1. Observed Points of Concern PersistentInfringement

2. Persistent Infringement What is Persistent Infringement? Fouls that are continually committed by the same player …. 3 or 4 maximum, not 7 or 8. Fouls that are continually committed against the same player …. usually not committed by the same player, but by several different opponents Slide 2

3. Persistent Infringement What is Persistent Infringement? Includes: fouls for which play is stopped, fouls where the advantage is given trifling fouls for which the referee chooses not to stop play. Slide 3

4. Persistent Infringement Fouls that are continually committed by the same player …. Committed by a player with lesser skills than an opponent Committed by a player against an opponent who is quicker Committed by players who just do not like their opponents Committed by a player who doesn’t understand that he’s committing a foul Slide 4

5. Persistent Infringement Fouls that are continually committed against the same player by different opponents …. Typically committed against an opponent’s star player Intended to disrupt an opposing player’s rhythm Intended to upset and irritate an opposing player Often used as a tactical defensive weapon Slide 5

6. Persistent Infringement Newer and lesser experienced referees will not recognize when persistent infringement occurs because: Focus is totally on individual events Getting individual foul decisions right demands full and complete attention Rarely recognizes who commits the foul Slide 6

7. Persistent Infringement Seeing Patterns of Foul Behavior Less experienced officials should not try and force the issue of trying to recognize patterns. As an official’s comfort level increases, then the ability to see patterns will gradually evolve …. it is not an “overnight” awakening. Slide 7

8. Persistent Infringement Comfort Level – Second Nature Once the ability to handle individual fouls correctly becomes easier, a referee will begin to perceive the other things that are going on. It is a natural progression and takes a year or two of extensive experience before being able to develop the ability to recognize any patterns of behavior. Slide 8

9. Persistent Infringement In a U17 upper level boys match a defender D6 has been marking the center striker A7 from the beginning of the game. D6 has constantly ( 7 different times) committed little ticky-tacky, but annoying, fouls that the referee considers to be trifling and does not whistle or acknowledge any of them. In the 35 th minute of the game D6 grabs A7’s shirt just enough to knock him off the ball. The referee blows his whistle to stop play and awards a DFK to A7 for the holding foul committed by D6. Even though this is the first foul called by the referee against D6 in the game, the referee should still issue a caution to D6 for persistent infringement. A. TRUE B. FALSE