November 13, 2008

The intent of this weekly newsletter is to provide interesting and useful referee related information for AYSO referees. Send questions, article ideas or comments to: Joe Eldridge, AYSO National Referee Administrator at WhistleStop@....

To Whistle Or Not To Whistle?

Things You Didn't Know About Things You Know Well

Referees must make quick decisions, and the luxury of time to think it over, look it up or discuss it with someone is not an option during the game. Test your knowledge and see if you can answer the following questions: 

What should the referee do and how is play restarted if the referee blows the whistle ...

1.  For the opening kickoff for the red team, but before the ball is kicked a red team player steps across the halfway line and violently strikes a blue team player who does not retaliate?
 
2.  To end the first half, and then a red team player violently strikes a blue team player who does not retaliate?
 
3.  To end the match, and then a red team player violently strikes a blue team player who does not retaliate?

For answers, click here.

Tip Of The Month

Going Green With The Score Sheet

David Keller, Chicago, IL

Referee, at the end of the game, what do you do with your score sheet for the game? Do you confirm the score on the lineup card and then throw the score sheet away or do you turn it over and use the back for the next game? Maybe you use it for a bookmark in the Laws of the Game that you keep under your pillow?
 
Here's another thought. Give it to one of the players or to one of the coaches and let him/her give it to a player of his/her choice. Maybe it would be appreciated by the player who scored a goal or the winning goal or a "hat trick." Perhaps the goalkeeper who saved a penalty kick or any player who played a great game would like to have the score sheet as a memento. 
 
I've tried this fairly often at all levels of play and this little gift has been well received. It shows the referee is human and cares. One of the high points of my AYSO career was seeing the smile on the face of a U-8 player when I gave him the score sheet after the game. The team let me know with their cheers and shouts that he had scored his first goal ever.