A referee’s success or failure rests more often than not on several rapid decisions made during the game. Among the toughest calls to make are the following:

1. The slide tackle: occurs at higher levels more often and almost always creates physical contact between the players involved. Referee must decide if:

• Player making the tackle played the ball first.
• Player’s intention was to play the ball.
• Did the slide come from the side or from behind.
• Did the player slide in a safe manner (not showing cleats).
• Was the follow through from the slide too excessive.

- judging all this in two seconds is not easy!!!

2. The hand-ball: three issues -

• Was the handling of the ball on purpose?
• Did the player get an advantage by handling the ball?
• Making the tough call when your view is blocked.

3. Challenging for head balls: two players jumping stright up is not an issue, it is when one or more players jump from a running start that it becomes more difficult.

• Did any player use excessive force when making contact?
• Were they trying to play the ball or the other player?
• Did a player cause themselves to receive more contact by turning their backs to the opponent?

4. Obstruction: Judgement on intent. Was the player within playing distance of the ball and trying to maintain possession, or was the intent to keep the opponent from having a chance to play the ball? Another example is a player purposly running across another’s path to keep them from getting to a ball.

5. Off-Sides: Hardest call to make because it draws the most negative reactions from players, coaches and fans.

• You must be directly in line with the last defender at the moment the ball is played.
• Must decide if that player offsides is involved with play or that player is gaining an advantage by being offsides.

REMEMBER, even though they don’t agree, the fans, players and coaches are almost never in the correct position to make that call and should not argue, but they will!!

6. Advantage: This gives the referee the ability to not call the foul if the player being fouled would lose an advantage if the call was made. This decision needs to be made within a few seconds of the foul. You must also decide if calling the foul and taking away the advantage is the right thing to to slow down the game and take some control if it is getting out of hand. Also in an instant you must be able to determine how much of an advantage is really working.

REMEMBER, you can let an advantage go and then after play stops card a player for the offense if it is worthy of a card.

The best refs are able to concentrate on the game, use their experience to determine intent, their knowledge of the Laws of the Game to judge infractions, their conditioning to be in proper position, and their common sense to determine the best course of action, or inaction.