The Ref Stop

Advantage in the penalty area

Q

QuaverRef

I used to be indecisive but now i'm not so sure
Level 4 Referee
What would you do here? Game I refereed over the weekend, bit of a scramble on the edge of the box but the striker manages to wriggle free and put himself one on one. As he starts running in, defender attempts to trip and makes contact but player stays on his feet, gets the shot away and it's saved by the onrushing goalkeeper and goes out for a corner. Just to add a bit of drama, this is in added time with the score at 3-2 (defending team winning)

What would you do in this scenario?
 
The Ref Stop
One on one is not a clear enough opportunity imo to play advantage in the penalty area, a goal has to be almost certain for me to play it.

I've done it once (@lincs22 do you remember? You were assessing down at dringy v cop!?) when the attacker was fouled by the keeper but the ball rolled to anothrr atracker to score into an open goal with no defenders anywhere near.

Playing advantage (Or not) always has it's risks anywhere on the pitch, you can never be sure a player doesn't pull a 30 yard screamer out just as you blow up for a foul! The percentage play here is to give the pen when the offence occurs, less chance for controversy.
 
QuaverRef said:
What would you do here? Game I refereed over the weekend, bit of a scramble on the edge of the box but the striker manages to wriggle free and put himself one on one. As he starts running in, defender attempts to trip and makes contact but player stays on his feet, gets the shot away and it's saved by the onrushing goalkeeper and goes out for a corner. Just to add a bit of drama, this is in added time with the score at 3-2 (defending team winning)

What would you do in this scenario?
Click to expand...

To be honest.....a lot would depend on player reaction.....if they are all quite happily getting on with it, doubt I would be going back for the penalty......
 
es1 said:
One on one is not a clear enough opportunity imo to play advantage in the penalty area, a goal has to be almost certain for me to play it.

I've done it once (@lincs22 do you remember? You were assessing down at dringy v cop!?) when the attacker was fouled by the keeper but the ball rolled to anothrr atracker to score into an open goal with no defenders anywhere near.

Playing advantage (Or not) always has it's risks anywhere on the pitch, you can never be sure a player doesn't pull a 30 yard screamer out just as you blow up for a foul! The percentage play here is to give the pen when the offence occurs, less chance for controversy.
Click to expand...

The time between the trip and the shot being played wouldn't have allowed me enough time to play advantage as such, there was barely a few seconds apart.

I ended up pulling it back for the penalty. There were some claims for it but safe to say the defending team were unhappy, saying that him taking the shot was his advantage played. My reaction to this was to say to them "did you her me call advantage?" and to take it up with their defender who attempted the trip. My reasoning to pull it back. I wasn't sure whether the trip had stopped the player striking the ball properly, taken him off balance or forced him into an additional step. I couldn't say in any safe mind that the striker wasn't affected by the trip so felt that the penalty should be awarded. Obviously that could go the other way, could I be sure that he wasn't affected ... probably not but it's easier to sell the foul in that scenario that not to
 
From your post, am giving a pk here

It does not sound like an advantage accrued, and of course an easy sell if you have not screamed, advantage, and signalled with arm(s)
 
I've done this, while being assessed.

I played advantage, player stumbled from the contact, which also pushed him wide, got his shot off wildly off balance, saved, brought it back and gave the penalty.

The assessor was happy with the decision, thought it was fair enough to see if he could carry on, thought it was obvious enough he was affected by it and had no complaints about it being pulled back. - Someone else might have marked me down for it on the day though and I'd understand that.

I think with these incidents it's really going to be a you have to be there moment as there could be so many factors applying. The safe bet would be to give the penalty, but then if he managed to squirrel his shot away and scored, you'd be hoping they don't miss the penalty! Swings and roundabouts I guess?
 
Think about what provides the best chance of a goal, penalty or a one on one with the keeper. A bigger percentage of goals are scored from penalties than one on ones, especially if the player has just been fouled and that has unbalanced him or put him off. My advantage would be to only play advantage in the area if there is a very high probability of a goal being scored.
 
I would also consider expectation levels. In short, I think if you asked 100 players/coaches what happens when a foul is committed in the pen area, 99 would say "we get a penalty"

Why make things difficult, or try to be a superstar? Unless the ball is rolling along the line and the striker simply cannot miss, player gets fouled in the pen area, give a pen.
 
QuaverRef said:
What would you do here? Game I refereed over the weekend, bit of a scramble on the edge of the box but the striker manages to wriggle free and put himself one on one. As he starts running in, defender attempts to trip and makes contact but player stays on his feet, gets the shot away and it's saved by the onrushing goalkeeper and goes out for a corner. Just to add a bit of drama, this is in added time with the score at 3-2 (defending team winning)

What would you do in this scenario?
Click to expand...

Did you have chance to scream "Advantage" and throw your arms forward ?
 
If the goal is scored just after you blow the whistle for a pen you are obviously going to look a prat but it's the safest option to give the penalty and most likely send him off for DOGSO (doesn't read like a genuine attempt to play the ball)
The weak refereeing solution is too delay the whistle and then bring it back for the pen if he misses the shot, then try to claim he's had a shot so it's not DOGSO.

If it's a friendly play the advantage so you don't have to send him off. Simples!
 
Sounds like a pen to me. The time it took to get his feet is enough time for the GK to close down the angle massively.
 
Great advantage played at Bramall Lane for Swansea’s second goal on the weekend, blatant penalty but he played on and another player slotted it home. It was lost on most around me but a fantastic refereeing decision and good performance too...
 
I love when my advantage leads to a great chance--especially when everyone erupts asking for a foul and I let them go and they score.
 
Its a very tough one and to be honest there probably is no right or wrong answer here.

The advantage is played and if you get a shot away and miss (from a good opportunity) its difficult to then bring it back for the penalty.
 
QuaverRef said:
What would you do here? Game I refereed over the weekend, bit of a scramble on the edge of the box but the striker manages to wriggle free and put himself one on one. As he starts running in, defender attempts to trip and makes contact but player stays on his feet, gets the shot away and it's saved by the onrushing goalkeeper and goes out for a corner. Just to add a bit of drama, this is in added time with the score at 3-2 (defending team winning)

What would you do in this scenario?
Click to expand...
How close was it to this incident @ 1.30?


The question you need to ask yourself is, Was the attacker better off continuing once he broke free or better off with a penalty? If in doubt, award the penalty.

Penalty conversion rate is around 75% to 80%
 
That incident above you have to give a penalty as hes so wide of the goal.

Question.

Can/would you call it back after the player has taken the shot, surely the shot is the advantage.
 
For me thats a pk on the clip.
And no, although as referee you could call it back of course, for me, I would have to say its gone and take it on the chin
Why take the chance? Advantage should be exactly that, an advantage, not a ball retention
Given you have also clearly signalled advantage, pulling it back will be a hard sell and be seen to be giving them best of both worlds, shot to score AND a pk
 
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BCMilan said:
Did you have chance to scream "Advantage" and throw your arms forward ?
Click to expand...

No chance IMO ... It was literally, attempted trip, one step, shot. So there was no opportunity for me to either play advantage, or blow for the penalty before he got the shot away
 
It takes a moment or two to bring your whistle to your lips.

In the clip, I suspect that if the ref had, instead of throwing his arms in the air and calling advantage, had just kept running to get himself into position, before blowing the whistle and giving the penalty as he saw the ball was going wide, no one would have batted an eyelid.
 
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