1. Referee Positioning (Seeking Success II)
08/19/14
Referee Positioning (Seeking Success II)
AYSO National Referee Program - #532
Instructor Notes
Majority of text and diagrams courtesy of USSF.
The discussions and slides in this presentation assume that the referee is using the LEFT diagonal.

2. What will we look at today?
08/19/14
What will we look at today?
Goals of referee positioning
Traditional positioning and its limitations
New principles
Practical mechanics
Exercise
Conclusion
Objectives of the workshop
After completing this session, attendees should be able to:
Describe the rectangle guideline, “channels of running”, and the role of angle and proximity in referee positioning;
Compare and contrast these newer ideas with more traditional principles of referee positioning,
Discuss referee positioning on the field in response to play taking place at various locations inside and outside of the “rectangle”; and
Consider how (if at all) these newer perspectives should affect their own refereeing practice.

3. Goals of referee positioning
08/19/14
Goals of referee positioning
See incidents better
Make better decisions
Positively influence players and others
Sell the call more effectively
Be ready for the next phase of play
ASK: What are the goals of referee positioning? Manage the responses.
ASK: What challenges do you have regarding referee positioning? Are there any changes in current instruction/methods that you’d like to see? Manage the responses.
Background only:
“Angle” will be presented later. Don’t give it away here.
“See” means:
Referee has a good angle to see daylight between opposing players challenging for the ball
Referee is close enough to see clearly to make the right decision, influence players, and to sell the call (“presence leads to conviction”)

4. Traditional positioning
08/19/14
Traditional positioning
Run on the diagonal
Keep play/ball between referee and AR
Run to the left of play
Run “wide and deep”
What are the principles of traditional positioning?
ASK the attendees to identify traditional principles of referee positioning. List the responses. Look especially for some variant of “keep play between referee and AR” and “go wide and deep.”
What are the strengths of traditional positioning?
ASK what are the strengths of traditional positioning. List the responses. Look for some variant of “several eyes on the play,” “be able to see the incidents,” “be close enough to play to see the play,” “be able to see your AR,” and “be close enough to play to provide conviction.”

5. Problems with traditional positioning
08/19/14
Problems with traditional positioning
If play at right touchline:
Too far from play
If play near left touchline and running wide & deep:
Too far from next phase of play
Extra running to catch up with counter attack
ASK what problems can arise from traditional positioning? List the responses. Look for some variant of “too far from play on the AR’s touchline,”, “difficult to keep AR in view when play is close to the left touchline (in the standard diagonal),” and “when wide and deep, can be out of position for the next phase of play or if direction of play reverses.”

6. New principles Angle first, then proximity
08/19/14
New principles
Angle first, then proximity
The rectangle guideline & the new diagonal
Channels of running
INTRODUCE the new principles that will be discussed: angle and proximity, the rectangle guideline and the new diagonal, and “channels of running.”

7. Angle and proximity What is a good angle?
08/19/14
Angle and proximity
What is a good angle?
See daylight between the players making the challenge
What is more important, angle or proximity?
Good angle first!
Instructor: show body of slide as a summary AFTER discussing info below.
At the beginning of this presentation, we said one goal of positioning is to “See better.” Exactly what does that mean? What do we need to see?
Instructor: use audience to illustrate worse-case angle: one person is attacker; another is defender; a third person is the referee. All stand in a straight line, the referee at one end of the line in close proximity to the others. D – A Ref
What interactions between attacker and defender can the referee see?
Instructor: Point out that the referee is very close, yet cannot see interactions between the attacker and defender. Then ask the referee, “Where would you move to get a better angle and see better?” Instructor: Point out that moving to the left might be the typical direction, but moving to the right might work better, if that would provide the best angle the quickest.
Angle and proximity
ASK: What is a good angle? Manage the responses. Look for some variant of “seeing between players to better identify incidents.” Suggest being about 45 degrees back, typically to the left of play.
ASK: How far from play do you like to be? Manage the responses. Suggest 20 yards. Will vary depending on the age group and specific circumstances in the game. When would being closer be important? Is it possible to be too close?
ASK: What is more important, angle or proximity? Discuss why angle is more important. Discuss ways referees can get the angle first (e.g. bursts of lateral running), then move in to get better proximity.

8. The rectangle guideline & the new diagonal
08/19/14
The rectangle guideline & the new diagonal
SHOW a diagram of the rectangle guideline and superimposed diagonal.
Dashed lines mean there are no hard boundaries. The lines are guides, not limitations.
See the yellow rectangle. This is your default running area. In general, staying in the rectangle will get you into good position to meet our “goals of positioning” (earlier slide): See better, make better decisions, influence players, sell calls, and be ready for next phase of play. In some next slides, we’ll talk about more specific positioning within the rectangle and when you might need to go outside the rectangle.
See the blue rectangle. This is roughly your new diagonal. You should aim for the default end points, the red rectangles, the top of the penalty area (“18 yard line”), between the corner of the PA and the left side of the penalty arc, at each end of the field. Can “pulse” towards and away from the right touchline as needed. Can move into the PA if play demands your close proximity, like imminent attack or possible interaction/collision between keeper and attacker.

9. 08/19/14
Why the rectangle?
Stay within 20 yards of play through “channels of running”
Stay out of extreme positions during normal play – be in position for the next pass, cross, or decision
More 
ASK: what the rectangle allows. Manage the responses. Look for some variants of staying close to play and avoiding extreme positions that leave the referee out of position for the next play.
DISCUSS recommendations to:
Stay within 20 yards of play through “channels of running” (to be expanded on later);
Stay out of extreme positions;
See through active play and the next sequence of the action;
Be closer to critical decisions in the penalty area.

10. 08/19/14
Why the rectangle?
See through active play and the next sequence of the action
Be closer to critical decisions in the Penalty Area
Active AR involvement through clear AR areas-of-control

11. 08/19/14
AR’s area of control
Instructor: don’t spend much time here. Needed because “AR’s area of control” is referenced in subsequent slides.
POINT OUT AND DISCUSS: Expanded responsibility for AR’s in their own quadrants. SHOW the AR’s area of control. ASK: How is this different (if at all) from what we do now? Manage the responses.

12. Reasons for going out of rectangle
08/19/14
Reasons for going out of rectangle
Your presence is needed!
Greater risk if you do not
Potential for collision with goalkeeper
Attacker taking the ball into corner late in the match to waste time
Play gets physical and you need to be there
Hard challenge in front of benches
ASK: When should you go out of the rectangle? Manage the responses.
DISCUSS why your presence may be needed and why it may be riskier if you don’t leave the rectangle:
Potential for collision with the goalkeeper;
Attacker taking the ball to the corner late in the match to waste time;
Play gets physical;
Hard challenge in front of the benches.
EMPHASIZE that you WILL be leaving the rectangle if there is a reason for doing so!

13. Introducing: Channels of Running
08/19/14
Introducing: Channels of Running
Instructor: point out the channels on the diagram. Ignore the ref and players. Specifics will be explained in the following slides.

14. Channels of Running Generally run one channel to the left of play
Stay out of the way of players
Avoid the wide channels (at both touchlines) unless there’s a problem
Rely more on AR for play in his or her area of control

15. Practical mechanics (1)
08/19/14
Practical mechanics (1)
SHOW recommended channel positioning as the point of play moves from place to place around the outside of the rectangle (on this and next few slides).

16. Practical mechanics (2)

17. Practical mechanics (3)

18. Practical mechanics (4)

19. Practical mechanics (5)

20. Practical mechanics (6)
08/19/14
Practical mechanics (6)
DISCUSS regions of the field to avoid (the penalty arc--the “D”--and the center circle), because players very often need these spaces themselves.

21. How does this differ from what we do now?
08/19/14
How does this differ from what we do now?
Strong emphasis: angle first, then proximity
More emphasis: quick bursts of lateral running
Less emphasis: wide & deep
Less emphasis: always see the AR
Quick bursts of lateral running needed to get to the best angle.
What’s similar?
What’s different?
DISCUSS some points of modified emphasis in the new recommendations:
Strong emphasis: Angle first, then proximity
More emphasis: Quick bursts of lateral running to get a better angle
Less emphasis: Wide and deep
Less emphasis: Always see the AR
POINT OUT that “less emphasis” DOES NOT MEAN “no emphasis.”
How will this affect how you referee?
ASK: How will this affect the way you referee? Manage the responses. Expect responses all the way from “not at all” to “profoundly.”
EMPHASIZE that positioning recommendations are just that – recommendations – and need to fit in with each game’s needs—what is needed to effectively manage play, and the individual referee’s fitness, skills, and styles.

22. Exercise 08/19/14 2 cones to mark one end of the "rectangle".
Put the "Ball" (easiest to do/see if the ball is a person--one of the instructors--holding a ball) at the top of the penalty arc (for point of reference). Attack is going toward the goal on that end of the field.
Ask audience member to be the referee and position herself in relationship to the ball. Ideally that should be to the left, about 20 yards away, 45 degrees back.
Do iterations of the above, moving the ball in increments toward the RIGHT touchline (referee should stay to the left of ball and maintain distance and angle). As the ball gets closer to the touchline, the referee should "hang back" to give more responsibility to the AR there (or not, if the AR is inexperienced).
Then move the ball in increments toward the LEFT touchline. At first the referee should stay to the left of the ball, but as the ball moves closer to the left edge of the rectangle, the referee will have to decide to stay to the left or move to the right of the ball. Once the ball moves to the left outside the rectangle, the referee should stay to the right, inside the rectangle. Discuss when to leave the rectangle, including moving towards the touchline or moving towards the corner flag.

23. Summary – Angle & Proximity
08/19/14
Summary – Angle & Proximity
Create a good angle of vision to see light between the players
Try to be 20 yards or so from play
Work hard to “close down play” – move at the same pace as play
SUMMARIZE the main points on angle and proximity, use of the rectangle guideline, and channels of running as a guide to positioning.

24. Summary – The Rectangle
Stay in the rectangle – unless you need to move outside for specific incidents
Stay to the left of the ball whenever possible
Anticipate the next play – always be moving
Move quickly through the “transit zones” (center circle and penalty arcs)

25. Summary – Channels of Running
Generally run one channel to the left of play
Stay out of the way of players
Avoid the wide channels unless there’s a problem
Rely more on AR for play in his or her area of control

26. Wrap Up: Four conditions of correct positioning
08/19/14
Wrap Up: Four conditions of correct positioning
I can see play and the potential problem area.
I can see through two challenging players.
I am not occupying space the players need.
I am ready for next phase of play.
ASK: How can you apply what you have learned today to your own refereeing activities? Manage the responses.
REMIND the attendees that positioning recommendations are just that - recommendations. Each referee will have to discover for him or herself what works for them.
WRAP UP with the “four conditions of correct positioning.”
THANK the attendees for their participation.

27. Thank you for attending!
#532
Don’t forget to thank everyone for their contributions to AYSO and especially tor what they do for the kids. Without them the game would not be Safe, Fair, and Fun.
Encourage the referees to continue their badge advancement. Remind them we always need more Mentors, Instructors, and Assessors. And that their Regions and Are as have programs in place to assist and sup port them in all these endeavors.