Quinn, Emi, Stephen

So, this edition of OiA highlights referees in a fun, theme based post! Can you guess the theme?

Wait for it...

Summer Movie Blockbusters!


In this clip we see our local Superman Quinn fly down the touchline. He gets to the goal line then calmly signals corner kick. Look at the form, the composure, the posture! A Man of Steel.  Well done Quinn!

We turn our attention to Emi, whom we see patrol the touchline ever vigilant for transgressions of the Laws. Watch as Emi faces play, and is continually adjusting to remain on the offside line. She turns and runs to keep up with play, constantly switching her view between the ball and the offside line. She judges the attacker (in white) to be in an offside position when the ball is played. She also judges that the player is the only attacker able to play the ball so she signals offside. In short, she brings The Heat! Well done, Emi!

And now and example of field movement and keeping up with play, courtesy of Stephen! The action starts with a corner and Stephen correctly positioned as per FIFA recommendations. The kick comes in and breaks up the far touchline. Stephen easily moves with play, crossing the field, ending up near the play in the other end.  As he's moving he checks with his AR, a fine example of teamwork. You could say he stalks the play like a Wolverine! Well done, Stephen!

Trevor, Marissa with a touch of Nathan and Emi

Today's OiA features Trevor and Marrisa with Nathan and Emi thrown in for good measure! A cornucopia of officiating excellence!

Trevor is a Regional referee. In this clip he is patrolling the touchline (looking resplendent in Adjudicator kit). Watch as he is focused the entire time on his task. He easily follows the offside line, breaking into a light jog when needed. He continually switches his view from offside line to the play and back again, especially when he is moving back up the field. Strong, confident body language, but relaxed at the same time. Well done Trevor!

In this next clip, we encounter a player setting up for a corner kick. Scan over and we find the referee, Nathan, correctly positioned for the ensuing kick (near where the penalty arc meets the penalty area), per FIFA.

FIFA recommended positioning for corner kicks

The kick occurs and carries across the net and then over the goal line (for a goal kick). Emi is correctly positioned on the goal line and correctly signals goal kick. Finally, the clip ends and we see Nathan sprinting to his goal kick restart position.

FIFA positioning on a goal kick

And last but not least, OiA presents Marissa.  Marissa is working as AR. Marissa has been working hard and the results are showing! As the clip opens, Marissa is observing play, flag correctly held in her left hand. Play breaks and she follows. She turns and signals offside, but the referee overrules her. No big deal, she continues and runs to catch up with play. With the offside signal, Marissa correctly raised the flag in her *right* hand, straight up. She then lowered it to indicate the area of the field (far, middle, close). To make this a perfect sequence, we like AR's to signal offside by raising the flag in the right hand, straight up, then hold it there until the referee blows his whistle or signals to lower it. In this case the referee decided to not accept Marissa's signal and play continued. This happens and Marissa didn't pout or get angry, but worked to catch up to play. A fine example of teamwork from the referee (for acknowledging the signal, and Marissa for making the signal then continuing on). Well done, Marissa!