1. Foul Recognition U.S. Soccer Federation Referee Program
Online Training Script:
Welcome to U.S. Soccer’s online training for the Grade 7 Referee Course.
Training for this course is specific to preparing officials for the amateur adult game.
This presentation focuses on foul recognition.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:
U.S. Soccer Federation Referee Program
Grade 7 Referee Course
Amateur Adult Training

2. Environment Players Experienced Physical Foul recognition Game control
Player expectations and respect
Player management
Online Training Script:
Players at the amateur adult level are more experienced and more physical than players at less competitive levels so referees must understand the importance that foul recognition plays when officiating these types of matches.
This ability will not only allow the referee to exert better game control, but may also help in earning the respect of the players, thereby reducing player management issues.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

3. Fouls Requirements Committed by a player On the field of play
While the ball is in play
Against an opponent
Online Training Script:
Remember that a foul is an unsafe or unfair action committed by a player, on the field of play, while the ball is in play.
If these requirements are not met, the action committed cannot be a foul, but it may be misconduct.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

4. Factors Positioning Don’t chase the ball Be aware of passing lanes
Read the game
Game flow
Team tactics
Area of focus
Body areas making contact
Online Training Script:
Knowing what a foul is is only part of the referee’s responsibility.
In order to recognize a foul, the referee must be in a position to see them occur.
The referee must read the game and know playing formations in order to anticipate play.
He or she must decide between being close to play versus having a wider angle depending on what provides the better point of view.
Referees should also be mindful about the areas of the body players are making contact with.
For example, upper body contact made with arms and shoulders, and lower body contact made with the feet and legs.
Referees should also be aware of how different types of contact can adversely effect the game.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

5. Factors Challenging for the ball Slide tackles Gain or deny position
Aerial challenges
Set pieces
Tactical
Breaking up promising attack
Denying advantage
Online Training Script:
When determining if an action is a foul, the referee’s decision should be based on what he or she sees the player do.
Fouls committed while challenging for the ball are among the most straight forward to recognize and take action on.
Many fouls of this type are slide tackles so referees should look for exposed studs and where contact on the leg is made.
Fouls are also committed while fighting for positioning and referees need to be aware of arms and elbows in aerial challenges.
Tactical fouls are used to break up promising attacks or to prevent the opponent from getting ball into an advantageous position.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

6. Factors Frustration Embarrassed Retaliation Vigilante justice
Intimidation
Physical and mental
Attempt to injure
Tactical/Denying a goal scoring opportunity
Online Training Script:
Some fouls are committed because of frustration.
This might be a reaction to something that embarrassed or humiliated a player, or it can be in reaction to losing the game or playing poorly.
Referees should note that these types of fouls can often be dangerous and have the potential to serve as a trigger point for mass confrontation.
Fouls committed can also be a result of retaliation as players sometimes take their own justice if they believe the referee did not protect them or their teammates.
Again, these types of fouls often result in misconduct and referees must be mindful of players trying to exert their sense of justice on the game.
Intimidation fouls can be used to send messages like “this is my turf” or “this is what happens when you get the ball.”
These fouls can include actions that are meant to intimidate both mentality and physically, and can also include instances where players are looking to injure an opponent so he or she cannot continue playing in the game.
As with all levels of play, fouls can also be committed to deny the opposing team the opportunity to score a goal.
It is important for referees working the amateur adult game to understand these factors in order to help identify and even anticipate fouls.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

7. Evaluation Speed and distance Nature of the contact
Challenging for the ball
Temperature of the game
Online Training Script:
Referees must constantly be diligent in their efforts to promote players safety while determining if a challenge is fair or unfair.
Here are some additional factors referees working the amateur adult game can use when evaluating challenges to determine if a foul should be awarded.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

8. Speed Effects of increased Speed More forceful challenge
Less control over body and actions
Reckless
Excessive force
Online Training Script:
Referees should begin by evaluating the speed of the offending player and the distance covered.
It is often the case that speed can be increased when further distances are traveled and this can result in a more forceful challenge.
Increased speed often negatively impacts control.
This means that players traveling at high speeds are more likely to have less control of their physical actions.
Less control can result in challenges being committed recklessly or with excessive force.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

9. Contact Nature of the contact Location
What was the nature of the challenge?
Careless
Reckless
Excessive force
Online Training Script:
After the referee considers the speed and distance involved in the challenge, he or she can now consider the nature of the contact made.
The referee should consider the level of force used in the challenge and the location of the contact.
For example, did the player lunge with both feet at the opponents ankle or did the player carelessly trip the opponent without leaving his or her feet.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

10. Ball Challenging for the ball Timing
Was the ball within playing distance?
Direction of the tackle
Front
Side
Behind
Online Training Script:
The referee should also consider if the player was challenging for the ball.
The timing of the tackle, being late or early, can be helpful as well as the proximity of the ball to the location of the challenge.
Additionally, the referee should consider the direction of the tackle since tackles from the side and behind are more likely to result in contact with the opponent before contact with the ball is made.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

11. Temperature Temperature of the match Game flow Game control
What has been allowed up to this point?
Has this player committed multiple offenses during the game?
Does the game need a stoppage or misconduct to maintain control?
Online Training Script:
Referees must also consider the temperature of the match.
In particular, referees need to consider game flow and game control in this determination.
The referee must also think about the actions or repeated actions of the player in question and decide if the overall tone of the game is moving in a negative direction.
If so, the referee may need to exert game control by stopping play for the foul and managing players through verbal warning or the use of cards.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

12. Recognition Be particularly aware of fouls Run of play
Set pieces and restarts
Near penalty area
Online Training Script:
While fouls can be committed at anytime during the game and anywhere on the field of the play, officials working the amateur adult game should consider the following factors when fouls may become more prevalent.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

13. Run of Play Trifling Long balls Tactical Counterattacks Breakaways
Online Training Script:
When dealing with fouls from the run of play, referees should be mindful of the foul’s impact upon the game.
Trifling fouls are those that are more simple in nature and don’t have a significant impact on the game.
Play is not stopped for these types of fouls and the referee should either take no action or have a quick word with player in passing.
Although less impactful on the game, a series of trifling fouls can still account for a player being cautioned for persistent infringement.
Long balls can result in contact above the shoulder by way of aerial challenges so referees must be looking for incidents of pushing and jumping at an opponent during these types of situations.
And because of the experience level of the players at the amateur adult level, referees must be prepared to recognize and take action when tactical fouls occur.
These fouls are often seen as a result of promising counterattacks or breakaways.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

14. Set Pieces Referee’s management skills tested Common offenses Holding
Pushing
Encroachment
Goalkeeper contact
Deal with problems before the kick
Information from assistant referees
Online Training Script:
Set pieces in the amateur adult game can be among the most challenging situations that referees will have to manage during the match.
Players may be willing to test the referee’s ability to manage the situation and may also be compelled to commit multiple offenses in order to gain a competitive advantage.
To deal with this, referees must use angles and positioning to view any areas of concern.
Referees should be mindful that these situations can lead to game critical decisions so they must be diligent and proactive in managing the situation as needed.
To this end, referees should look to deal with issues prior to the restart taking place and look for assistance from their referee team when needed.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

15. Near Penalty Area Desperate tackles vs. Well executed challenges
Contact with the ball and player
Simulation
Online Training Script:
Given the experience level of amateur adult players, referees may encounter a increase in fouls outside the penalty area rather than having promising attacks develop closer to goal.
Since these types of decisions can be game critical, referees must work to be in a good position to recognize and evaluate challenges in this area of the field.
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16. Review Question
When evaluating fouls, what factors should the referee consider?
Temperature of the match
Speed and distance of the player
Nature of the contact made
All of the above
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Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

17. Review Question
Are trifling fouls those that are simple in nature and don’t have a significant impact on the game?
Yes No
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18. Review Question What are the requirements for a foul?
The action is committed by a player
The action if committed on the field of play
The action is committed while the ball is in play
All of the above
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Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

19. Review Question
What are fouls that break up promising attackers referred to as?
Trifling
Tactical
Ticktack
All of the above
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20. Review Question
Is proper positioning important for accurate foul recognition?
Yes No
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21. Review Question
What are some of the reasons why amateur adult players commit fouls?
Frustration
Intimidation
Retaliation
All of the above
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