Woman refs in Men matches and foam Brazil now has on a regular basis a Trio of female refs working in big games. Last night for the first time this Trio worked in an International competition the SulAmericana in a gaes between Santos and Sao Caetano. They have been do very very well. Another Brazilian thing is the foam that the ref uses to mark the spot of a foul and wall. That also has worked great. I was saddened that Fifa didnt use it in the 02 WC. Maybe next time, because it really works.
What is this foam? Do they just spray it on the ground at ten yards away? I haven't heard of it before.
Pretty much, yeah. It doesn't stick to the grass so it dissipates only a few seconds after the restart.
Yeah they wear a foam spray on their belt, its a small black container like pepper spray. The Brazilian leagues has been using it for about 3 years now. They usually circle where the ball should be and a line where the wall stands. Players seem to respond to this line and dont move forward as usually done without the line.
It's foam?!?! Ahhhhh, I get it now! I'd seen them doing that from time to time and thought it was paint or chalk, but never saw any of the circles later in the match. How cool! I think it's a great idea, that's for sure.
I can just see it... Some league will next issue laser measuring devices to determine the ten yards away from the ball. Just go to where the ref thinks the 10 yards is, and then focus the laser on the ball to verify the 10 yards (9.15 meters). If you can't control where the wall will be set, you may not be up to handling that game!
Originally posted by SoccerScout Players seem to respond to this line and dont move forward as usually done without the line. How interesting. I think it could be a good idea. I think it's funny that the players respond better to the "magic foam line" and don't cross it as often.
It's a great idea... ...and it seems to save a bunch of time. The refs mark the stuff, the players line up, and the ball is kicked. This al seems to happen in 1/2 or 1/3 the time in most leagues.
It's a great idea... ...and it seems to save a bunch of time. The refs mark the stuff, the players line up, and the ball is kicked. This all seems to happen in 1/2 or 1/3 the time in most leagues.
If the laser would fry a player that encroaches, you might be onto something. Why bother with a yellow card, just press the "toast" button.
I've seen this foam used in the Brazilian league games on FSW and it seems to work really well for the reasons mentioned above. Seems kind of odd then that it hasn't been endorsed for broader use. Maybe Herr Blatter doesn't have any personal connections in the foam business.
The foam also seems to speed things up a bit as less time is wasted with players trying to take kicks where they shouldn't and the ref having to spend 30 seconds or more visiting the wall to move them 2-3 times.
Personally, I prefer the method used in the EPL - give ten yards right now, or we'll advance the ball another ten yards towards the defender's goal. You rarely see encroachment now.
In other leagues, I've seen the referees use some sort of yellow card that they pull out of their pocket. These cards work just as well as foam but too many referees are reluctant to use them. Foam is for wimps.
I rarely watch EPL games ... do they do this? I knew there was an experiment with it a few years back, but I thought it never went anywhere (something to do with the problem of encorachment when the kick is less than 10 yards outside the PA).
I would bet it would take a statement by FIFA that taking too much liberty w/ 10yards is unsporting behavior, a few yellow cards and then some ref's could save a bunch of money on small bottles of foam.
I mean really, how reactionary are you guys that this foam is a bad idea? How much time is wasted walking off 10 yards, turning around to make sure the ball isn't advanced, turning back around to move the wall back after they move up and maybe dishing out a card. Why in the world would this be a bad idea? I suppose the foam cannister could be as dangerous as earrings and ought to then be diallowed on the field.
I'm still waiting to see the 20-yard diameter 'hula-hoop' which will ensure that a player get 10-yards in all directions for his/her freekicks. Scott