Wish me luck

[SoccerScottWV]

Well, barring some unforeseen interference, I'll be attending my new referee course starting this Friday. I decided to post this here because this forum definitely influenced my decision to take the class. At 34, I don't have any major ambitions in reffing , but the knowledge and passion for the game that is displayed by the refs here helped convince me how important it is to keep those traits on the field. I'll be bringing the passion with me to the class. Hopefully the knowledge will follow in due time.

So, other than just better familiarizing myself with the LOTG, any advice on the course??

Scott

[ref47]

read the book, not the cliff notes. try to forget all the years of misinformation you picked up prior to the class. don't be embarassed that 90% of the class is 1/2 your age. have fun.

the course will teach you the law. learning how to ref happens on the fop. a good mentor will speed that process. when you find someone that knows the correct info/way to do things, pick his/her brain.

[NHRef]

the areas on the tests I grade where they get the most wrong:

- restarts
- restarts
- restarts
- restarts
- pk restarts (when things go wrong)
- discipline/cards and restarts

Well you get the idea, there are questions on every law, but if you have the restarts down cold, in all conditions, you will do fine.

General advice:
- LOTG are simple, don't overcomplicate them
- Break the test questions down to the basic question, then don't read anything in. The grade 8 test is 100% by the book, for example: if it says "time expires." then it means GAME OVER, TIME IS EXPIRED.
- Make sure you understand the difference between fouls and misconduct
- Offside position vs offside infraction
- Wording on the test is "strange" at times, make sure you understand the question.

Have fun, try and stay awake.

[Tarheel Ref]

I've taken the entry level course five times in three different states, so I have a bit of experience with it.

Sit in the front of the class (or as far away from the group of youngsters as you can...for a number of reasons most of which you'll figure out in the first five minutes). Try not to get frustrated with the numerous "what if" scenarios that get presented...in the twenty-five years between my first and most recent entry-level classes, there has been no decrease in the number of outlandish scenarios that get presented. My favorite is "What happens if lightning strikes the ball?" Swear on my life, that question was asked in the first four entry level courses I took. You just have to get through it.

Most likely there will be at least one and maybe a couple of the adult crowd who has refereed previously but didn't re-certify (like me). Find them because they'll be able to give you some guidance and real-life experiences (or at least some good stories) while the instructors are trying to get the kids to settle down or re-direct their attention back onto the subject at hand.

Have fun and enjoy the class...school is much more interesting and fun when you are interested in the subject matter. I'd be interested to know if the "lightning strikes the ball" question is asked in your class.

[Tarheel Ref]

General advice:
- LOTG are simple, don't overcomplicate them
- Break the test questions down to the basic question, then don't read anything in. The grade 8 test is 100% by the book, for example: if it says "time expires." then it means GAME OVER, TIME IS EXPIRED.
- Make sure you understand the difference between fouls and misconduct
- Offside position vs offside infraction
- Wording on the test is "strange" at times, make sure you understand the question.

Have fun, try and stay awake.

Outstanding advice.

Most questions I get wrong on the tests occur when I try to read more into them or get faked into thinking its a trick question of some sort.

Thanks, NHRef...I'll keep these tips in mind (& focus on restarts) when I take my test to upgrade.

[NHRef]

When I teach the grade 8 class I normally hang around during breaks and lunch, get their early and leave last. This gives people who have questions time to come up and chat. I've had some very good conversations during the hour or so lunch break.

As for the endless "what if...." that is directly related to the skill of the instructor to balance answering questions vs wasting time, its very easy to get bogged down in what seemed like, at the beginning, a good path.

I love teaching the class, actually I am teaching one this weekend!

[DadOf6]

Read the test questions carefully before answering. There are no trick questions but some questions are tricky.

[DerbyRam54]

Besides the good advice others have given on being careful when reading the questions, I'd add this. You should have plenty of time to review your answers, so avoid the temptation to get up, hand the sheet in and take a break. Instead, go back over it and see if by any chance you skipped a question and have everything out of sequence on the answer sheet.
Been there, done that.... :)

[Doug the Ref]

Good Luck. You'll do fine on the test. Listen and apply well, lessons learned on the field.

[SoccerScottWV]

Thanks for all the responses and advice. Unfortunately, your advice coupled with my reading last night made me realize just how incomplete my knowledge of the laws is. If you folks don't mind, I have a few questions:

1) The difference between fouls and misconduct?(I was thinking that fouls resulted in DFK and misconduct in IFK, but that seems too simple. Also, I seem to remember that offenses that occur off the pitch and while played is stopped are misconduct)

2)Is it important that I know the laws by number?

3)PK infringement restarts...this seems really straight forward. Is it more complicated than I think???

I'm certain I'll have more questions, but this was all could think of right off. Any help appreciated.

Thanks

Scott

[NHRef]

Thanks for all the responses and advice. Unfortunately, your advice coupled with my reading last night made me realize just how incomplete my knowledge of the laws is. If you folks don't mind, I have a few questions:

1) The difference between fouls and misconduct?(I was thinking that fouls resulted in DFK and misconduct in IFK, but that seems too simple. Also, I seem to remember that offenses that occur off the pitch and while played is stopped are misconduct)

It basically is that simple, foul=dfk, misconduct=ifk or dropped ball; for an "incident" to be a foul it needs a few properties:
- between opponents
- on the field of play
- while the ball is in play

If any of them is missing, its misconduct. Also make sure you know WHERE the restart would be for misconducts on/off the field of play.


2)Is it important that I know the laws by number?


Nope, that isn't on the test, however the instructor will probably refer back to Law 3 (or whatever), they are listed in the book by number so you can take a quick peek.


3)PK infringement restarts...this seems really straight forward. Is it more complicated than I think???


It is simple, it's a decision matrix. The slides for the class will probably show a table that you need to understand. There WILL be questions on the test about what to do when x happens during the taking of a PK.

None of this is complicated, just simplify it down to the base elements and you will have your answer.

[Gary V]

An infraction may be simply a foul, both a foul and a misconduct, or simply a misconduct. NH Ref gives you the definition of fouls above. If it fits into being a foul, then the restart is based upon the foul - whether or not misconduct was involved. The restart is based on why play was stopped, in this case for the foul.

The IFK restart for misconduct is only used when the action was not a foul, and play was stopped solely for the misconduct. Examples might be violent conduct committed against a teammate or a player dissenting to such a degree that play must be stopped to maintain game control.

You will also learn about the dropped ball restart that is used when a stoppage is neither a foul nor a misconduct, or is used for actions that take place off the field or by non-players. You should get a table defining these as well, listing committed by whom, against whom, on/off field, etc.

Remember that once a restart is defined, absolutely nothing can change that restart except for the special restarts in Law 14 (PK's). All heck can break loose resulting in multiple send-offs, but if it happened after the ball had gone out of play over the touchline, the restart remains a throw-in.

If you don't get a copy of Advice to Referees supplied, you should study it on the USSF website and consider ordering the hard copy. (USSF protects it so the online version can't be printed.)

Good luck. Paying attention in class, asking sensible questions, and doing your homework study should get you a good mark on the test.

[NHRef]

As has been said here, lots of good advice, here's one for after the test:

Do NOT UNDER ANY SITUATION, jump into an advanced level game!!! The course teaches you the LOTG as described in the book, it does not teach you how to ref. Sure it will cover diagonal system of control and some positioning things, but don't think all games are equal.

Start with an AR slot on a younger game, when comfortable move to older AR and young CR, then move up as your comfort level allows.

Also keep in mind, not all ages are equal, from that I mean a U15 rec game is not the same as a U15 premier game. All of the speed, talent and their "ability to trick the ref" or pull stupid stunts, goes up both as the age goes up and the talent level goes up. When you find yourself in the middle of all this with the whistle in your hand, its much different from sitting on the sidelines deciding what the ref should be doing.

Watch other refs, ask questions, watch on TV or in person, watch positioning, what they call and don't call, how they deal with players, coaches and parents. You will need to develop your own personal style of dealing with things, as well as reading situations to predict whats about to happen. All this comes from being on the field, can't get it in a classroom.

And most of all HAVE FUN!

[nsa]

It basically is that simple, foul=dfk, misconduct=ifk or dropped ball; for an "incident" to be a foul it needs a few properties:
- between opponents
- on the field of play
- while the ball is in play

If any of them is missing, its misconduct. Also make sure you know WHERE the restart would be for misconducts on/off the field of play.

Not quite so simple, especially with the change to Law 12 making for two types of fouls: Direct Free Kick fouls (the big 10 - if it's physical with BOO, it's one of these) and Indirect Free Kick fouls (8 of these with the 8th one being a catch-all).

All of these fouls, except handling and a couple of the IFK fouls require BOO:

Ball in play with the infraction occurring
On the field of play against an
Opponent.

Handling simply requires that the ball be in play (which, by definition, means that it happened on the field of play).

And there are two types of misconduct: cautions (yellow) and send-offs (red).

When I teach the course I have the class draw lines on a piece of paper to divide it into four parts for note taking.


FOULS
DFK | IFK
(10) | (8)
|
|
----------------------------------------------------
MISCONDUCTS
CAUTIONS | SEND-OFFS
(YELLOW) | (RED)
(7) | (7)
|
|

[nsa]

... If you don't get a copy of Advice to Referees supplied, you should study it on the USSF website and consider ordering the hard copy. (USSF protects it so the online version can't be printed.) ...Disagreement.

I would advise against reading the ATR before taking the test. The ATR delves into some gray areas while the test is black and white.

The only books you should need for the test are the Laws of the Game and Procedures for Referee, Asst. Referees, and Fourth Official. You should be given both of those at your first class.

Never answer a question on the test based upon what you've seen a referee do during a match. Referees are frequently in the gray areas.

[nsa]

Some helpful definitions relevant to the test:

reckless == caution

excessive == send-off


Remember to use those on any misconduct reports that you may have the misfortune to write in the future. :)

[DadOf6]

Never answer a question on the test based upon what you've seen a referee do during a match. Referees are frequently in the gray areas.

Agreed. One year we had a recert clinic followed by the test. In a video they showed a kickoff to start a game. The CR whistled, started his watch, then the player kicked the ball. I noted to myself that I had always thought the time started when the ball was kicked.

It was on the test and I missed it.

[SoccerScottWV]

Lots of good advice and good information in this thread so far. I even think I finally reached an understanding about misconduct(but PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong): Misconduct is simply a cautionable or sending off offense??? Everything else is a foul???? Am I getting it finally???

As for after the test(assuming I earn a passing mark), I plan to start as an AR with my local rec league which would be u9-u11. At that level, I imagine I would be comfortable doing center fairly quickly. I'll probably also do some AR work for some competitive friendlies u9-u11. I'm club line at alot of the friendlies anyway, so it could be some good experience.

Anyway, I appreciate all the advice/info you guys are giving. Keep it coming.

Scott

[Gary V]

Misconduct is simply a cautionable or sending off offense???
Yes
Everything else is a foul????Not quite. Some things are both fouls and misconduct. For example, a foul committed in a reckless manner is a caution (for unsporting behavior, USB).

Most fouls do not involve misconduct, they are simply fouls.

And then there's other infractions - for example offside or second-touch on a restart - that are not fouls because they're not found in Law 12.

[SoccerScottWV]

So as an example:

In tripping the attacker, the defender is committing a foul. If, in the opinion of the referee, the foul was reckless it becomes misconduct. The referee then shows the yellow card to the defender and play is restarted with a DFK to the attacking team(because tripping is a DFK foul)

Right?

I know I'm kinda beating this to death, but I just really want to make sure I understand.

Thanks,

Scott