At out Level 4 Training Day this year, these positions were discussed
Red is a definite no no
Choose a green cross depending on tactics and who has KO etc. Personally, I'd suggest the far side from your AR so that leaves two green crosses IMO
You must be able to see the entirety of the centre line
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EDIT… this nonsense written thinking this was goal kicks. I’ll leave it just to show what a muppet I am
Eek - I don't buy this at all.
It all depends on how the kick is taken, and f the team's goal kicks are consistent or random.
I think the most important thing - with my observer hat on - is that the referee can explain their thought processes and how they were able to adapt to the goal kicks.
With my ref hat on, here are a few examples from the last couple of weeks:
- Youth team playing every goal kick very short, defender takes the kick and passes to goalkeeper in the goal area, every time, within a moment there are 5-6 players in the box. Every time. None of the starting positions above are "right" for this. Let's say they are playing from the right, I'm starting central, about 30m out, ready to move on my diagonal either way.
- OA good grassroots mens, goalkeeper had a very long kick, always landing in the same area - around the green circle in the opposite half. Every time. The only option was to start very wide close to the centre line - to get side on, have the players in view and in case it went shorter.
- OA mens again, every kick aiming for the left touch line at half way - I tried starting wider on the touchline but was forced off the field. The only option was to start at the edge of the centre circle. With this I was side on the drop and able to easily adapt to the second phase.
Yeah, I really struggle with the diagram and I would hate having to try to educate other refs with that.