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

September 2012 No 69

The pinnacle of the refereeing season is to be selected to officiate on a grand final. So congratulations to the following: Game Referee Assistant Referees Fourth Official NBN State League First Grade Rodney Allen Ryan Gallagher – Tanya de Boer Stuart Wolfe Under 23 Kahn Johnston Alexander Bird – Byron Jaye Trent Nash Under 19 Joshua Cornick Nick Shiels – Sean Grimmond Joel Cockbain Under 17 Matthew Garrett Sean Sibbald – Trent Gallucci Rielly Innes (Macquarie) (Macquarie) (Newcastle) (Hunter) NEW FM First Division First Grade Glen Peterkin Adam Gehrig – Kirralee Gardener Andrew Higgins Under 23 James Cleal Alexander Madikian – Chris Bird Stephen Taylor Under 19 Douglas Lorrie Jordan Langholz – Rhali Dobson Tony Law Herald Women’s Premier League Tanya de Boer Eleanor Hayes – Darren Moses Graeme Robinson Zone Premier League First Grade Mark Coleman Glen Peterkin – Byron Jaye Nick Shiels Reserve Grade Nick Shiels Joshua Cornick – Darren Moses Jordan Langholz Youth Grade Trent Nash Jordan Langholz – Doug Lorrie Darren Moses Zone League 1st Division First Grade Brett Griffiths Byron Jaye – Catherine Nash Alex Madikian Reserve Grade Alex Madikian Joel Cockbain – Catherine Nash Robert Inwood Third Grade Ricky Copelin Doug Lorrie – Joel Cockbain Robert Inwood Zone League 2nd Division First Grade Stephen Taylor Tony Law – James Cleal Henry Bruhn Reserve Grade Andrew Digby David Bowe – Darren Moses Henry Bruhn Zone League 3rd Division First Grade Chris Bird Clive Higgins – Warren Arthur Murray Crawford Reserve Grade Mark Waite John Tindley – Robert Browne Murray Crawford Congratulations also go to: . Tim Mcgilchrist NNSW Football Association Referee of the Year . Joel Cockbain NNSW Football Association Rookie of the Year Well done to all.

FRIDAY 5TH OCTOBER That's the date for this year's Annual Presentation Night. Contact Ryan Gallagher by email or telephone to book in.

Thought for the month. Streakers beware! Your end is sight.

Page 1 of 4 MAKE A NOTE OF THIS DATE!!!! SUNDAY 3rd FEBRUARY 2013 THE ANNUAL SEMINAR WILL BE HELD ON THIS DAY SO MAKE SURE YOU KEEP IT FREE FROM OTHER ARRANGEMENTS SO THAT YOU CAN ATTEND. The seminar is compulsory for all members intending to officiate in 2013. Attendance at another association’s seminar is not acceptable.

OWNING UP TO MISTAKES, AND LEARNING FROM THEM Wisdom can result in the exercise of good judgement in trying circumstances. Of course, good judgement comes from experience – and, unfortunately, experience often comes from the exercise of bad judgement. While nobody ever tries to blunder, football is a game designed and run by fallible human beings, meaning mistakes are inevitable. With millions of players participating in thousands of games across the country, it is unrealistic to expect everyone to be perfect, and the occasional blunder is simply an occupational hazard. When something does go wrong, you should keep in mind the following: . Most mistakes are avoidable. Learn from them, and try not to make the same mistake twice. . Veteran officials did not start out with experience. Most likely it came the hard way, from making the same blunders that others have made. If you can get them to share their misadventures, you can learn from their mistakes as well. . When you do make a mistake, the right thing to do is acknowledge the error and take whatever steps you can to correct it. If correcting a serious mistake on the field is impossible – if, for example, an intervening restart prevents you from disallowing a goal or changing a poor decision on a misconduct – you may need to include a full report of the problem to the relevant authorities, so letting them take whatever remedial steps are appropriate. . Consulting a trusted mentor may help give you perspective on any errors you have made, as well as giving you ideas on how to avoid similar problems in the future. Common Mistakes and Pitfalls. While there are an unlimited number of mistakes that you can make, there are an equal number that you can try to avoid … including the following: . Blowing the whistle upon seeing a deliberate hand-to-ball contact in the … only to discover when bodies part that it was the goalkeeper who was trying to block the ball from entering the net. . Raising the flag to summon the referee’s attention for an off-ball incident involving rough pushes and shoves by opposing players … only to discover that you cannot remember the numbers of either player. . Confidently pointing the direction for a free kick … only to discover that, this being the second half, you pointed in the wrong direction and the wrong team has just taken a quick free kick. . Correcting your wrong directional signal … only to have the right team take a quick kick and score against the now out-of-position defenders. . Confidently snapping an offside signal … only to see the ball caught by the wind and never make it to the offside player. . Briskly sprinting upfield as an assistant referee to confirm a goal that caused the net to billow, only to see the defenders set up and take a goal kick … without protest by the other team. . Loudly blowing the whistle to call a foul for a late hit following a cross … only to see, a split-second after play is stopped, a spectacular bicycle kick directing the ball into the upper corner of the net for the most memorable non- goal you have ever seen.

This was an extract from Jeffrey Caminsky’s excellent book – “The Referee’s Survival Guide”. It points out that we all make mistakes some time or other – what we have to do is recognise them, acknowledge them and learn from them. How? … 1. Do a self-assessment after each game and do it realistically and genuinely looking for what you could have done differently and better. 2. Listen to you assessor and read your assessment reports, looking for ways you can improve. 3. Discuss your games and any problems with colleagues. 4. And use the off-season to go through your reports from this year, looking for things that you can examine with a view to changing and improving next season.

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Page 2 of 4 From time to time unfortunately we have to send a player off. This is due to the player infringing the laws and is both unavoidable and justified. But how about the following? Reproduced from “Four Four Two” magazine – September 2012. (No comments by the editor)

The footballing Russian doll. something he should share with a referee. This The mandatory yellow for shirt removal has was not the case for AARON Eccleston from Old always seemed miserly, but what if a player were Hill Wanderers, Australia. After being struck in to tear off the garment only to reveal another, the nether regions in June 2011, Eccleston identical top? Eric Hassli from Vancouver lowered his shorts to “check it was still there” (the Whitecaps found out: after dinking in a penalty piercing we presume) and was sent off by the against New England in June 2011, he performed hawk-eyed official for wearing ‘dangerous this daring statement – while already on a yellow jewellery’. “I don’t think my mum’s going to be – and was promptly sent of. Kudos for trying Eric. happy,” said the Macclesfield-born expat Eccleston afterwards. Thierry’s ennui. Target practice. When Thierry Henry patted Portland Timbers’ Adam Moffatt on the head after a squabble in Refs love to give it out, but can they take it? June 2011, the man in black weirdly decided that Anzhi’s game against Zenit in Russia last this constituted ‘violent conduct’. Difficult to November suggests not. Moroccan Mbark justify – unless he just fancied the Frenchman for Boussoufa gently chipped towards the spot where being a patronising git. a free-kick had been given, brushed the ref’s back – and was angrily dismissed as if he’d kicked the Fetch the rulebook! (No 1) ref in the swingers. In Greece, Asteris Tripolis’ Adrian Bastia was Fetch the rulebook! (No 2) punished in December 2008 for tripping a pitch invader in an attempt to help apprehend the naked Brazilian kid Pottker got his marching orders for interloper. The referee decreed that this was Figueirense under-20s against Bahia after worthy of a red. Cruel. snaffling an uncontested drop-ball for himself and scoring, instead of the usual etiquette of kicking it Tripping yarn. back to the team originally in possession. The Pull off a successfully and you can referee sent him off … but let the goal stand. appear rugged, fearless and sexually alluring. Do Ref given the finger. it wrong and you’re Benny Hill. Al Ahly’s Amir Sayaud found himself in the latter camp last year Players can take celebrations too far, but when a as he attempted to convert in such a manner, but man is on the floor scrabbling about for a body instead hoofed the ground and performed a face- part he’s accidentally ripped off, adding a ‘hurry plant. The official then gave him a yellow card for up’ card to his woes seems somewhat unfair. Such “disregarding an opponent” – which in Egyptian a fate befell midfielder Paulo Diogo of Swiss side rules must translate as being a berk. Servette in 2004, however, after he trapped his wedding ring in a barrier while celebrating with Stripped off. the fans, losing digit and ring in the process. The Is undressing as you’re substituted just good pre- ref was unimpressed with Diogo’s histrionics and bath admin? Not according to Ukrainian officials. second-yellowed him for mucking about. The Last November, Dnipro’s Samuel Inkoom time-wasting stump was later amputated. removed his top as he jogged off, only for the ref But the worst decision of all? to wave a second yellow before his replacement could come on. His gaffer, ex-Spurs boss Juande That would be the one made at Belgian game Ramos, wasn’t understanding either, calling Templeuvois vs Quevy last year in which the Inkoom’s action ‘unforgiveable’. former’s Julien Lecomte was sent off for diving – while being stretchered to hospital with three Pierced penis. displaced neck vertebrae and severe concussion Unless they’re consenting adults in the privacy of having been elbowed in the head. their own home, a man’s Prince Albert is not .

And then there was the referee who got bored. Clearly bored of officiating a 13-0 drubbing, the referee in a Madrid South Youth Cup game in tackled a player and had a shot at goal from 30 yards out, only to hit the crossbar.

In , as Coxiax players mobbed a referee to complain about a disallowed goal, a riot officer’s dog bit striker Vanderlei on the leg, delaying play for eight minutes.

Page 3 of 4 THE BOY’S A BIT LOCO! Who? Teofilo Gutierrez Nationality Colombian Club Junior de Baranquilla Age 27 Nutter credentials ‘Teo’ is a veritable footballing head case. His spell with Argentine giants Racing was punctuated with numerous acts of idiocy, such as costing his team the game by kicking the ball out of the goalkeeper’s hands (having already been booked) against rock-bottom Banfield and assaulting a referee after having a penalty shout denied against Boca, effectively ending his team’s chances of winning the title. He picked up seven yellow cards and two reds in 15 games last year, while off the pitch he says he likes to “relax with my family and count my money”. More recently, he disappeared to Colombia ‘on international duty’ despite not having been selected. He just fancied a mid-season holiday. Most spectacular outburst. After getting sent off again in his final Racing match, a defeat to arch-rivals Independiente, his raging team- mates turned on him. A fist-fight ensued – until Teo pulled out an air gun. He later claimed it was a paintball gun, and that he was going to play paintball with his son. His son was two years old. They said “There are intelligent players and there are morons. Teo is a moron.” – Lanus goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin.

QUESTION FOR THE MONTH. Last month's question. Law 11 states 1. “A player is in an offside position if he is nearer to his opponent’s goal line than both the ball and the second-last defender” and 2. “a player in an offside position is only penalised if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by one of his team, he is, in the opinion of the referee, involved in active play by:  Interfering with play or  Interfering with an opponent or  Gaining an advantage by being in that position. FIFA have provided definitions of these terms. What are they? Answer. Per the "FIFA Interpretation of the Laws of the Game and Guidelines for Referees" - page 57 of the 2012 Australian edition): In the context of Law 11 – Offside, the following definitions apply:  “nearer to his opponents’ goal line” means that any part of a player’s head, body or feet is nearer to his opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent. The arms are not included in this definition.  “interfering with play” means playing or touching the ball passed or touched by a team-mate  “interfering with an opponent” means preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent’s line of vision or movements or making a gesture or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent.  “gaining an advantage by being in that position” means playing a ball that rebounds to him off a goalpost or the crossbar having been in an offside position or playing a ball that rebounds to him off an opponent having been in an offside position. Comment. Referees should note that a) The first definition mentions the words “second-last opponent”. It does not mention “goalkeeper”. This means that two out-field opponents may keep a player onside. b) The last definition also states “opponent”. In this case it does include the goalkeeper, which means, if the ball rebounds off the goalkeeper making a save to a player having been in an offside position, the player is judged to be offside.

THIS MONTH'S QUESTION. Have you made a note of the dates for this year's annual presentation night and for the 2013 seminar? If not, why not do it NOW?

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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