RefIADad
RefChat Addict
Since "Arena" soccer in the US is closest to futsal in the type of game, I figured I would post here. The semi-professional Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) is currently experimenting with a pilot program to have three referees on the "pitch" with whistles instead of two referees. I won't go into all of the details, but arena soccer is a combination of soccer and hockey. 5 field players and a goalkeeper for each team. The game is played inside of dasher boards like ice hockey - in fact many pitches are old-school astro turf laid over an ice surface. Teams can play short two minutes like in hockey for offenses that would normally be considered cautionable offenses, so that acts much like a sin bin. Games are four 15-minute quarters with a stopped clock for all stoppages and "on the fly" substitutions.
MASL's default officiating system is two on-floor referees, an off-floor assistant who primarily watches for substitution and "three line" violations (when the ball is kicked from the defensive zone in the air over the lines marking the defensive zone, half line, and attacking zone), and a fourth official who keeps a running record of the game, particularly accumulated fouls for players. For those familiar with basketball officiating mechanics, the mechanics for three on-floor referees mimics that of the three-man officiating system with one "trail" referee near the half way line, a "lead" referee on the same side at the trail, and a "middle" referee on the opposite side of the pitch in between the trail and lead. The officials then rotate through the positions during the course of the game. There is still an assistant referee and fourth official.
If you're interested in the type of game or the officiating system, game replays are available on the Twitch streaming platform and searching "masl_soccer". There are several different channels airing simultaneous games live.
MASL's default officiating system is two on-floor referees, an off-floor assistant who primarily watches for substitution and "three line" violations (when the ball is kicked from the defensive zone in the air over the lines marking the defensive zone, half line, and attacking zone), and a fourth official who keeps a running record of the game, particularly accumulated fouls for players. For those familiar with basketball officiating mechanics, the mechanics for three on-floor referees mimics that of the three-man officiating system with one "trail" referee near the half way line, a "lead" referee on the same side at the trail, and a "middle" referee on the opposite side of the pitch in between the trail and lead. The officials then rotate through the positions during the course of the game. There is still an assistant referee and fourth official.
If you're interested in the type of game or the officiating system, game replays are available on the Twitch streaming platform and searching "masl_soccer". There are several different channels airing simultaneous games live.
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