United States Soccer Federation
Tactical Thinking for Referees
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Tactical 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!
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Questions to Ask During the
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?
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Free-kick Near Goal
 Usually
 Wall
confronted by a “wall”
can be beaten if positioned badly
 Referee
must prevent encroachment and
gamesmanship
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Free-kick near Goal
If the wall cannot be moved it must be
by-passed.
What does this mean for the referee?
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Tactical Thinking: Free-kick near opponent’s goal
AR
Where would the
referee normally be?
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Where is the greatest
danger for defenders?
AR
R
(normal position)
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Where will the
action be?
AR
R
(normal position)
Three unmarked
players
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Does the referee have
the best possible view?
AR
R
(normal position)
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Has the referee improved
his position?
(alternate position)
R
AR
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Tactical Thinking: Throw-in near opponent’s goal
AR
Where would the
referee normally be?
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Where is all the activity going to be?
Does the referee have the best position?
AR
R
(normal position)
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In this somewhat unorthodox position,
the referee has the best possible view
of what is probably going to happen:
activity behind the defenders.
(better position)
R
AR
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Tactical Thinking: Dynamic
Play
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
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To deal with tactical problems:
Referees
should study tactics of
teams
Referees
players
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should study individual
Keys to Tactical Thinking:
SPACE
&
TIME
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Problem:
Any time that the referee is in
front of the ball, he may be
using space that the players
could use.
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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
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Solution 2:
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.
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Manchester United
vs.
Manchester City
(English Football League)
AR
R
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Referee seeks position
behind the ball
AR
R
R
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Referee “hides”
AR
R
R
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Solution 3:
Referee can move into space that
cannot be used by the players
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R
Referee moves into space that the
players cannot use at that moment
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R
Referee is in space that the players
cannot use and can respond to the
attack or a counter-attack
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Tactical Thinking:
Off the Ball Incidents
Players can play very
effectively using their time
away from the ball.
How can we protect them?
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Problem:
How can the referee watch
players during their time
away from the ball?
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Solution 1:
Whenever he is behind the player
with the ball, the referee can see
downfield without difficulty
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Solution 2:
When a player has the ball, and
has no opponent near him, the
referee may safely look
downfield
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Mexico
AR
R
East Germany
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Mexico
AR
R
East Germany
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