Maryland Soccer Referees - Central Maryland

John,

 

Thanks for your feedback. Without using your full name, I've featured your concerns and my reply on the Referee Web Site so as many referees as possible can learn from this.

 

The issue of goalkeeper possession is constant each season. Concerns are raised dozens of times on this issue. The solution is not an easy one. The Law is quite clear, goalkeeper possession is considered when the goalkeeper has any part of a hand (which includes a finger) firmly in contact with the ball and is maintaining that contact or possession. That means the ball can not still be bouncing around and should not be moving once the goalkeeper has made contact and gotten possession.

 

Now the problem is the 50/50 plays. That is when at the same moment the goalkeeper goes for the ball  with their hand(s) and the attacker goes for the ball to kick or shoot it. At this split second, no one has clear possession of the ball and it's free to play. Aggressive attackers, (especially those who are coached to follow the ball or be aggressive), will always kick at the ball regardless of the goalkeeper's hands, face or body being right there. Aggressive goalkeepers will go for possession sometimes at the cost of being injured. In these cases it is very difficult for the referee to do much of anything as the Laws don't permit them to interfere.

 

Now that doesn't say that referees don't protect all players including the goalkeeper. Part of the referees job is to ensure safety. When the referee sees that the goalkeeper clearly has possession, it becomes the referees responsibility to handle any contact by the opponents that violate the Laws of the Game. This may be determined to be Dangerous Play by the attacking team. When actual contact with the goalkeeper is made, a Kicking Foul or even worst possibly Serious Foul Play when no contact with the ball is made and the contact was solely with the goalkeeper is such a manner as to Endanger the Safety of an Opponent.

 

Coaches need to help us with these aggressive attacks on the ball especially at the younger ages and lower skill levels. When the subject or concern is brought up by a coach prior to the start of a match, there is NO reason a referee can't relay the concern to the opposing team. Coaches can also assist by discussing this concern with each other prior to every match. My hope is that both the match referee and both coaches take a moment prior to the start of each match and empathize the importance of safe and responsible play. That includes especially the goalkeeper who is very vulnerable when on the ground attempting to secure possession of the ball.

 

Thanks John for your feedback! I hope this helps both referees and coaches.....

 

Craig Proffen, USSF Instructor, Assessor, Assignor
Regional Instructional Coordinator and State Referee

SAC/HC Referee Coordinator

Pat,

 

Thanks for your feedback. Without using your full name, I've featured your suggestion and my reply on the Referee Web Site so as many referees as possible can learn from this.

Your suggestion is actually something the referees are suppose to be doing in every match at every age. In session five of the referee course we go over the duties of the referee and assistant referees which includes the signals. Referees are instructed to raise their arm at a 45% angle in the direction of the throw. The arm signal should be given every time and held for a second or two so that players can look quickly at the referee to determine which team is entitled to the throw-in.

 

Now saying that, I observe two problems in many matches. At the younger ages, the players tend to look to the coach for directions on what to do rather than to the referee. This is especially true for U8 games since the players are still developing and just finished a year of play where the coaches mentored the matches. The second observation is that the newer referees are a bit timid and unsure. They need time to gain confidence and positive feedback like yours to mature into better referees. At the older age groups, some referees have gotten complacent and stop giving the referee arm signals. When this occurs, the referee assignor or corrdinator needs to hear so we can correct poor officiating. Neither the assignor nor myself can be at every game so feedback from the coaches is essential.

 

Thanks for your time and feedback. My hopes are that the new referees read, understand and implement positive feedback into their officiating.

 

Craig Proffen, USSF Instructor, Assessor, Assignor
Regional Instructional Coordinator and State Referee
SAC/HC Referee Coordinator