I definitely love the commitment my state's (MA) referee committee has made
to help the State Level referees.
In December we had our recert clinic specifically for USSF-6s and USSF-5s
(and us State Emeritus refs). As usual it was an excellent clinic. I
always leave those clinics psyched to referee, but then realize the next
season is over 4 months away.
Anyway, at the last clinic we all wrote down a Commitment that we would make
to help become better referees in 2007. I just received an e-mail from the
referee committee reminding me of my commitment (I love those guys!!!).
My commitment was (is): "learn more about the new tactics in soccer so you
would be better prepared to referee games with those tactics and styles" .
Now between early December 2006 and early April 2007, there was not a whole
lot of soccer to observe to determine what are these "new tactics and
styles".... That will obviously be something that I will strive to observe
through 2007 so I can boot-strap myself along, and become a better referee
as the year progresses.....
Well, since SOCREF tends to be a group with a vast amount of experience
(just from a raw integration), What have the SOCREF members observed over
the last year or two that is Different in soccer tactics and styles that we
should be aware of?
Let us restrict this to good level U17 and Older (including high school
Varsity, College, men/women open amateur and Over-30 men's soccer).
These tactics and styles are probably things that we are observing at the
top professional and national team levels that the skilled amateurs will try
to emulate.
Things that I can think of, from the top of my head, are:
- various forms of dives. We must be aware when and where these dives
may occur and what the nature of the dive may be.
- different ways to obstruct or distract the goalie on free kicks.
- different ways of taking the Quick Kick, for restarts close to the goal
that is being attacked
- tactics related to formations. There was a long period of time when
we saw the 4-4-2 formation. This has morphed to a 3-5-2 formation and
sometimes a 3-6-1 formation (starting at the back and moving forward). What
does this mean for our positioning on the field, and what we have to watch
out for?
Comments? Other tactics? What about evolving styles? Styles from Africa
or Asia? Or new styles coming from South America and Europe? What will
happen as more Mexican soccer players start to play in the MLS along with
the typical US, Canadian and over-the-hill European players? Will new
styles/tactics emerge that will filter down to the U17s and U19s and
college?
