A&H

Sock Tape

GraemeS

GraemeS

RefChat Addict
Level 5 Referee
So, while I know what the LOTG says, I'm wondering why this always seems to be such a big deal to observers?

I've got no problem with it being mentioned as a development point. And I get how a clash with opponent's colours can maaaaaaaaaybe cause confusion when trying to judge fouls. But I'm not convinced it makes any significant difference really, definitely not in the absence of a clash. Yet I've seen/read/had multiple assessments where a piece of missed sock tape can make up the bulk of the report!

So why? Is this justified and am I "under-reacting" by thinking it's just not a big deal? Or perhaps it's easy assessing - spotting something technical and making a big deal out of it so that you don't have to come up with insight elsewhere?
 
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There is so much wrong with grass level football in this country at the moment and stuff like sock tape and same coloured undershorts etc are just pointless distractions away from the real issues which are driving players and referees away. My game on Saturday involved players in one team with 3 different colours of shorts, none of which hindered my ability to recognise a foul or the offender. To be honest, I couldn't tell you if they all had the same coloured socks, it just doesn't matter (try reffing futsal or 5-aside were the only difference between the teams is a bib). Stuff that is far more important but is still not being addressed is 1) if the keeper stood in the middle of his line, he was 4 inches lower that if he stood at the post, 2) the pen spot was marked at 11 yards at one end, 12 at the other, 3) if you put the ball on the spot, half the ball disappeared down the whole 4) the home club pays the council £600 for the privilege of using this 'facility'. Lets get the basics sorted out before we ask these lads and lassies to turn up like the model players on the telly.
 
If you can't be bothered to get such a simple thing as sock tape correct, especially when being observed, it sets a poor tone right from the start. It shows a lack of attention to detail and is laziness on the part of the referee not to get it sorted.

Its an easy win, its been around now for ages, just get it right.
 
With Padfoot on this one. Yes, it's a crap Law and makes no difference in most cases, but there's also nothing difficult with having a quick word with the player concerned before the game just letting him know you "may be" being observed and he needs to fall in line. You can do it in a personal, almost apologetic, way and just point out that it will cost you marks and these pen-pushers at County FA just won't let you get away with it.

I still do some Sunday games, but never had an issue in any of them as usually my self-deprecating "act" on how I feel about it gets a few laughs and some sympathy from the players, so we are all happy.
 
But what I was trying to get at initially is: what if I don't spot it?

I can tell you already that I don't have an eye for catching that kind of detail (it's like a moving "spot the difference" puzzle to me!) and I do get it sorted when I spot it. But I'm not convinced that on the occasions I do miss it, it should make up 1/3 of my observation report and allow the observer to focus on that rather than other aspects of my game. And I definitely don't think pass/fail of promotion should be decided by something so irrelevant!
 
I see where you're coming from and understand your point.

But I'm with Padfoot and Monotone on this. If you know you're being assessed and don't take action you only have yourself to blame.

I feel the problem here is that at parks football it very rarely if ever gets mentioned to the players, so some, especially those at the younger end of the scale might not know it has to match.

I go and watch my girlfriends team play and often run the line for them as a CAR, and I don't think I've seen one of their games where players aren't wearing the wrong coloured sock tape or undershorts etc.

Even in my mens leagues where it is much better enforced you still see players on other pitches not adhering to the laws in this regard.

I'm not saying I'm perfect and definitely missed this or let it slide in my earlier games. But, as Monotone says I've found most players will happily cooperate if you have a quietc word and explain that is the FA etc pushing this, and if you're found not to enforce it then it could affect your promotion etc.

This puts you both on the same "side", being made to do something by faceless bureaucrats.

A little bit of psychology can go a long way in this regard.
 
i think more players are aware of it than you might imagine, as generally speaking, when it comes to cup finals they all seem to pay attention to the undershorts and sock tape instructions without any prompting. Now whether thats because they dont want to jeopardise their place in a potential starting line-up for arguably the biggest day in their season, or if the managers get specific instructions to highlight these "petty" requirements, i dont know.
i'd go more with the fact that they are usually just being lazy on a regular saturday/sunday game.
I picked one guy up on grey undershorts clearly showing under black shorts last week and the comment i got back from his colleague was that it wasnt the champions league final (and therefore didnt matter). In which case it doesnt really matter whether he plays or not then...
 
I think another reason it is covered so heavily in reports at lower levels is because it is literally black and white. Careless, reckless and excessive force tackles can be argued to a degree - different angles and interpretations of the law can lead to different sanctions for each tackle. However, in this instance, if a player has different coloured tape, it is a different colour. You can't wiggle your way out of it.

It is also probably covered in detail because it would come under the 'Application of Law' banner, which is a big one for assessors and is reflected as such in the reports.
GraemeS said:
But what I was trying to get at initially is: what if I don't spot it?
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What if you don't spot a 2 footed challenge during the game? It has still happened and you haven't seen it or penalised it - so you will get marked down accordingly. Sock tape and the players equipment is such an easy one to get right that I can't side with your argument in this instance. We all know that when the assessor turns up, everything will have to be done by the book (even if you bend the rules on the other occasions), so just do the job and get rid of it.
 
GraemeS said:
But what I was trying to get at initially is: what if I don't spot it?
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I am struggling with this one.......What if you don't spot it? What if you don't spot the bracelet? The necklace? The ear ring? The fact that he isn't wearing shin pads? The shirt with no sleeves? Like @CA has just said that is your job.
 
Cheshire Ref said:
I am struggling with this one.......What if you don't spot it? What if you don't spot the bracelet? The necklace? The ear ring? The fact that he isn't wearing shin pads? The shirt with no sleeves? Like @CA has just said that is your job.
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It might just be the way my mind works, but I spot those because they matter. I'm far from convinced why the wrong colour sock tape matters, so it become a much lower priority for me when I'm taking a quick look at players - my priority is making sure they're safe, so I focus on jewelry, studs and shinpads.
 
GraemeS said:
It might just be the way my mind works, but I spot those because they matter. I'm far from convinced why the wrong colour sock tape matters, so it become a much lower priority for me when I'm taking a quick look at players - my priority is making sure they're safe, so I focus on jewelry, studs and shinpads.
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@GraemeS i do understand where you are coming from but if you are losing marks in assessments then it REALLY matters!!
 
Cheshire Ref said:
@GraemeS i do understand where you are coming from but if you are losing marks in assessments then it REALLY matters!!
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I'm sure you know what my next question is going to be then: Why does it really matter? And why are otherwise perfectly good referees theoretically at risk of failing promotion because of this?
 
It matters because IFAB says it matters. You could use that argument about so many laws. What does it really matter if the ball leaves the area on FK or GK? And why are perfectly good referees theoretically at risk of failing promotion because they have chosen to ignore it?

At the end of the day perfectly good referee's (and judging by previous well written posts i would think you are one) shouldn't be missing it full stop.
 
I'm with @Padfoot @Monotone Whistle

On this I myself who have had 3 observations now and have got from the start because all players know or should know by now that tape is matching colours only if it a pub team thing I always say to them before that I might be being observed so I would like you to inform your team that sock tape and under garments to be matching please I'm more stricter on this with West Midlands regional league where as even though this league can have you travelling 80 mile round trip one way and 120mile the other you never know who could be watching so i always instill into my pre match sock tape and under garments to match.
 
Graeme, it only matters because you're being assessed/observed.
When you aren't and in the lowly levels of parks football.....who gives a to55? Two teams, safe kit, a safe pitch? Let's play.......
 
As an observer I would make reference of the fact in my post-match debrief, but my report will not contain it i.e. there are much more important things which will develop you as a referee for me to write about.
 
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drahc said:
As an observer I would make reference of the fact in my post-match debrief, but my report will not contain it i.e. there are much more important things which will develop you as a referee for me to write about.
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And then the referee goes on to referee games, get assessed and drops silly marks by not checking sock tape. You may have done them a favour and given them a 'cheeky extra few marks' and but they'll they lose them marks on the next game and if they don't realise that most assessors enforce the laws then they'll do it for more games and in the end you've had a negative effect on their average mark.
 
It matters because it's observable and measurable.

I've been a teacher a lot longer than I've been a ref, but it's the same in education. It's actually quite hard to measure the important stuff that makes a difference, so proxies are used instead. It's a binary observation - either all are compliant or their not. Easy to measure, easy to mark, but doesn't actually make the blindest bit of difference at most levels.

What's the point of most grassroots footbal? To get a group of blokes or lads out playing a game, getting some exercise and enjoying themselves. At the level that I operate at, I couldn't really be bothered. Played a vets team game on Sunday - shorts and socks various shades of blue (except for one pair of red socks) Did it matter? No. Would insistence on identical shorts and socks been a barrier to playing? Yes
 
YorkshireReferee said:
And then the referee goes on to referee games, get assessed and drops silly marks by not checking sock tape. You may have done them a favour and given them a 'cheeky extra few marks' and but they'll they lose them marks on the next game and if they don't realise that most assessors enforce the laws then they'll do it for more games and in the end you've had a negative effect on their average mark.
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Hence, why I "would make reference of the fact in my post-match debrief" - i.e. "YorkshireReferee, I noticed that numbers 8 and 7 of HOMETEAM had the incorrect socktape. Whilst I will not reference this in my report, please be aware that this is stipulated in Law 4 - i.e. socktape must be the same colour as the part of the sock it is applied to, and other observers would pick you up on this"

P.S. - no-one is assessed anymore. We observe.
 
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drahc said:
Hence, why I "would make reference of the fact in my post-match debrief" - i.e. "YorkshireReferee, I noticed that numbers 8 and 7 of HOMETEAM had the incorrect socktape. Whilst I will not reference this in my report, please be aware that this is stipulated in Law 4 - i.e. socktape must be the same colour as the part of the sock it is applied to, and other observers would pick you up on this"

P.S. - no-one is assessed anymore. We observe.
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So you're picky about whether you're called an assessor or an observer but you don't care when a referee decides to ignore an aspect of the laws of the game whilst you're assessing him. Interesting.
 
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