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video about referee signals! |
General
Referees communicate by using signals. Can you imagine trying to
yell loud enough to be heard by all 120,000 spectators in the Stadia da Luz
in downtown Lisbon, Portugal, during the big crosstown rivalry?
Impossible. Bringing the scene closer to home, can you imagine trying
to out-shout 100 excited parents of eight-year-olds? Nearly impossible.
Hand signals are the primary way you will be able to effectively
communicate during the game. Spectators, coaches and players need to
know what you want to happen next - who gets the free kick you just awarded,
which team gets the throw-in now that the ball has gone into touch.
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Whistle
After a season or two, referees learn to use the whistle more
effectively. During most rookie seasons, it's hard for spectators and
others to differentiate the whistle for a penalty kick from the whistle
allowing a substitute to enter the field.
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Body Language
Your field presence has a lot to do with the respect you
will gain on the soccer field. Preparation, timely arrival, and a
sharp appearance are a part of the equation. Are you standing on one
foot? Do you check your watch at every stoppage? Are your arms
folded across your chest? Do you yawn every few seconds? All
of those imply that you are bored with the game and can't wait for it to
end.
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90, 45 or Straight Up
With the arm straight at a 90-degree angle, with all the
fingers fully extended, point in the direction of the restart. Some
signals should be given with the arm at a 45-degree angle. In every
case, make sure your arm is fully extended, with the fingers
extended. Not rigid, not cartoonish but crisp. You want to
achieve clarity. Do coaches and players ask you to repeat
signals? That may be a sign that your signals are not clear.
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Hold Them for a Second or Two
Again, you want to fully communicate with those at the game.
Coaches and spectators are watching play and watching the ball. It's
going to take them a split second to react to the whistle, find you and
observe your signal. If you've already given the signal and lowered
your arm before they look, it is as if you had given no signal at all.
Do coaches and players ask you to repeat signals? That may be a sign
that your signals are too quick.
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Use Signals to Manage Your Game
Suppose a team winning by a signal goal late in the match starts to use
every substitution opportunity to switch out one player.
Repeatedly. You can gesture in an exaggerated fashion to your watch
to show everyone you are aware of the coach's tactic. Even if you don't physically stop your own
watch, you let everyone know you're aware of the time-wasting and are going
to manage it.
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Move to the Spot, If Needed
Move to the spot of the foul if necessary to prevent retaliation.
Your presence is a signal. If you've taken the pains to run 15-20
yards to stand directly over the ball and maneuver between angry opponents,
this is a clear signal that they had better focus their attention on the
game and not each other. 
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Verbalization
Sometimes your signals are verbal. Not too often, for you want
your whistle, arms, and posture to convey the important messages.
When you do verbalize, there are several people you want to hear you
verbalize: the fouled player and the player who committed the foul; the
player who winds up with the ball and who must decide to keep playing or
wait for the whistle; the other players in the area; the coach of the
player who was fouled so dissent is lessened by some small amount; and
perhaps the most important, the overly aggressive teammate of the fouled
player, the protector. If the protector gets the message that you
saw the action, that you recognized it as a foul, that you have some
awareness of the fouling player's number and you have the situation in
hand, then the protector does not feel the need to retaliate. Simply
by loudly verbalizing a properly made decision, you've improved your match
control and prevented problems.
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Wait, Don't Restart
There are two closely related instances where you do not want play to
restart immediately after a stoppage. some referees make eye contact
with the player with the ball and show a "stop sign" with the
raised palm facing the player, for example, at a substitution. Play
can then restart with a hand gesture or verbal signal. There are
times when it is appropriate to tell a player, "wait for my
whistle." You should then restart with a whistle to avoid any
confusion. Be certain you make eye contact with the players near the
ball, show them your raised whistle, point at it for all to see and then
say a few words, such as, "Wait for my whistle before kicking the
ball." Don't let there be any confusion on anyone's part.
Too many things can go wrong if you don't take positive action to control
those restarts. Emotions boil over and everyone offers advise.
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Quiet Word
Sometimes your verbalization might be intended for a single
player. You may not not want anyone else to know you "had a
chat" with a player who needs a sportsmanship reminder. As the
player runs up the field to get positioned for the next restart, run
within a yard or two, say the necessary couple of words and move away.
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Public Word
Sometimes a stronger verbalization is needed. You may not need to
raise your voice to get your point across. You can signal to
everyone in attendance that you are making a point by asking a restart to
be delayed, moving toward the player or players you need to address,
saying your piece, moving into a good position for restart and signaling
for play to start up again.
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Third Party
One signal that referees fail to use often enough is the intervention
of a third party. Use a coach. Use a team captain. Use a
level-headed midfielder who can relay a message to a hot-headed
goalkeeper. The players have been teammates for a while, they practice
together regularly - they know what buttons to push. You may come
off too tough toward a player that needs kid gloves. You may come
off too lenient toward a player who only understands a hard, disciplined
approach. Teammates and coaches know which approach will work best
given the circumstances. Let them pass the message - the signal that
something needs to change.
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Television
You will watch many referees in televised matches and see signals that
differ greatly from what is said in these pages. Know the culture of
the match you are viewing. For example, in a German match, the
referee would blow the whistle and walk north and the red team will take
the kick. When he walks south, the blue team will take the
kick. There appears to be only one signal - a raised arm for an
indirect free kick. You will see South American referees display
yellow cards with a dramatic flair. That's entirely out of place on
your next Kickers (U14) game. It doesn't suit you, it doesn't suit your style
of refereeing.
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Film or Video
Ask someone to videotape one of your games so you can analyze your
signals. Are they up to par? Are you satisfied with the
duration and the crispness? Perhaps you don't have the expensive
equipment needed to video the game. With a disposable camera and a
roll of film, someone can catch you at 24 distinct moments during the
game. Are you satisfied with each of those 24 moments.
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Assessors and Mentors
Ask an assessor, veteran referee or mentor to watch you. Get
feedback about your signals. Are they appropriate? Are you
only using authorized signals? Are they crisp? Does everyone
clearly understand what you are trying to convey?
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Practice
As with any endeavor that you want to do well, you must practice.
Ten minutes in front of a mirror will do wonders. Teach you muscles
what a perfect signal feels like through repetition. Learn what it
feels like to hold your arm directly overhead, arm, and fingers fully
extended.
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Pride
Take pride in your signals. Certainly when you submit a written
product to your boss or to your teacher, you want it to reflect well upon
you. The same can be said with your signals.
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