the assistant referee is required to move up to the half-way line when the referee has signalled to allow the change, check the substitute's equipment and record the player's number. For interchanges, this is not necessary because of the frequency of changes but the interchange players' equipment has to be checked before the game starts. If the assistant does go to the half-way line, the referee must wait until he is back in position before allowing the game to restart. Other than this the procedure is the same – . All substitutes or interchange players should be on the bench and in uniform. . The change can only be made during a stoppage of the game. (Note: This is not just for the ball going out for a throw-in, goal kick or corner kick but can also be for a free kick, etc– something a lot of coaches (and sometimes, unfortunately, referees)don't seem to realise. . The player preparing to enter the field has to be at the half-way line and accompanied by a team official before the referee gives permission for the change. (Note: The referee can refuse permission for the change to occur under certain circumstances, e.g. if the substitute is not ready to enter the field of play (page 35 of the 2013 Australian edition of the Laws of the Game, bullet point 7). . Once the assistant referee has been advised a team wants to make a change, he should, at the next stoppage, raise his flag in the prescribed signal until the referee acknowledges it and then to drop it. Although some associations may do it differently, this is the prescribed FIFA method and applies to these games. . The substitute or interchange player is not allowed to enter the field until the field play leaves. Now is the time for referees and assistant referees to see that the procedures are carried out properly and where necessary enlighten the team officials as to their obligations.

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Page 2 of 4 ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS FROM LAST MONTH. 1. A long ball is played forward into the opponents half of the field. A team-mate of the kicker, who was standing in an offside position when the ball was kicked, is the only player to chase the ball. What action should be taken? The player should be immediately signalled as being offside and an Indirect Free Kick awarded to the opposing team, to be taken from where the offside player was when the ball was kicked. Interpretation of the Laws of the Game and Guidelines for Referees – Law 11, Diagram 4, page 59 of the 2013 Australian edition. 2. From a free kick, the ball is kicked long towards the far post where two team-mates of the kicker are in offside positions. Before the ball reaches either of them, it is cleared by a defender. What action should be taken? None. The referee should play on as neither player has interfered with play, interfered with an opponent or gained an advantage. Interpretation of the Laws of the Game and Guidelines for Referees – Law 11, Diagram 8, page 61 3. I'm standing on the eighteen-yard line in an obvious offside position and someone from my side dribbles the ball through the line, runs past me to draw the keeper out and then passes it back to me. I then kick it into the net for a goal. Am I offside assuming no defenders have moved and I'm still in the same position???? The goal is awarded. You were onside when your team-mate last played the ball (i.e. when he passed it BACK to you after the goalkeeper was drawn out). Interpretation of the Laws of the Game and Guidelines for Referees – Law 11, Diagram 13, page 64 4. I'm again standing on the eighteen-yard line in an obvious offside position when one of my team- mates shoots. The goalkeeper bats it down to my feet and I slot it home. Am I offside???? Yes, you are penalised for being offside. You were offside when your team-mate last played the ball and you cannot gain an advantage from being in an offside position (even if the ball is rebounding from a goalkeeper). Interpretation of the Laws of the Game and Guidelines for Referees – Law 10, Diagram 8, page 62 5. When a player took a throw-in, the ball hit the ground outside of the touchline and then bounced into the field of play. What should the call be? The throw-in is retaken by the same team from the same position provided it was taken in line with the correct procedure. If the throw-in is not taken in line with the correct procedure, it is retaken by the opposing team. Interpretation of the Laws of the Game and Guidelines for Referees – Law 15, page 73, paragraph 4 6. At a penalty kick, the goalkeeper is told that attacker A will take the kick. However, attacker B runs in and takes the kick instead. What action does the referee take and what is the restart if (a) The ball goes into the goal; (b) The ball is saved; (c) The ball goes out of play? (a) The penalty kick is retaken. Player B is cautioned for “unsporting Behaviour”. (b) and (c) The referee stops play and restarts the match with an indirect free kick to the defending team where the infringement occurred i.e. where the player advanced closer than 9.15m. Player is cautioned for “unsporting behaviour”. Law 14, The Penalty Kick – Infringements and Sanctions, by a team-mate of the kicker – page 25, paragraph 1. 7. A match is extended to allow a penalty kick to be taken. After the referee has given the necessary signal, a team-mate of the player identified to take the kick suddenly rushes forward and takes it instead. What action should the referee take? (a) The penalty kick is retaken. Player B is cautioned for “unsporting Behaviour”. (b) and (c) The difference between this and the previous question is that the penalty kick is being taken in extended time. As the match ends as soon as the result of the kick is determined, the indirect free kick cannot be taken so the referee cautions player B for “unsporting behaviour” and signals that the match has ended. Law 7, The Duration of the Game – Penalty Kick, Page 15, paragraph 4 [Note: This whole scenario can be avoided by the referee advising the players that the kick is being taken in extended time and that the game will end as soon as the result is determined. This means that all players except for the goalkeeper and the nominated kicker can be moved away from the scene.] 8. An attacker and defender left the field of play during the momentum of the game, and the ball remained in play. As the attacker tries to re-enter the field of play, the defender holds him back. As the incident is off the pitch, and the ball is ‘in play’, what decision should a referee make regarding the incident?

Page 3 of 4 If an application of the advantage clause is not possible, and play is stopped for the offence, the defender should be cautioned and play restarted with a drop ball at the position of the ball when the infringement was committed, except if it is within the goal area at the time, in which case it shall be dropped on that part of the goal area line which runs parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the ball was when play was stopped. If the advantage was applied, the offending player would still be cautioned when the ball was next out of play. Interpretation of the Laws of the Game and Guidelines for Referees – Law 12, Basic Requirements, page 64. 9. An indirect free kick is awarded to the attacking team outside the opponents’ penalty area. The referee fails to raise his arm to indicate that the kick is indirect and the ball is kicked directly into the goal. What action does the referee take? He has the free kick retaken because of the referee’s mistake. The initial indirect free kick is not nullified by the referee’s mistake. Interpretation of the Laws of the Game and Guidelines for Referees – Law 13, Procedure, paragraph 5, page 71. 10. A player takes a quick free kick and the ball goes into goal. The referee has not had the opportunity to indicate that the free kick was indirect. What action should the referee take? Order the kick to be retaken as the original offence only merited an indirect free kick but the referee did not have the opportunity to give the recognised signal. Interpretation of the Laws of the Game and Guidelines for Referees – Law 13, Procedure, paragraph 5, page 71.

THIS MONTH'S QUESTION. Part A: The Laws state that a goalkeeper is not permitted to keep control of the ball in his hands for more than six seconds. When is a goalkeeper considered to be in control of the ball? Part B: The Laws state that it is an offence for a player to handle the ball deliberately – except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area. However there are occasions when it is an offence for a goalkeeper to do so. What are they?

MAD REFEREEING MOMENTS "Play to the Pork Chop, Lads! In June 2011, during the first half of Birmingham v Everton, referee Peter Walton rummaged around in his pocket for his yellow card to book City's . Problem was, he'd left his card in the dressing room, so he was forced to improvise. Much was surprised to see Walton raise his empty left hand with an imaginary yellow card in it. Amusing, certainly, but Walton had nothing on the following barmy officials: In 2003, an official near Ghent, Belgium, arrived at a junior game the worse for wear, and refused to run up and down the pitch. Instead he got into his car, moved it next to the touch-line, and flashed his headlights to signal his decisions. The match was abandoned at half-time. Just two days later another Belgian referee refused to show any cards, so he could avoid writing lengthy match reports as he was dyslexic. The two incidents forced a Belgian FA representative to claim: "None of this portrays Belgian referees in the best light." But the best piece of improvisation goes to Wiltshire ref Mark Tesler, after he forgot to bring his whistle to a county match. Firstly he tried to whistle through his lips, then he commandeered a squeaky rubber pork chop from a passing dog walker. But the toy wasn't loud enough to be heard by players, so he nipped into a local pub, borrowed a wooden spoon and a tin tray, and hammered out his decisions with loud clangs. Surprisingly, perhaps, the game ran smoothly after that. MSV Duisberg vs. FSV Frankfurt, Bundesliga 2, 2010 You know you’ve made a howler when the bloke awarded the goal is too bewildered to celebrate. Duisburg were 4-0 up when Christian Tiffert lobbed FSV Frankfurt's keeper, only to see it hit the crossbar and bounce back out somewhere near the six-yard line. When ref Marco Fritz pointed to the centre spot, Tiffert took the plaudits like a man with concussion. Frankfurt took it extremely well, even staging a Crossbar Challenge where fans could win free tickets by repeating Tiffert’s effort. Werder Bremen vs Hanover, Bundesliga, 1975. Refereeing could drive anyone to drink, but best to keep it post-match. Wolf-Dieter Ahlenfelder's third Bundesliga game was presumably not a thriller as he blew for half-time after half an hour. Upbraided by his assistant, he blew again before the 45, sticking his tongue out for the cameras. The wayward ref later admitted drinking schnapps before the game – and had a long, successful career. They don't make refs like that anymore.

This newsletter has been compiled by Brian Tamsett for the Northern New South Wales State League Football Referees Association. The content is not sanctioned by or affiliated with any governing body of football. The opinions expressed here are sometimes those of the Coach 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. Any fitness and medical advice given is general in nature and readers must seek specific advice from their own medical practitioners and trainers.

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