This clip is from a recent U-20 World Cup game. There are many talking points here where we can learn, not just from a referee position, but more importantly from the Assistant Referee position. Remember, this particular tournament has the VAR position, so they have the benefit of replay. In our games, we do not

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As referees, we tend to assume nothing will happen on the simplest of plays. While I am not condemning the referee for his original position, I do have an issue with his slow reaction. Also, we as referees from the very beginning, have been taught what is a foul, what is misconduct, sharp mechanics etc.

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We talk about “non-soccer” plays that do not belong in the game of soccer. Elbows to the head, challenges that endanger the safety of a player, such as over the ball tackles, spitting, headbutting, etc. In the 2 clips below, you will see similar types of violent behavior. In both cases, the action by the

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One of the first things referees should be looking at when there are challenges on the ground are the feet of the player challenging. There are some indications that should raise awareness in these types of challenges. DISTANCE where the challenging player comes. Is that player coming from a longer distance or is the distance

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Soccer is a contact sport and injuries are part of the game. The growing concern in soccer, among other sports, are concussions. Referees need to be more aware of the symptoms of concussions and take more of a concerned role in recognizing them. Some symptoms listed here are what we, as referees, may see when

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Teamwork is critical for a successful game in soccer. Referees and Assistant referees (4th official if allowed), must work together. This begins with a thorough pregame among the crew. This can take up to an hour but a good ’30 minutes can cover a very good pregame. For more info, click here. Once the game

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