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betterlatethannever

New Member
After some guidance from the hive mind on here!

I've found the most common 'ref' shout from the bench is usually when the ball is in the air with two players going up for it, usually a centre back and a striker, and any time a centre back wins it the strikers bench will always give a shout that there was a push in the back.

I am 99% confident that there never is, strikers are always looking for a tiny bit of contact to claim a foul and defenders (within reason) have every right to go and win the ball.

What do people usually look for to determine a push or a foul vs normal in-game contact?

Thanks all.
 
The Ref Stop
First of all is your positioning. Ideally you want to be side on to the challenge, rather than square on.

Second is your vocals. Let the players know you’re there. They’re then less likely to do anything stupid ‘nothing silly’ ‘tidy’ and so on (top tip- don’t say ‘no foul’)

Next is judging if there is an offence. Football is a contact sport, so someone simply having their hands/arms in someone’s back isn’t necessarily an offence. If their arm goes from bent to straight, that is a lot more likely to be a foul
 
"He's entitled to hold/protect his space. He can't make space by pushing you. He didn't push you."

I normally adapt the above according to the situation.
 
Runner Ref said:
First of all is your positioning. Ideally you want to be side on to the challenge, rather than square on.

Second is your vocals. Let the players know you’re there. They’re then less likely to do anything stupid ‘nothing silly’ ‘tidy’ and so on (top tip- don’t say ‘no foul’)

Next is judging if there is an offence. Football is a contact sport, so someone simply having their hands/arms in someone’s back isn’t necessarily an offence. If their arm goes from bent to straight, that is a lot more likely to be a foul
Click to expand...
Noticed my positioning definitely helps judge any fouls (or lack there of).

Did actually shout 'no fouls' but as I said it it didn't sound right so haven't since!!
 
Done my first OA game in 5 months last weekend and had this literally every time the ball came from the keeper or long punt from defenders.
Was so annoying. Naturally, I "tuned it out" ie didn't respond.
But it was funny to hear when the opposing team called for one, the original moaning team said "he's allowed to go for the ball".
Erm... exactly. Listen to yourselves.
one said:

Hands in the back ref!​

Click to expand...
 
Positioning is key, it won't stop it but being side on to the challenge will certainly reduce it. Say something like I'm looking straight at it, there's contact but no pushing, most players will realise they are flogging a dead horse and give it up.
 
When the ball is in the air, that’s your chance to move, and don’t watch the ball, watch the players.

You know football well enough to know instantly which two players are jostling for the drop - you don’t need to watch the ball. Just focus on them and getting side-on (on your diagonal ideally).
 
lukewilson said:
After some guidance from the hive mind on here!

I've found the most common 'ref' shout from the bench is usually when the ball is in the air with two players going up for it, usually a centre back and a striker, and any time a centre back wins it the strikers bench will always give a shout that there was a push in the back.

I am 99% confident that there never is, strikers are always looking for a tiny bit of contact to claim a foul and defenders (within reason) have every right to go and win the ball.

What do people usually look for to determine a push or a foul vs normal in-game contact?

Thanks all.
Click to expand...
Benches scream for it all the time. It's rarely the players. Most benches are just on what I like to call "auto-cliche" mode. They see something and the mouth opens.
As others have advised, try to make sure you're not head-on to these challenges and just zone the benches out.
 
I would usually give pushes for two things

1. Extension of two hands (maybe a clear one hand) that extend towards the opposition player.
2. A deliberate push/nudge as the ball arrives at the attackers chest (albeit less inclined in the penalty area).

Hope that makes sense.
 
Just picking this up again as I started to doubt myself yesterday.

A pushing hand(s) is nice and easy. What are your views when a player is using their forearm? Any difference in your threshold?
 
Viridis1886 said:
Just picking this up again as I started to doubt myself yesterday.

A pushing hand(s) is nice and easy. What are your views when a player is using their forearm? Any difference in your threshold?
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Not for me. I take it in exactly same way as using hand/arm. There's either a push or there isn't
 
Runner Ref said:
Not for me. I take it in exactly same way as using hand/arm. There's either a push or there isn't
Click to expand...
That was my view, but then a player said yesterday "but I didn't use my hands"!

It didn't make a difference to my decision, but it did make me wonder if I did (or should) have a different tolerance level.
 
You can push someone with your forearm. But you can also hold someone off with your forearm. In exact same way as they can with their hand.

It's just player nonsense more than anything
 
Thread probably not dead yet but brought out of the retirement home 🤣

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I think that's pretty clear.

On the use of forearms, another thing to be wary of is in aerial challenges, into the opponent's neck or head. Very often a card of some variety.
 
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