So You Think You Can Ref? pt.3

Paul Tamberino (Senior Director, Competition for MLS) trains Jason Saghini to become a referee. In the final phase, Jason refsa Red Bull Academy game.
Referee Week continues at MLSsoccer.com.
www.mlssoccer.com/

[@DonaldDUHKID]

Putting a new ref in a competitive U16-U18 is a literal suicide mission.

[@fglend73]

DonaldDUHKID lol I agree. No brand new referee should ref this type of game for their first game. Especially an academy game.

[@perrindixon8482]

Well, not "literal".

[@Viktor9502]

Well I'm a brand new ref, never done a game before. Today I'll be reffing a tournament for U17 girls and boys lmao. I've played soccer for years theres really nothing to it. All you need to do is just call fouls and signal the directions. People really over exaggerate how hard it is to ref at higher level games. Well see though maybe I'm wrong.

[@paprika5487]

@@Viktor9502 I've noticed that it really depends on your personality. I think it's pretty easy to get caught up thinking that all you need to do is just call fouls and signal directions, but there really is a big piece you're missing: game management. It's already hard enough calling the game fairly and consistently throughout; obviously if the game is being called incorrectly with the addition of a team losing, the frustration levels are going to skyrocket, and once a game gets heated, it is VERY difficult to lower the temperature. Maybe your experience will be different, and I wish you the best; I've just noticed that doing higher level games is not quite as simple as lower level games. Anyway, hope your games went well!

[@IMPRM]

He has ARs making it 20x easier

[@reaganstrong4415]

This video is perfect because it shows how hard it is to reff. He should of reached for his pocket a few time but that comes with experience so well done to him on learning in a short period of time

[@julientagnon1760]

And that's why you don't put a first time referee on a u16 vs u18 boys competitive match.

[@david-qb5nt]

+Julien Tagnon ahaha for real what are they doing, especially puting him as a center

[@julientagnon1760]

+cali exactly.

[@kenconnelly773]

My first season, I was only center for U8 and U9 matches. I centered one U12 competitive, but the assignor was watching me.

[@detomasopantera1966]

However its happening...there are many areas with referee shortages so they assign whoever they can.

[@AB-fn7nl]

As a referee I’ve always found players will push the limits to see what the acceptable levels are and if you are a new to this you have to be clear in your communication to them right from the off. The white team player who delayed the restart could have received a caution but at this age, a firm verbal warning lets all players know you are in control. Signals to confirm advantage with verbal commands show the players you’ve seen the offence (white on blue) where the assessor said foul missed and gives you credibility and cuts down on all the crap that this age group can throw at you. The white 3 was an immediate caution for delaying the restart, his decision due to his disagreement with the foul call, as the ref you are in charge it’s your game to control and players will respect that if you’ve given them reason to respect you from the start.

[@WilliamGuynes]

All your points are true. And it was a performance that I would expect out of a brand new referee who has been thrust into such a competitive match. Of course this was by design.

[@Cris0rtiz]

Can Simon Borg be Next?

[@AdamsonGeomatics]

very much agree. This comes with experience, can't be taught from reading the Laws of the Game or going to ref courses...

[@HuffDaddyYT]

4:00 i feel like that should have been a drop ball. Blue still maintained posession after white grabbed him but he pulled white back aswell. foul on both sides.

[@smala017]

I disagree. The white player grabbed blue first, and then blue seemed to retaliate. Since white fouled first, it should be blue's free kick, but blue should get a yellow for the unsportsmanlike retaliation and possibly white should have additionally gotten a yellow for denying a promising attack, but it's tough to tell given the camera angle.

[@futuredoc2014]

+The G-Man You cannot call a simultaneous foul and remedy it with a dropped ball. That's how it works in basketball but not soccer. You must decide which foul either occurred first or was more serious and call a direct free kick for that one or play advantage if warranted. If you can't determine that, then don't call anything because no player was placed at a bigger disadvantage than the other.

[@smala017]

Pre-med ref: actually that is how it works in soccer. The laws of the game say that if two players from opposite teams foul simultaneously, the restart is a drop ball. However, in this case, I feel like one player fouled first.

[@brunothebear4267]

Play advantage, then give them both a yellow card after the play dies.

[@InstructorMufasa]

Also, grade 8s don't have to run the physical.

[@hfanti]

I appreciate this series, I'm going through the referee course in Australia and it's exactly as it's shown here. My test is next week, though. ;)

[@kikokkm]

no corner flags

[@SabEric39]

Good job for Jason.

[@USASkiWolf]

Here's what I see on the incident at 4:00. Both players engage in violent conduct. No sending off, but I'd have given yellows to the both of them. The white team player is the one who came into the tackle making no play for the ball, therefore committing the foul. So, kick goes to blue, cards to both for conduct.

[@barryc3609]

Hpw did he let that go @ 4:00, when both players are literally wrestling? Should have been a double foul and tellows for both.

[@vika0194]

what in the name of football would be a double foul?

[@eeeee4421]

They both can be carded but not 'double foul'.

[@eeeee4421]

Well actually nvm it can be a drop ball...

[@OSKSNAKE]

yeah but for the sake of the game you stop it or you loose the players

[@FiyaFlux]

No corner flags. Fuck doing a 16 academy game straight up good work.

[@clairerahmy7838]

Do natural popular training program like Eprosoke Training Program really work and if so, how effective are they? We've heard numerous amazing things about this popular training program.

[@jamesmarin4664]

Where do I sign up for this challenge?

[@futuredoc2014]

+James Marin Become a ref. I can tell you more about how to do it if you want. We really need more.

[@6afraidof7hellno]

guys it's red bulls vs red bulls, he isn't going to send anybody in a scrimmage especially in a game like that

[@martinDUFC]

Did notice one breach of the FIFA laws, no corner flags there which are compulsory, other than that great video!

[@stevethelegend]

I have a question do inhouse league reference have to go to reference school or no

[@ryanowens1328]

If the players are guilty of Violent Conduct than they must be sent off. There is no way that what happened at four minutes was violent conduct. It was a little scuffle wherein the two players engaged in Unsporting Behaviour. Play should have been stopped, the two players should have been cautioned, and the first offense should have been punished with a direct free kick to the opposing team.

[@grr619]

4:00 Good advantage played. Bizarre that the player in White wanted a whistle blow for a foul that he was almost party to. 8-) He should have gotten a retrospective card for that, absolutely. Save the hugging for the goals.

[@CalebBlock]

Lol they made him the center on THIS for his first match? disaster recipe

[@ByJordz]

I have to disagree with you on that, it was not violent conduct, it was clearly just a holding offence and should have resulted in a DFK to the blue team and maybe a talking to for both of them. Had it resulted in anything more (I.E. a push / strike) then the referee would have had to give out cards for Violent Conduct.

[@zaqfitness1590]

If you consider that foul Violent coduct you have to give a red. That foul was far from violent conduct , simply a yellow to the white player if anything.

[@GoesByFooty]

1. 1:26 played the advantage, should have gone back and warned or booked that player. 2. Quality of the game overall didn't seem good.

[@bduddy55555]

If both players commit an offense, both players should be punished. What you're thinking about is that when one player commits multiple offenses, he should be punished for the most severe one.

[@nikebestbrand]

Why was he using a pea whistle? Haha

[@futuredoc2014]

+nikebestbrand I know. They should have at least let him borrow a Fox 40. Pea whistle these days screams "rookie"!

[@az.lunatic_2845]

+nikebestbrand FOX40

[@nickapodaca1528]

man I remember my 1st academy middle rapids and fc Portland 5 years ago back when I was a 5, I was nervous

[@HuffDaddyYT]

when you were 5? lol

[@demeimustang007]

SpazzGaming ussf referee grade 5

[@futuredoc2014]

+The G-Man Yeah he's referring to the USSF referee grade system.

[@ocke94]

Nice turf!

[@JoseLopez-vz2ss]

He missed a red card

[@danogorman8595]

Must play with corner flags

[@yowoody85]

Unless these two had problems before in the match, I would just call a penalty, no cards and a quick talking to ("knock it off, no more"). There was no extreme violence between the two of them. Just holding and shoving. And be careful when you say the words "violent conduct". That is a send-off offense (red card). If I were to write that in my game report how you wrote it, I'd be getting a phone call from the director. And yes, kick to blue.

[@Dany9823]

3:59 - Clearly a foul

[@jeffreyl8369]

Dany9823 No, because they hold each other, so you can just let them play. The one who holds first is being hold second and loses the ball

[@Dany9823]

the guy with the white shirt was the one who started it, plus the ball was in possession of the guy who suffered the foul from the white shirt.

[@ralphclink379]

It is a foul. The white player has held the blue players shirt with both arms to prevent him from travelling forward with the ball. Could also be looking at a yellow card if the attacking half of the pitch was lacking with defenders or if they were mostly over on the other side of the pitch - denial of an attacking opportunity The initial foul occured before the blue player dragged the white player back so that foul is called back. If the referee feels the blue player needs a talking to he deals with that once the play has been stopped but the free kick to white should stand.

[@wakkerT2]

just came to the vid :) on the previous occasion when white #3 kicked the ball after whistle, yellow card. 3.59, wrestling without the intention to play the ball, next yellow, and red.

[@jknn5659]

Wrong shorts, no corner flags

[@woodchuckcider1]

i'm sure this is staged for promotional purposes. you're right, normally they would never get a brand new grade 8 referee to center a game like this.

[@tabitharowell3743]

Did anyone else notice the black player WITHOUT shin guards?

[@andymarr5857]

No corner flags??

[@ryansnyder4112]

Andy Marr I was saying the same thing. according to FIFA rules there has to be corner flags.

[@InstructorMufasa]

Unfortunately, if you, the referee, determine that "violent conduct" has occurred, you, the referee, *must* send off the player(s) responsible in accordance with Law 12.

[@harrydixon3412]

1:33 doesn't even have shinpads on, so much for "academy football"

[@johnscola7364]

Harry Dixon this was prolly a scimmage, the one team is under 16 and the other is under 18. We used to do this at my club, stupid but were nice in jersey

[@kabbout1]

If there that PRO where are the corner flags???

[@TypOPositiv]

That was NOT a good idea. A new ref in an Elite match?!

[@paintballfrenzy9]

Not VC rather SFP. Still a red but a lesser suspension

[@Cris0rtiz]

Can we Simon Borg be next?

[@erickmanuelmoralesguerrero3107]

do any you know what the name of the uniform hes has (CR)

[@futuredoc2014]

+Erick Manuel Morales Guerrero It's an old Adidas uniform but we are not allowed to use that in the US. Not sure why they let him use it.

[@erickmanuelmoralesguerrero3107]

+pre-med ref_14 thank you very much and yes thats very wierd!!!??

[@az.lunatic_2845]

+Erick Manuel Morales Guerrero USUALLY they match, but im sure its for the video....

[@rodrigozadunaisky9481]

think you forgot your badge?

[@bxfugitivo]

did anybody notice hes lack of personality during the match and while giving out the cards .. hes a good referee but hes not talking enought to the players the game should also be handled with your mouth not just the whistle . your presense in the field can many time stop a player from being sent off

[@RayDee93]

Being a ref is a weekend job for me, 40 bucks per game are alright. ;)

[@somedude5031]

RayDee93 you get 40 dollars?? Lucky

[@somedude5031]

In my country it's less but depends on the league aswell

[@sopee10]

3:16, player has an earring in.

[@CalebBlock]

Surprised the red bulls would allow this nonsense, great way to get their players injured even in a scrimmage

[@CharliesAngels8]

Violent conduct is red card. (Page 39, LOTG) I am surprised the game didn't go out of control from there. I have seen quite a few incidents where the same things happened, and it escalated into a brawl. Depending on the atmosphere of the game and what had happened in the game before this incident, I would award the foul to dark-blue and call both players back and told them to 'calm down' and 'no more'. But otherwise, yellow for both players for unsporting behaviour.

[@anonymoose_yt]

Violent conduct is doing something violent to the other player. Violent is defined as an intent to injure or hurt. If anything, this was excessive force, but I don't think it was bad enough even for a yellow card. A word to the players to knock it off would do, or if it's been a continual thing, then a yellow card would be justified. Either way, if you think this is VC, then you should give them both red cards, as the LOTG state. (ref'd thousands of games from U5 to semi-pro international)

[@daveoaktowers]

Good job, missed the kicking the ball away though, should be a booking or yellow card if booked already, unsporting behaviour.

[@hworkdedication]

@1syracuseFanatic would a gave a straight yellow card

[@noranita2094]

Number 10 in black wears earrings...

[@mychemicalromancegrr]

Seriously wtf @ 4:00 ? I would hate you if you refed my game haha. But good try.

[@uuh000]

This.

[@zachcouch8654]

10 just he 3 soooo dirty.

[@iaindw1]

he had neutral Assistants. not very realistic

[@tigerbricks]

that's not violent conduct, that's adopting a threatening and aggressive behaviour, yellow card only , if that . .

[@boogersmash07]

The law book states that in a situation which two players commit a cautionable offence the referee must punish the most serious of offences. Therefore the player in the white would have received a yellow, and the other player could do with a warning.

[@reaganstrong4415]

That's the way the free kick goes he still could of given a caution or a red to both of those players if he wants.

[@fitzyjr]

overall.... quite a poor performance. foul recognition was poor, bad carding technique, not up with play, poor positioning... i could go on and on. for a first game he shouldnt have been given two good teams or of that age. start young, work your way up. its the best way to appreciate it once u reach the top

[@carlosacostaj]

Lol we killed them hahah. We have them 3-0 hahah lol red bulls need to pick it up lol

[@andywerner838]

I thought it was a good video .

[@squidXdrop89]

????!!??

[@kokteilista]

guys, no corner flags??? have you read the laws of the game? YOU CAN'T PLAY COMPETITIVE MATCH WITHOUT CORNER FLAGS. is it common in the us?? it's less than 50$. please buy it for the next match :-P

[@manavarro00]

You are not ready to referee!!!!

[@tomisthlm]

Incredible? lol

[@cameronsmith8094]

Shit ref missed to much

[@futuredoc2014]

+cameron smith He's not actually trained as a ref. Even for a trained and certified ref in their first few years, they would be in way over their heads in a match like this, because you need to be at least a Level 6 state referee to do these matches. He's just some media staff member who took a challenge to see if it really was as easy as most fans and commentators think.

[@cameronsmith8094]

+pre-med ref_14 I has been refereeing for 1 year and Im doing my level 6 this session

[@futuredoc2014]

Are you in the United States? Attaining USSF Grade 6 State Referee status within one year is impossible.

[@djtntofficial]

+pre-med ref_14 That's one super fast lane right there! I wonder how did he take 2 upgrade tests in 1 year.

[@cameronsmith8094]

i didint lol u become a level 7 when are at 16

[@hiroyuki0830s]

Shit.

[@aribpm]

MLS = Most Lousy Soccer.

[@LaPelotaenlaCabeza]

I'm sorry referee, but I watched a minute and a half and you need improvement. Too many fouls missed.

[@duffusd]

+LaPelotaenlaCabeza that's the point, he's a first time referee who just passed the training and physical, he's never refereed before and he's doing a u16 v u18 match. He's out of his league.

[@kenconnelly773]

When I started, assignors didn't let me ref over U11 competitive, U14 AR. His performance was actually incredible for being a first game.