Special Points of interest

• New Editor-in-Chief
• US Youth Soccer Midwest President Cup Regionals & Nationals
• US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Championships
• Request for Mentor
• Who’s Who: Brandon Barlog

Welcome to the August issue of the MRC newsletter.

As always, our August newsletter is full of exciting stories and information. We have Brandon Barlog as the feature official in “Who’s Who.” We also have a great article from Ken Wikle on “Breakaways”.

Beyond this newsletter, please be sure to follow our Twitter (@MichiganReferee), check out our blog, and subscribe to our YouTube Channel.

Inside this issue

• New Editor-in-Chief
• US Youth Soccer Midwest President Cup Regionals & Nationals
• US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Championships
• Request a Mentor
• Who’s Who: Brandon Barlog
• Breakaways

A common tactic for some teams who are playing an opponent that is accomplished at controlling the ball with short passes while on attack is to try and tackle the ball away and immediately start a counter attack making a long pass up field to a team mate. This team mate will run unto the ball and either dribble towards the goal himself or make a successive pass to another team mate doing the same. Occasionally skilled goalkeepers will save a shot and start the counter attack punting the ball from inside the penalty area.

In either of these situations the referee, in a matter a second or two, will find himself 40 yards or more behind the play and likely near the center of the field looking through players without a good angle on the play.

For the officiating crew this can an especially challenging situation. The referee, positioned for a short passing attack on one end of the field, is in a very poor position trying to judge whether a challenge during this counterattack is fair or foul. If a foul is committed by the defense the referee needs to call the foul and additionally decide whether to caution for SPA or send off for DOGSO.

When an attacking team is advancing the ball with one or two quick long passes towards the net, it will be physically impossible for any referee to regain a position with the proximity and angle to judge whether a foul has been committed or not. There may be players blocking the referee’s vision with so much distance involved. He may be looking “Dead on” at both players where he cannot see whether there has been an illegal challenge by the defender or not.

There are many possibilities if the attacker with the ball ends up on the ground or loses possession of the ball. The attacker may have been held, tripped or charged by the defender. In youth games on uneven grass fields the attacker with the ball may simply stumble on his own without being fouled. The defender may have made a fair tackle or fail charge to dispossess the attacker.

What are the best defenses by the referee and the two ARs to avoid misjudging a critical incident on a breakaway?

1. In a case where the referee has lost proximity and a good angle the referee needs to try and get as wide as possible within as few steps as possible. Hopefully by achieving a better angle on the play quickly he can at least see from a distance well enough to judge the challenge.
2. Empower the lead AR to assist on a call in this scenario. The lead AR, on a breakaway, will already have a wide angle on this challenge and can assist. This empowerment of the AR to assist in an area of the field where he normally would not assist should be specifically covered in the referee’s pregame with the AR’s. The AR must have the courage to assist and make a call for the referee.

Missing a foul by the defense on a breakaway is a breakdown the officiating cannot afford, especially if misconduct is not punished. Alternately, calling a foul where there is none would be terribly unfair to the defending team. It is critical that the referee and the two ARs are mentally prepared for their roles should this occur and have the courage to act accordingly.

Please reach out to us!

If you have any referee-related stories to share or someone you think should be featured in this newsletter, please reach out to the Editor-In-Chief, Brad Barlog at bcbarlog@yahoo.com.