Date:Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:32:15 -0400
Reply-To:Discussion of Topics for Soccer Referees
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Sender:Discussion of Topics for Soccer Referees
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From:Ralph Bigio <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:Re: What if the assessor gets it wrong?
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It wasn’t a case of AR2 doing her own thing or insisting rather than
assisting. It also wasn’t a non-standard instruction. I think it was just
nerves and/or inexperience. Here’s what actually happened.
When discussing end-line calls, I included “if the ball crosses the end line
on your side of the goal but you’re not sure who touched it last, put your
flag straight up and I will make the call”. I gave a similar instruction
for touch-line calls. AR2 was only in her third season, so I added that
there should be a flag *every* time the ball goes out of play, either
direction or straight up, according on circumstances.
Before the game, AR2 had helped me with the player check-ins, and we chatted
informally about the game, her experience, and her ambitions. She was 17,
in her third season as a ref, had plans to advance, and was working several
games in that weekend’s tournament. She was relaxed and chatty, so I think
she was comfortable working with me.
Around the 20th minute, players were challenging for the ball in AR2’s
corner. I was at the penalty arc. I saw the ball cross the end line, so I
looked for her flag but it stayed down. Players hesitated, then resumed
playing, and a few seconds later it crossed the touch line in her corner.
This time she signalled TI. I went over to her and quietly asked if the
ball had crossed the end line. She said it had, but she wasn’t sure who had
touched it last. I quietly reminded her to put her flag straight up in such
cases, then I signalled CK and resumed my position. There were no further
incidents, and she followed that instruction afterward. The rest of her
game was fine - good eye contact, good positioning, and good signals.
Under Teamwork, the assessor’s written report said “You did have a pre-game
instruction with one of your AR, unfortunately the other had a game previous
your match and had to rush, so no time for a long briefing. You place one
of your AR in a delicate position when you went to see her, maybe if it was
touched in your pre-game instruction by just asking her if the ball is out
of play with a flag straight up.“.
I look for positives in this comment as some of you suggested. I don’t
overuse the delay-restart-to-consult-AR thing so I wouldn’t change my
game-time response. In this case it was necessary in order to get the
correct restart and to make sure AR2 understood what I wanted her to do.
Even though I’m conscientious about my pre-game, tune it to my audience, and
observe the ARs’ responses while I'm talking, I’m sure I could improve it.
But I got more information about the quality of my pre-game from AR2’s
non-call than I did from the assessor’s comment.
Again I should note that his comments in other areas *were* helpful, and
that he correctly noted a couple of problems & bad habits that I was able to
correct in the next day’s game. I got good value from this assessment and
noted that fact in my comments to the assessor and to the Referee
Development Committee. I don’t want to leave the impression that I am
complaining about the whole assessment. It was only this Teamwork paragraph
that irked me.
And one more minor detail. ARs were not part of the post game discussion -
they both had other game assignments.
BTW - You mentioned that the US scoring system is changing. It has been
changing here in Canada too, although I don’t know if the change is
nation-wide yet. Each referee is now graded according to the standard *for
that level*. A score of 70 means you met the standard for *your* level,
regardless of the level. Above 70 means you exceeded the standard, and
below 70 means you did not meet it.
Ralph
On Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:56:20 -0700, Patrick Duffy <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>I think the normal process during the debrief, if the AR has done
>something outside the normal parameters, is for the assessor to ask the
>AR "What were your pre-game instructions from the referee regarding X?"
>If the pre-game instruction was, for example, don't call anything in the
>penalty area, then the assessor turns to the referee to ask "Why did you
>give that instruction?" and it goes from there. If no calls in the
>penalty area wasn't the CR's instruction, then the AR should be asked
>what he/she saw and we can go from there. If they didn't see what
>happened, what was their position, where were their eyes looking? If
>they had a good reason to be directing their attention elsewhere, then,
>fine, there really isn't anything more to say about what was missed.
>"Open your eyes" is not valuable feedback to an official.
>
>Patrick Duffy
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Discussion of Topics for Soccer Referees
>[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of doug smith
>Sent: Monday, March 23, 2009 2:35 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: What if the assessor gets it wrong?
>
>
>
>I guess I see a distinction between an AR challenging (gently) an
>invalid instruction in the pre-game, and ignoring an instruction after
>the match starts. I would much rather take an extra minute before we
>start to get us all on the same page; if an AR doesn't (or can't)
>understand me, or the referee insists on doing things invalidly, I have
>the option of sending her away, or walking away (if I'm the AR). I
>don't have the option of proceeding when we are at cross purposes.
>
>
>
>In that vein, I have sensed an undercurrent, during these discussions of
>a difficult assessment, of trying to affix or deflect blame. If one or
>more of the referees has screwed up, the key issue should be why, not
>who. If the pre-game was inadequate, that is the area to fix; if it is
>referee-AR communication, then that is; if an AR has ignored the
>referee's instruction, I hope I am a good enough assessor to discern
>that without the referee pointing fingers.
>
>
>
>I would much rather have the referees engendering trust in (and
>trustworthiness with) each other than scoring brownie points off each
>other in the assessment. But that could be just me.
>
>
>
>Doug Smith
>
>USSF 06 USSF Instructor USSF Assessor
>
>ex-NISOA NF Oregon
>
>
>> Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:54:33 -0700
>> From: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: What if the assessor gets it wrong?
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>
>> There are some instructions from a CR that I would not follow.
>> 1. "Don't call any fouls in the penalty area." Of course the usual
>admonitions of giving the CR a chance depending on his position and
>point of view as well as eye contact would apply. I have had a national
>instructor/assessor tell that this is simply an incorrect instruction
>and the CR would fail an assessment for giving out such an instruction.
>> 2. "Don't mark down misconduct or goals." In these cases I mentally
>note who and what happened and would write them down at an appropriate
>stoppage. This is based on personal experience where my CR didn't
>realize he gave out two yellows and didn't give the red until I got his
>attention to tell him what happened.
>>
>> ...larry
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Discussion of Topics for Soccer Referees
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ron Leedy
>> Sent: Monday, March 23, 2009 12:06 PM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: What if the assessor gets it wrong?
>>
>> Neil Montgomery wrote -->
>>
>> > - he didn't like your instructions at all and just went his own way
>>
>> How does an AR leaving the world of "assisting" and enters the world
>of "insisting" become the CR fault in his pre-game? I don't always like
>the instruction I get from my CR but I always follow them. Or try my
>best. If there is an instruction that doesn't follow the GTP than I ask
>about it but he is the boss during the game. I will assist and support
>him as a teammate. Only when we are away from the players do I comment
>or become quizzical about why he made a call or refused to apply the
>LOTG.
>>
>> Ron Leedy
>>
>>
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