Refereeing with Fewer Than Three Officials

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Refereeing with Fewer Than Three Officials
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Todays Objectives

• Understand the principles underlying the Diagonal
  System of Control (DSC)
• Understand the priorities for officials in
  monitoring events in a game
• Apply those principles and priorities when fewer
  than three officials are available.

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What Do Officials Need to Monitor?

• Scoring of a goal
• Ball over a boundary line
• Offside
• Fouls/misconduct
• Technical infringements (on restarts)

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Core Principle of the DSC

• Officials constantly vary their positions to
  maximize the likelihood that one is properly
  situated to judge any event that occurs.
• The referee always makes the decision.
• The assistant referees communicate (signal) what
  they have seen, assisting the referee to make a
  decision.

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DSC with Three OfficialsBoxing Play
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DSC with Three OfficialsBoxing Play
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DSC with Three OfficialsBoxing Play
Goal line
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DSC with Three OfficialsFour Eyes on Play
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DSC with Three OfficialsWhere Should The
Referee Be?
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DSC with Three OfficialsOn the Diagonal?
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DSC with Three OfficialsA Better Position
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DSC with Three OfficialsRe-establishing
Position with AR2
AR2
Direction of play
R
A
D
D
A
D
A
A
D
D
A
D
A
D
A
D
A
D
A
AR1
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What Governs the Referees Movement?

• Where must he be
• To observe what is happening now?
• To observe what will happen next?
• These can be contradictory demands!
• The assistant referees help resolve the conflict
• This is what makes refereeing with fewer than
  three officials hard!
• Less information from others means more
  constraints on positioning
• Referee cant do it all by himself, so must
  prioritize

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DSC with Two Officials
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DSC with Two Officials

• One is the referee, one is an assistant referee.
• A club linesman is used on the other touch line.
• This is the only acceptable configuration.

The dual system (two referees on the field) is
not authorized for use in AYSO matches!
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DSC with Two OfficialsReferee Position
CL
Touch line
Direction of play
Fouls and injuries
R
Goal line
Referee will need to lead play to watch for
offside
AR1
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DSC with Two OfficialsIdealized Referee Coverage
CL
R
AR1
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DSC with Two OfficialsRealistic Referee Coverage
CL
R
AR1
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DSC with One Official
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DSC with One Official

• Recruit two club linesman
• Never do a game solo without linesmen!
• Physically and mentally taxing
• Cant watch everything
• Must focus on priorities goals, offside, fouls
• Linesmen worry about ball in touch

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DSC with One OfficialRealistic Referee Coverage
CL
R
CL
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DSC with One OfficialImplications

• Coverage is shallower and narrower.
• Judging ball on goal line is impossible.
• Obvious offside (younger players) is easy.
• Judging close offside requires being ahead of the
  ball at both ends, which is impossible.
• Dont call offside unless you are sure!
• For older players, tight control is essential.
• Limit use of advantage.

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DSC with Fewer Than ThreeRestarts
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What About Restarts?Where Should the Referee Be?
CL
B
Direction of play
D
R
E
C
A
AR1
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DSC Restarts with Club LinesmanReferee Position
CL
Direction of play
A Corner Kick Referee side
R
A
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DSC Restarts with Club LinesmanReferee Position
CL
B
Direction of play
B Corner KickClub Linesman side
R
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DSC Restarts with Club LinesmanReferee Position
CL
Direction of play
C DFK Referee Side
C
R
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DSC Restarts with Club LinesmanReferee Position
CL
Direction of play
D DFKClub Linesman Side
D
R
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DSC Restarts with Club LinesmanReferee Position
Direction of play
E Penalty Kick
CL
E
R
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DSC with Fewer than ThreePeople Management
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DSC with Fewer Than ThreePeople Management

• Younger players games
• Focus on the adults (players arent a problem)
• Have a brief pre-game discussion with coaches
• Older players games
• Focus on players, not coaches/spectators
• Sign up the players for low offside
  expectations.
• Limit use of advantage.
• Failure to detect fouls can often quickly lead to
  loss of control, especially off-the-ball
  incidents.

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Fouls Off-the-Ball

• Identify problem players as early as possible.
• Lag play to be nearer to problem players.
• Take a wider position to see more.
• Ask AR (not club linesman) to watch players.
• Speak to players early prevent escalation.
• Consider cautioning earlier than usual.

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DSC with Two OfficialsAR Helps with Problem
Players
CL
When play is here
R
AR1 watches players behind referees back
AR1
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Summary

• Refereeing with fewer than three officials is
  always a compromise.
• Use principles of the DSC to adjust your position
  to compensate.
• Prioritize your duties and position yourself to
  maximize your ability to judge goals, offside,
  and fouls.

The dual system is not authorized for use in AYSO!