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The most difficult situations for Referees to manage occur in the attacking/defending third. One team is trying very hard to score, while the other team is trying equally hard to prevent them from scoring. Hearts are pounding, the adrenaline is flowing, nerves are on edge... and things happen very quickly.
Here are some keys you can use to make your job a little easier.
FOUL RECOGNITION AND ENFORCEMENT
You need to be able to recognize fouls, especially as opposed to non-fouls and dives. Enforcing those fouls will involve:
CONSISTENCY
A foul is a foul is a foul throughout the field. If an action should (or should not) be called at the halfway line, it should (or should not) be called at the six-yard line. Players become accustomed to what a referee will and will not call, and the call should not be "geographically dependent".
APPLYING THE ADVANTAGE
Again, you need to be consistent, though this is a case of "geographical dependence." A foul by a defender at the 30-yard mark may call for Advantage, while the same foul inside the Penalty Area may result in a whistle and a PK. The point here is not to get soft - or tough - simply because time is winding down. And remember, the infringed team will have possession no matter what you do.
MANAGING SPECIFIC FOULS AND INFRACTIONS
You will see certain fouls more frequently in the attacking/defending third, and should be prepared to recognize and enforce them. The most frequently committed fouls are:
PLAYING IN A DANGEROUS MANNER
In their zeal to score, or stop a score, players may become careless and endanger an opponent. Expect it. Recognize it. Deal with it.
GOALKEEPER INFRACTIONS
Goalkeepers usually stretch the envelope, but when their goal is being threatened, they darn near tear it open! Watch for the usual time-wasting tactics, but also watch for fouls committed against an attacker while "just playing the ball."
IMPEDING AN OPPONENT'S PROGRESS (OBSTRUCTION)
Here's a foul that happens almost exclusively in the defending third. Cutting in front of a speedy forward to play the ball is a good move. Cutting in front solely to slow the attack is a foul.
SERIOUS FOUL PLAY
Players get careless, and can also get reckless or excessively forceful. The most obvious example of this is denying a goal scoring opportunity, but "simple" SFP happens, too. An ordinary foul (like obstruction) that prevents a goal scoring opportunity is SFP, just as much so as a knee-threatening slide tackle that does not.
MANAGING RESTARTS
All of the restarts become a little trickier in this area. For example,
FREE KICKS
Most of the trouble will be on an attackers' free kick. For kicks in close, you may want to use a ceremonial FK rather than a quick one. Watch for wall tactics by both teams. Unfortunately, you also have to watch for a possible goal; if you have ARs, cover this situation well in your pregame.
CORNER KICKS
Watch for trickery by the attacking team when they take the kick. Watch for defensive encroachment or interference. Watch for obstruction by both teams. And watch for a possible goal (another item for your pregame).
GOAL KICKS
This should be an easy situation, but be prepared for a poor kick by the defenders leading to a fast break by the attackers. Or a good kick leading to a fast counter-attack. Try to place yourself near where the action will be (where the ball will come down).
PENALTY KICKS
Make sure you identify the kicker for the keeper. Make sure they each know what is expected of them. Don't let either one intimidate or play mind games with the other.
THROW INS
A well placed throw in by the attackers can be just as deadly as a corner kick. Manage it as well as you would a corner kick.
DROP BALLS
Sounds easy, but you have two over-eager opponents trying to kick the same ball at the same time. Make sure it's done right... and watch your shins.
HANDLING PLAYERS
If you thought the players didn't like your calls at mid-field, wait until you make the same call in their "third"! Remember, they are allowed to disagree, but they are not allowed to dissent. If they do dissent, handle it quickly, firmly, and professionally, before your authority is seriously jeopardized. If you think a warning is enough, use it, but don't appear soft or easy in the process.
It's okay to talk with the players. Always show them respect, and behave so that you earn theirs. Compliment them on good plays, sympathize with them on bad ones; but don't patronize or criticize. A little humor, properly used, can go a long way to ease tension and calm emotions. But if this isn't you, don't do it! Obviously forced congeniality or humor can be worse than none at all.
CONCLUSION
It's just 1-2-3.
Do that, and everything else is easy.
(If you wish to comment on this article, send a message to basra@basra-refs.org.)
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