USIndoor's Official Magazine is a quarterly publication, dedicated to owners, managers, program administrators and other professionals, startups and providers involved with indoor recreational sports facilities.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/147741
Referee Tips: G ame Pr epa ra tion successful, the referee will miss calls, at best. At worst, Third in a Series the referee will be fooled by by Said Sanhoury, USIndoor Director of Officials the lawyer's "legalese" and change the way he or she his issue, we continue our series of articles on game would otherwise call a game. preparation with the "lawyer. Readers may recall " Once this happens, the referee has essentially lost the first article, which introduced the concept of the control of the game. The lawyer will know it, as will the three personality types that referees should be prepared rest of his team (including cohort in crime, the to manage, and the second (appearing in USIndoor's enforcer), the opposing team, and anyone Referee Newsletter), which discussed the "enforcer. " else paying attention, including parents, As opposed to the physical intimidating tactics other referees, and management. employed by the enforcer, the lawyer will tend to direct his Your best asset for staying out of the hostility, not so much toward the opposing team, but doghouse is to know the rules -- really directly toward the referee. The degree of irritation can know them. Know not just the house range from low-grade needling to constant verbal abuse. rules, but the official rules and whatever The lawyer's motivation is to create confusion and differences there may be between doubt in the referee's mind. Typically, he or she knows the them. Also know why the rules are what rules, making less experienced referees their most they are. Knowing the why, as well as the susceptible and likely targets. The lawyer will attempt to what, will help you remember apply them interfere with the game by arguing with the referee and better when the game is on. diverting the referee's attention from the game. If Your second best asset when it comes to managing the lawyer will be your interpersonal management skills. While this comes more from experience than anything else, your having a firm handle on the literal meaning and purposes of each rule will allow you to focus in T A S K THE R E F Dear Ref: I am new to indoor. Do field dimensions vary from indoor to outdoor soccer? If yes, what are the indoor soccer field dimensions for U7 through U16? Michael, Naperville, IL Dear Mike, Yes, field dimensions vary significantly between indoor and outdoor soccer. To the right are some of the distinctions. For more details regarding field specifications and rules of indoor soccer, we suggest your ordering a copy of the Official Rules from USIndoor's online "Publications" page. Thank you for your question. Said Sanhoury, USIndoor Director of Officials ref@usindoor.com Basic Differences between Indoor and Outdoor Soccer Indoor No. of Players Substitutions Duration of Game Off-Sides Rule Boards in Play Field Size Goal Size 6-7 Unlimited, on-the-fly Two 20-25 min. halves (youth) no yes 180 x 75 ft (youth) 12 x 6 1/2 ft (youth) GOAL Indoor • Aug.-Sept. 2002• 24 Outdoor 11 3 Two 45-min. halves yes no about 100 x 70 yds 24 x 8 ft this area. Observing, and talking with, more experienced, respected referees will also speed up the learning curve. Identifying who is the team lawyer is half the battle. Once you have identified the likely challenger, you can prepare how you are going to deal with the person's attempt to throw you off of your game. All this, of course, should come before the game even begins, so that you are prepared with your own plan of action, once the challenge begins. Your tools for ing the lawyer's effect include your words, your non-verbal behavior and your penalty cards. Your familiarity with the person involved will guide you on how best to meet his or her challenge. As always, be very careful about entering into any dialogue with the lawyer. A good one will have your head spinning in no time, taking your attention away from the game at hand. Be confident, clear, and consise in your verbal responses. Keep your emotion, whether friendly or angry, in check. Either will be a sign of weakness to a clever lawyer. During play, use hand gestures to continue play or to show disapproval. Maintain focus on the game and on your positioning, even if it means turning away from the lawyer. If all else fails, or if the abuse raises to Questions? the level of a blue card, use it. Ref@USIndoor.com For a copy of the Official Rules, see the ad on page 29.