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Consider this scenario: An attacking player with the ball is tripped by a defender. The ball heads for an attacking teammate with a clear path to the goal. You consider this an advantage for the attacking team. One of three things happens next. The teammate:
1. takes a shot on goal and scores, or
2. takes a shot on goal and misses, or
3. loses the ball to, or is beaten to the ball by, a defender... in either case, there is no chance to take a shot.
When do you signal advantage?
The USSF Advice to Referees says you have the power to apply (and signal) the advantage upon seeing a foul or misconduct committed if at that moment the terms of the advantage clause (Law 5, 11th item) were met. The referee may return to and penalize the original foul if the advantage situation does not develop as anticipated after a short while (2-3 seconds). If the ball goes out of play during this time, then play must be restarted in accordance with the Law.
Simple, huh? But...
When do you signal advantage?
The Advice indicates that, if you signal advantage and it doesn't develop, you can still call the foul. So how would this play out in each of the three examples above?
In the first case (a goal is scored), you look like a genius if you call advantage any time before the shot is taken.
In the second case, you can also signal advantage any time before the shot is taken. But, when the shot is missed, should you then revoke the advantage and award the foul?
Put simply, NO. It is not the responsibility of the referee to ensure that the team with the advantage uses it successfully. You cannot take the shot for them, or give them a second chance if they muff it. You anticipate that a shot will be taken, but you cannot anticipate that it will result in a goal.
In the third case, you again can signal advantage early, but should you? If you signal too early, and then revoke it when the defender gains the ball, this looks like you are giving the attackers a second chance to score or just weren't sure of your call.
Consider this for all three cases. As you see a possible advantage present itself, wait until you are confident that it will develop… that the teammate will reach the ball far enough ahead of the defender to gain control.
This is the advantage you should be anticipating... gaining possession of the ball with a chance to shoot on goal, not a certainty of scoring. By signaling the advantage when it develops, you say this clearly to the players... "This is the advantage." If it does not happen as you anticipated, you can call the foul.
The steps then are:
1. You see a foul.
2. You determine an advantage may develop.
3. You wait to see if it does.
4. If it does, you signal advantage.
5. If it doesn't, you signal the foul.
USSF says you can signal advantage as soon as you determine one may develop, and call the foul if it doesn't develop as anticipated. The above is just a suggestion to avoid looking partisan or indecisive.
(If you wish to comment on this article, send a message to basra@basra-refs.org.)
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