ref2coach

Wow, 13 years and never called or seen a dive called? I speak to a player in almost every game I work, about "simulation". I make it obvious to all that I am giving a "public admonishment" to the first person I see "simulate" or "embellish" to receive a foul. Most games that is all it takes to eliminate it. About 1 out of every 5 or 6 games it requires a caution when the players do not "learn" from the "public admonishment". Having just finished the TSSAA Girls season I must admit I see less attempted simulation than I see in the boys season, or in the USSF affiliated club games I work. In college games is is about equal Men/Women both have about the same frequency of simulation / embellishment.

GOLDEN, Colo. (AP) -- In 36 hours, Esfandiar "Esse" Baharmast went from worldwide vilification to complete vindication, a ride that still leaves him breathless. Baharmast, the only U.S. referee at the World Cup, was criticized when he awarded a penalty kick to Norway in the 89th minute of a deadlocked game against Brazil on June 23. Kjetil Rekdal scored and Norway won 2-1, advancing to the second round and knocking out Morocco. Television replays initially failed to show the foul, and the media response was brutal. Only when Norwegian television turned up a different angle the next day was Baharmast absolved. Above is one of the most famous examples of "everybody" but the referee not seeing what really happened. Again the referee was at most 3 yards from the players, opposite the stands and in position to see between the players where the foul was committed. The real point is that so many people in such poor positions to make the proper judgment are unwilling to accept that the trained professional made the proper evaluation and took the proper action.

Both of your stipulations are wrong Your eyes were 65 to 75 yards from the foul, your eyes were on the wrong side of the player's bodies to see the elbow strike. The referee in question is currently in Chattanooga at the invite of TSSAA because the state assessor and supervisor knows he is a top notch official. In USSF he is a grade 5 (less than 1% of USSF referees attain that grade). He is also a well respected College Referee. To withhold making the correct, if unpopular, call simply because it is the "playoffs" or against the "best player on the field" would be a lack of integrity. The player deliberately struck her opponent, short strike between her body and the opponent unfortunately for her she must not have been aware of where the referee was and that he had a clear view. Echoing you "Players should not commit those kinds of fouls, especially during the playoffs!!!"

Not Quite right. NFHS rules are make by a committee that is made up of School Administrators and Coaches. There is a referee representative on the committee but s/he does not have a vote. So any and all blame for NFHS soccer rules should be placed at the feet of the Administrators and Coaches who do have votes. /rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":rolleyes:" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" />

Darren were you at the Beech game? The referee was at most 3 yards from the foul. It was on the opposite side of the field from the stands. The Referee was on the opposite side of the 2 players in question again opposite the stands. MG deliberately struck the Beech player with an elbow making solid contact. Striking an opponent while the ball is in play is Serious Foul Play or possibly Violent Conduct both are to be sanctioned by a Red Card. The referee showed the courage to do what was right. You are the one who should be ashamed for continuing to slander a very good, properly positioned, official who did his job to protect the safety of the players and protect the integrity of the game.

When a player commits a foul neither s/he nor any team members have any "rights" regarding the restart. The "fouled" team has the right to 10 yards of unobstructed space 360' around the ball. When a player from the fouling team fails to promptly retreat from the ball or actually approaches the ball they are "delaying the restart of play" which is is misconduct and subject to being cautioned. Since the referee cautioned the very first player who encroached my guess is that for the rest of the game both teams were able to more quickly restart play after fouls.

Thanks for the pictures CoachT. Me, My Wife and My Father in Law all made it into the spectator shot.

Their coach made the statement to one of the referees after the game that "this game was the best we played all year."

Brentwood will score early and often. In the Hendersonville game the first three goals were scored with the "regular rotation" on the field. Goals 4 to 7 were by the remainder of the team. Brentwood watch you ankles AFTER you pass, there was a lot of after the ball fouling by Clarksville. At about the 68th min. after the left fullback had been beaten and the ball was passed, he used both arms to strike the chest and followed through into the neck of the player who had beaten him. As the ball was already away neither the Referee or AR2 saw the violent conduct.

14.12 Does not apply to "Kicks From the Penally Mark". KFtPM is the procedure used to settle tied games that must have a winner. In KFtPM the ball may not be played a 2nd time by the Kicker or any team mate of the Kicker. A kick in KFtPM is over when the goal is scored or the ball leaves the field of play or when it's momentum is expended or when the referee declares the ball dead. KFtPM works as described in 14.10 above.

TSSAA requires that referees pay an annual registration to the State each year and attend the TSSAA rules meeting. Referees are additionally required to belong to a State approved local association. The referees are required to attend at least 3 "local" meetings each year. The meeting are to include at least 30 Min. of instruction at each meeting. In our association we offer 9 meeting each year. We have ~90 members. Of those ~30 attend 8 or 9 of the meetings each year, ~30 attend 3 to 6 meeting and ~30 attend "only" the 3 required meeting. So, all referees use the NFHS rule book but their training is dependent upon the number of meeting they choose to attend and the quality of the local association's instruction. This does result in some variation from different areas of the State, hopefully the differences are minor not radically changing the way the game is contested. TSSAA instructs "All referees SHALL come together at the conclusion on the game, they SHALL "Immediately" exit the playing area." How fast referees leave the playing area has nothing to do with how good or bad the referee feels they called the game, it is, are they following the instruction of TSSAA.

Rule 12-4-1 A player shall be penalized for charging and opponent in a dangerous or reckless manner, or using excessive force. An allowable fair charge is where players make shoulder-to-shoulder contact in an upright position, within playing distance of the ball, have at least one foot on the ground and their arms held close to their body. As a referee I am sick of players going in twice as fast using 2 or 3 times the force required to win the ball. Then after making the call hearing the player whine and dissent claiming "but I got the ball first". Yes you got the ball first but then you lifted the leg or raised the body to ensure that the opponent "has" to trip over you, or after you "got the ball" you displaced the opponent by 3 to 10 feet by your excessive force. Play fast, Play physical use the force "necessary" to win the ball without "punishing" the opponent, keep your arms, legs and torso down after the tackle, then even if the opponent ends up in a "face plant" you won't hear my whistle.

You are not wrong. NFHS sells the rule book. TSSAA sends rule books to referees and coaches before each season as long as they have paid their fees to TSSAA.

NFHS is different than USSF/FIFA Clock runs for subs. When time runs out the period is over. IF the clock has been stopped for a goal, caution, ejection, blood rule, injury evaluation, and subs have already reported to the official scorer they are allowed to enter while the clock is stopped. Other than that the clock runs during the substitution. Most schools will not provide a clock operator during regular season, so the only time you see NFHS clock rules followed is at the State Tournament where TSSAA uses clock operators who are assisted by the official scorer who is a non-uniformed NFHS certified referee.

A lot of TN players exhibit no self-control. A lot of their parents exhibit no self-control. A few TN coaches exhibit no self-control. A lot of players, coaches and parents do not "know" NFHS rules. Most of the expressed frustration is about things that they have not ever looked up in the NFHS rulebook to understand the differences between NFHS and USSF/FIFA. Common misunderstanding; there is no such thing as "handball". There is deliberate handling of the ball. 95% of the time that the ball contacts the hand or arm of a player the player did NOT deliberately make the contact; therefore it is not a foul. Advantage does not play in the decision, no matter where the ball rebounds to if the player did not deliberately handle the ball the correct call is NO call. All referees working a “post season” match must have passed a “closed book” NFHS test. All referees working a Regional or above must be assessed, be recommended to the TSSAA staff and not have been “scratched” by either coach in the match. The above is a much higher standard than what is required to be a Player or Spectator.

1) TSSAA = NFHS Rules (National Federation of High Schools) 2) Club = USSF = FIFA Laws of the Game. 3) The rules are similar to the Laws but are NOT the same. NFHS = Stadium clock is "official time" IF competent clock operator is available. If not, by State (TSSAA) adaptation official time shall be kept on the field. NFHS time is not "Added" the Referee is to "stop" time with the approved signal for Goals, Injuries, Cautions, Ejections and time wasting on sub's once the coach has been warned. Most school will not provide a competent clock operator. Most schools will not see "time" kept by strict NFHS rules until they reach the State Championships at which TSSAA uses a referee "in the booth" to run the clock.