A&H

Food for thought

Nalbi

Nalbi

Well-Known Member
Level 4 Referee
Here's an interesting one, during my game yesterday. A feisty well battled local derby Blues vs Reds, with blues being the Home team. On paper blues should be cruising through this one with no issues at all, but with a local derby as we sometimes know that's not always the case.
As i said, well battled and feisty nothing malicious at all throughout the game, a bit of tempers seeing that the reds were leading 2-0 within a quick 20 mins of the game and stayed very much strong in keeping the blues away from the goal.

Halfway through the 2nd half, Blues have a great chance score and the result is 2-1 now, i can see a couple of the Blue team players running towards the goal to grab the ball and speed things up as they were chasing the game. The reds #4 gets hold of the ball first and walks slowly to the centre circle, I knew things are going to get ugly as I was ready to blow my whistle asking the blues to step away so i can control the situation, it erupted. Blues #2 and #8 try to forcefully knock the ball away and naturally Reds #4 fights back pushing #8 into the net. Big whistles from me shouting back off now all of you, it calmed down within a minute. Had to dish out 3 cautions for AA and USB.

My coach was there and asked what could i have done differently to control that situation. His suggestion was knowing that the score was close and that the minute blues score they would want that ball in the centre right away; I should have been proactive made the run to the back of the net controlled the ball myself and told everyone to go back to their respective halves as I got control of the ball.

Never occurred to me before, but yes I will keep that in my tricks book for next time!
 
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So your coach's advice is for you to run into the middle of a potential hotspot, ask for the ball from two set of players if you don't get there first, leg it back to the centre circle and thus annoy one team or, dawdle and annoy the other team?
A good trick if you can pull that one off.
 
i'm not convinced with this one... personally i wouldnt fancy getting involved with a grapple over the ball with any player.
I'd be more inclined to try and assure the players that time would be added where necessary
 
Think there's a happy medium here where, knowing it is a potential flashpoint, you quickly get yourself in the vicinity of the goal to ensure you are on hand should anything untoward occur (or to proactively stop it from doing so!). I agree that 'fighting' the players for control of the ball could be particularly unseemly!
 
Watch and observe... If somebody delays the restart, deal with it appropriately. Get involved, and one of the teams is going to be complaining about bias (as a neutral, why should you try and speed up the restart for the losing team...?)
 
In all fairness I guess his comments were more along the lines of moderation as @Russell Jones pointed out. Of course you don't to be involved yourself with the players but trying to control the situation and moderate it rather than act in favour for either team. Granted maybe not carry the ball, but your presence along with clear audible vocal warnings to all parties involved hopefully will help to discourage some players from being stupid enough to challenge my warnings and risk an easy caution for either Delaying restart or being aggressive.
 
Very loud whistle and a good shout of leave it...to Blues 2 and 8....and a quick I am adding the time on so don't Reds 4!! Loud whistles usually distract them as they think something serious has happened elsewhere and generally turn to see what's happening!
 
A Freethinker said:
Very loud whistle and a good shout of leave it...to Blues 2 and 8....and a quick I am adding the time on so don't Reds 4!! Loud whistles usually distract them as they think something serious has happened elsewhere and generally turn to see what's happening!
Click to expand...

Agreed, I do believe my coach's comments, putting aside our questions whether i want to be involved in a tussle for the ball and seeming biased/unbiased towards a team, are more along the line of anticipation and being proactive rather than reacting. Having that mental alertness, and recognising that in a tight match like this with one team chasing the game and the other willing to gain/waste every possible second. That you as the referee in situations like this can be one step ahead of the players to hopefully diffuse any potential issues.
 
What I do after a goal go with the happy people and round them up then if you get any problems with other players your with them
 
For what it is worth I would just make it obvious you are adding it all on. There is no law about how long players should take to restart after a goal has been scored. Obviously if it gets silly you use your cards.
 
The referee running into the back of the net then run the ball up to the kickoff?
I think the only way you could look more one sided there is if you then took a shot on goal yourself!
Absolutely terrible advice.

The blue players trying to grab the ball from the opponent should be booked (I do miss zero tolerance on this). Naturally a player can't be strolling the ball up at this time, so that by itself you can manage proactively (otherwise with a card). Sounds like the opponents interfered too quickly for that to be a concern - though of course sounds like a card for the retaliation too.

More proactively, get on the whistle as soon as you see it happening and you may be able to intervene before it crosses card territory. As others have said, can certainly help to remind players that you're stopping the clock here.
 
Collecting the ball would be madness. Just try to get close and as soon as it looks like players are going to pick it up and cause trouble get right in the ears with the whistle. If they still have a row then at least you tried to warn them.
 
Cheshire your literally right on top of it then if something does happen that is card worthy you can then do them for it I'd rather be with celebrating players than back towards the goal
 
Agree with all the above - getting close and getting involved with the whistle the second anything looks like it's about to start is proactive refereeing and can actively prevent cards being needed in this situation. Actually handling the ball is a terrible idea, but escorting the player who does have it back to the middle and/or hurrying up the conceding team with threats of cards is OK.
 
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