If you could cure one misconception ...

That any contact of the ball to hand is a foul.

 

This would be near, if not at, the top of my list. I imaging that most referees have some game situations that particularly irritate them, and orchestrated delaying of free kick restarts is one of my hot buttons.

 

Columbus never reached any land that now forms part of the mainland United States of America; most of the landings Columbus made on his four voyages, including the initial October 12, 1492 landing (the anniversary of which forms the basis of Columbus Day), were on Caribbean islands which today are independent countries. Columbus was also not the first European to visit the Americas: at least one explorer, Leif Ericson, preceded him by reaching what is believed to be the island now known as Newfoundland, part of modern Canada, though he never made it to the mainland.

 

That every free kick in the attacking third should automatically be made ceremonial.

 

My three:

1. Ball to hand=handling (or "Handball!")
2. "Watch the pushing."
3. Every misconception about offside (or "Offsides, ref!"

 

Not to open the passback can of worms currently on another thread, but I have heard this from more than one coach.

"For a passback to be called, you have to be facing the keeper, look him in the eye, and then intentionally kick it to the keeper. Then the keeper has to pick it up."

I'm yet to find anything about the eyes in the LOTG.

 

Shocking

 

This reminds me of the "greatest" pre-game discussion I ever had with a referee.

The referee told us he was going to give us our pre-game.

Then he looked at us, pointed at his eyes, and said "Eye contact!"

Thus concluded the pre-game discussion.

I'll leave it as an exercise for the reader to guess how often the referee actually looked at me during the game.

 

I would like to clear up the misconception that I am impressed by anyone's witty coaching comments, anymore than they are impressed by the goofy shirt and badge that I wear.

 

There is good evidence that some Vikings, names unknown, landed and camped and/or settled in Labrador, which, although it is part of the Canadian Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, is part of the North American mainland. There is also some skimpy evidence (more like legends really) that Vikings landed as far south as Rhode Island (which despite the name, is partly on the mainland).

 

That peruse means to read quickly / to scan.

 

The first European in America was St. Brendan the Navigator, who apparently landed in Massachusetts in the early 6th century and stayed for two years before returning to Ireland.

 

That the pass back rule was a bad change.

 

I've got to go with "But, I got ball!"
"They have to ask for 10!" I can deal with (swiftly).

 

I am reading the book about that voyage; "The Brendan Voyage".
Pretty interesting read.

 

1st on my list it would have to be handling. It's a handball ref, it his his/her hand.
2nd on my list "But I got the ball?!"
3nd, get rid of the statue once and for all.

 

An interesting read about the possibility of Chinese exploration Americas in the 1400s:

https://www.amazon.com/1421-Year-Ch...&qid=1475590967&sr=1-1&keywords=gavin+menzies

As for soccer, the one I would correct would be the steadfast belief that the referee has the exact same visual angles as the coaches and fans.

 

I sanctioned a statue without warning this past weekend. Attacker was ready for the kick, defenders were well back, and then one more defender comes jogging in from behind and stands in front of the ball. Out comes the yellow. The coach then yells "but I told him to do it!" My thought was "yes, but I have fewer options to deal with you", but I just looked at him for a moment and then restarted play.

The coach of the attacking player also had to chime in with "that's a rule change, he had to card him".

Maybe this should have gone in the things we hear thread...

 

I might use that some time. Some wouldn't know the difference anyway.

 

Coaches and players know the rules (laws) as well as the refs (and this comes from a coach/player)

 

It is my mission in life to make sure that this statement is incorrect in every match I am involved in.

 

Back during my playing days, I remember a ref missing a call and trying to justify it by saying the laws changed. I guess he didn't know that he was talking to certified referees.