Manual of Guidance
Football Association of Ireland Referees
Season 2007/8


Dear Colleague

Thank you for registering as a Referee for Season 2007/8, thereby making a significant contribution to the development of the game, providing a service to your local league, and gaining enjoyment from your participation in football.

We hope you find the enclosed of some interest and benefit to your refereeing career. It is one of a number of new initiatives that we hope to introduce in the coming season.

The FAI Referee Development Plan was launched in January 2007 by former FIFA Referee Anders Frisk and David Elleray, representing UEFA. The Plan has been compiled following a period of extensive study and stakeholder consultation.

Referee Education and Development programmes now come under the remit of the FAI Technical Department and the direction of the FAI Technical Director, Packie Bonner. Already significant progress has been made in the implementation of the Plan, notably:

The redesign of the FAI Referee Beginners Course
Training of Referee Instructors by the National Coaching and Training Centre facilitated by Liam Moggan
The establishment of the Fourth Referee School of Excellence and a training programme for Eircom League Observers facilitated by FAI Chief Referee Observer, William A Attley
The Association’s application for membership of the UEFA Referee Convention.

There has been a great deal of excellent work done over a long number of years. The Association wants to put on the record our appreciation for all the work done by all of our Referees, Observers, Instructors and Appointments Officers through the years. They continue to give both the Association and the Game magnificent service, and this Plan is dedicated to continuing their work

We would welcome any views, suggestions or comments to the email address below. May we take this opportunity to wish you all a happy, healthy and successful season.

Yours sincerely
James Finnegan
National Coordinator for Referee Development E mail: referees@fai.ie
Football Association of Ireland

 

Key Points and Hints from the Laws of the Game

In order for a Referee to enforce the Laws, it is imperative that they have a knowledge and understanding of a) the letter of the Law and b) the spirit of the Law. It is hoped that the following may be of assistance

Law 1 Field of Play
Pre game inspection is vital, with the safety of players being the paramount concern

Law 2 The Ball
Be in charge of the match ball from your initial inspection until the end of the game

Law 3 Number of Players
Check the number of players on the field of play at the start of each half of the game. Be proactive and ask if there are any half time substitutes.

Law 4 Players Equipment
Check for shin guards and jewelry. Remember Players safety is paramount.

Law 5 The Referee
Teams at all levels prepare for a match. You must be as professional in attitude and preparation.

Law 6 The Assistant Referee
Working as a team will make the game easier to control and more enjoyable for everyone.

Law 7 Duration of the Game
Do not ignore time to be added on for injuries and substitutions. Know the competition rules regarding duration, extra time, replays etc before the start of the game

Law 8 Start of Play
Start as you mean to go on. Aim for consistency throughout the match.

Law 9 Ball in and out of play.
Keep the game moving – it discourages dissent

Law 10 Method of Scoring
The Referee has the ultimate responsibility for all goal line decisions.

Law 11 Offside
Wait and See – a slightly delayed correct offside decision is better than a dubious goal.

Law 12 Fouls and Misconduct
Know this Law. Problems are caused by a lack of authority and/or bad positioning.

Law 13 Free Kicks
Decide – Whistle – Signal

Law 14 Penalty Kick
Courage is needed to give or deny a penalty

Law 15 Throw in
Take the responsibility with a decisive decision.

Law 16 Goal Kicks
Never turn your back after awarding a goal kick. Walk or run backwards into position up the field of play.

Law 17 Corner Kicks
Be aware. These bring either goal attempts or quick counterattacks

…..and the Unofficial Extras!

Law 18 Common Sense
This is not an excuse to ignore the Laws just to be popular.

Law 19 Be yourself
Do not referee to please others. Stay calm and collected, and be decisive in your decisions.


Self Check List for Referees
A Referee is usually his or her own most severe critic and this should be the case. After every game a Referee should analyse his match performance and endeavor to take corrective action wherever an improvement is possible.
In order to assist a referee in honest and constructive self-analysis, it is suggested that they ask themselves the following questions in relation to their recent performance:
DID I:
1. Enforce the Laws?
2. Apply the Laws correctly?
3. Deal with misconduct correctly and sensibly?
4. Interpret 'dangerous play' correctly?
5. Recognise the difference between unintentional and intentional occurrences?
6. Properly deal with incidents of dissent from my decisions?
7. Talk to players other than in the course of my duties?
8. Place my hands on a player's person for any reason?
9. Wag my finger at players or in any manner suggest that I was belittling them?
10. When necessary, approach players rather than demand that they approach me?
11. Act too casually, suggesting that I was not sufficiently interested in the game?
12. Concentrate on the game and my responsibilities at all times?
13. Properly establish and maintain general control of the game?
14. Maintain maximum activity throughout the game?
15. Move around the field of play too slowly?
16. Slow up when play reached the Penalty Area?
17. Anticipate play and quickly move to be near to possible incidents?
18. Aim to keep a position where the play was between my location and that of the appropriate Assistant Linesman / Club Linesman?
19. Always face the area of re-starts after indicating free-kicks etc. - running backwards when necessary?
20. Move sufficiently from end to end of the field of play?
21. Restrict my movements to a line up and down the centre of the field of play?
22. Make full use of the Diagonal System of match control?
23. Stick too rigidly to a narrow diagonal line and become too distant from the play?
24. Apply the 'advantage clause' sensibly arid correctly?
25. Properly indicate 'advantage' applications and also rebuke the offender?
26. Allow players to waste time?
27. Get the game re-started quickly after each stoppage?
28. Take too long to get into position before signaling for re-starts?
29. Allow or condone the entry of trainers without my signaled permission?
30. Turn my back to the ball and not keep all possibilities in view?
31. Make the whistle 'talk' for me with proper variation and emphasis?
32. Consider my whistle to be effective?
33. Give the proper standard arm signals on all occasions?
34. Develop and maintain genuine teamwork with my linesmen?
35. Issue proper instructions to my Assistants/ Club Linesmen and make certain that I was understood?
36. Allow the Assistant Referees to try to control the game for me?
37. Look to the Assistant Referees for confirmation of decisions which were clearly my responsibility?
38. Where necessary, consult with Assistant Referees quickly, privately and briefly?
39. Change my diagonal direction at half-time to promote the best use of my Assistant Referees/Club Linesmen?
40. Look smart and confident when I entered and departed from the field of play?
41. Approach the game calmly and fully prepared, or was I distracted in any way?
42. Become over confident, 'gimmicky' or unnecessarily the 'centre of attention?
43. Keep clear of the immediate location of play?
44. Allow players to surround me to appeal against or to question my decision?
45. Control myself, using an effective whistle and calm voice to control the players?
46. Thank my Assistant Referees / Club Linesmen after the game and discuss relevant factors afterwards with the Assistants?
47. Caution or send off any players and record the necessary detail?

SUMMARY OF REPORT WRITING PROCEDURE 

1. Quote the FULL name of the player, their shirt number and club, the opposition, the competition and the venue and date of the fixture.

2. State clearly the OFFENCE for which the player was cautioned or sent off under the provisions of Law 12, as detailed in the “Laws of Association Football”.

3. Report the INCIDENT accurately, briefly and clearly. Do not confuse the OFFENCE and the INCIDENT.

4. The following points may be of relevance and help build up a general picture:-

the time at which the incident took place

the position on or off the field of play at which the incident took place

your position and distance from the incident.

whether the victim of the foul required treatment and whether he was able to continue playing, or had to be substituted later.

5. Present your report in the most legible manner. If your handwriting is difficult for
others to read then please print it or type it up if at all possible.

6. Do, please, check your spelling! Almost every important word that you will need to
use is in the “Laws of the Game”. Remember, a copy of your report is sent to the
player and club concerned.

7. Save a copy of the report for your own future reference.

8. Don’t forget to sign the report, date it and send it in, within two days of the match taking place (excluding Sundays and Bank Holidays).


A well written report will mean:

a) There is less likelihood of injustice occurring

b) You have completed your duty to the governing body

c) Your standards and those of your colleagues have been enhanced


Dispute Resolution Procedure

Stage 1

Where the local branch of the Society or a League has any problems which relates to the operation at League level, the League or the Society will facilitate a meeting with the Branch or League with a view to resolving the problem within two weeks of written notification of the problem

Stage 2

If the matter has not been resolved there, then a meeting will be arranged between the Society and the League and the Divisional Referees Committee within a period of two weeks.

Stage 3

Should the matter still remain unresolved there, the matter will be referred to an independent Referee Commission made up of three members from a Panel of six persons, one of which will be either the independent Chairman or, in their absence, a panel member nominated by the C.E.O. of the Football Association of Ireland to act as Chairman. This Commission will meet every two weeks.

The Terms of Reference of this Commission will be to receive complaints from Referees and/or the ISRS and or Leagues and to carry out an investigation to establish the facts concerning such complaints. This Commission will then make a binding recommendation on the parties to the dispute.


It is envisaged that the time frame from when a dispute was first initiated to the FAI and a final decision, the whole process should be completed in a maximum of six weeks, that all parties to this agreement be committed to this timetable and that no action by either side be initiated which would have the effect of interfering with any game played under the jurisdiction of the Association.
 

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