USSF periodically publishes Directives, Position Papers and Miscellaneous Memos. I strongly urge you regularly to go online to USSF.com, and review these publications. Below is an excerpt from one of those memos offering guidelines on when a referee should have less flow in a game and tighten—up with more foul recognition. This note has some comment on Advantage in addition to the more flow/less flow info.
Warning Signs a Referee Needs Less Flow / Foul selection/recognition and More
Game Control
The following lists some of the “warning signs” or “flash points” in a game that should resonate with officials and provide direction regarding overall game/situation management:
Foul near the team benches
Wet field – comfort level of players to make tackles increases
Tackles extend from 3 yards to 7 yards
Sequence /succession /repetition of challenges in short time (cluster fouls)
More body contact
Mismatched body contact (feet versus chest, head versus knee) Change from containment defense to high pressure and chase Challenges (including 50-50) and apparent challenges on the goalkeeper
Near the touchline and no way out for the ball or the player
Retaliation foul after play restarts
Player into goal to retrieve ball after a score
The winning team protecting the ball at the corner flag to use time
Excessive fouls on the skillful player (play maker and scorer)
Escalation in the “severity of fouls” committed
Frustration level of players increasing, player acceptance decreasing Dissent increasing
Player feedback from both teams indicating “we don’t want flow”
Score and time
Advantage: The “4 P Principle”
When considering the application of advantage, the following principle is provided as a guideline for officials. Remember, advantage application may differ depending upon the skill level, age level, and general atmosphere of the game.
The “4 P Principle” of Advantage Application:
Warning Signs a Referee Needs Less Flow / Foul selection/recognition and More
Game Control
The following lists some of the “warning signs” or “flash points” in a game that should resonate with officials and provide direction regarding overall game/situation management:
Foul near the team benches
Wet field – comfort level of players to make tackles increases
Tackles extend from 3 yards to 7 yards
Sequence /succession /repetition of challenges in short time (cluster fouls)
More body contact
Mismatched body contact (feet versus chest, head versus knee) Change from containment defense to high pressure and chase Challenges (including 50-50) and apparent challenges on the goalkeeper
Near the touchline and no way out for the ball or the player
Retaliation foul after play restarts
Player into goal to retrieve ball after a score
The winning team protecting the ball at the corner flag to use time
Excessive fouls on the skillful player (play maker and scorer)
Escalation in the “severity of fouls” committed
Frustration level of players increasing, player acceptance decreasing Dissent increasing
Player feedback from both teams indicating “we don’t want flow”
Score and time
Advantage: The “4 P Principle”
When considering the application of advantage, the following principle is provided as a guideline for officials. Remember, advantage application may differ depending upon the skill level, age level, and general atmosphere of the game.
The “4 P Principle” of Advantage Application:
- Possession of ball: control by team or player.
- Potential for attack: ability to continue a credible and dangerous attack.
- Personnel: skill of attackers, numerical advantage.
- Proximity to opponent’s goal: closeness to goal.
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