United States Soccer Federation Tactical Thinking for Referees United States Soccer Federation.

United States Soccer Federation

Tactical Thinking for Referees



Tactical Thinking: RestartsTactical Thinking: Restarts

Any restart situation near goal is a significant event that requires careful handling.

The referee’s strategy must be selected based on the teams’ tactics during the game, and on the particular situation.

Flexibility is Essential!Flexibility is Essential!


Questions to Ask During the Questions to Ask During the Game:Game:

What are the teams doing with free-kicks near their opponent’s goal?

What are the teams doing with a throw-in near their opponent’s goal?


Free-kick Near GoalFree-kick Near Goal

Usually confronted by a “wall”

Wall can be beaten if positioned badly

Referee must prevent encroachment and gamesmanship


Free-kick near GoalFree-kick near Goal

If the wall cannot be moved it must be by-passed.

What does this mean for the referee?


Where would the referee normally be?

AR

Tactical Thinking: Free-kick near opponent’s goal


Where is the greatestdanger for defenders?

AR

R(normal position)


Where will theaction be?

AR

R(normal position)

Three unmarkedplayers


Does the referee havethe best possible view?

AR

R(normal position)

actio

n


Has the referee improvedhis position?

AR

R(alternate position)


Where would the referee normally be?

AR

Tactical Thinking: Throw-in near opponent’s goal


Where is all the activity going to be?Does the referee have the best position?

AR

R(normal position)


In this somewhat unorthodox position, the referee has the best possible view of what is probably going to happen:

activity behind the defenders.

AR

R

(better position)


Tactical Thinking: Dynamic Tactical Thinking: Dynamic PlayPlay

Referees should not interfere with the tactical flow of the game

Referees: Must know how to “read the game” Must know where to go Must know where not to go


To deal with tactical problems:To deal with tactical problems:

Referees should study tactics of teams

Referees should study individual players


Keys to Tactical Thinking:

SPACESPACE

&&

TIMETIME


ProblemProblem:

Any time that the referee is in front of the ball, he may be using space that the players

could use.


Solution 1:Solution 1:

Change position relative to the ball:

(a) by waiting for the player in possession to move ahead

(b) by actively seeking a position behind the ball



Hide behind an opponent:

If the referee is ahead of the ball and in a useful space (to the teams), he can “hide” behind an opponent of the team in possession.


Manchester Unitedvs.

Manchester City(English Football League)

AR

R


R

Referee seeks positionbehind the ball

AR

R


Referee “hides”

AR

R

R



Referee can move into space that cannot be used by the players


R

Referee moves into space that the players cannot use at that moment


R

Referee is in space that the playerscannot use and can respond to the attack or a counter-attack


Tactical Thinking: Tactical Thinking: Off the Ball IncidentsOff the Ball Incidents

Players can play very effectively using their time

away from the ball.

How can we protect them?


ProblemProblem:

How can the referee watch players during their time

away from the ball?



Whenever he is behind the player with the ball, the referee can see

downfield without difficulty



When a player has the ball, and has no opponent near him, the

referee may safely look downfield


R

AR

East Germany

Mexico

United States Soccer Federation Tactical Thinking for Referees United States Soccer Federation.

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