Memory and Awareness

[volt177]

Hi, not a new ref but answers might be helpful to some starting out, as well as myself.

One of my major downfalls is post-foul awareness- I am awful with names and faces, the numbers on shirts are my gospel. And yet, whenever a big decision is made, and after I've had a few seconds to think through whether to caution, I realise I didn't even mentally snapshot the player number I should be cautioning or speaking to. I'm ashamed to admit at times I've been aided into looking for player reaction/the most guilty looking player.

Such an incident arose recently- cross pitch counter attack means I need to make a full sprint and get into a credible angle, I awarded a penalty but was so caught in the moment weighing up DOGSO that by the time my mind was made up, the player had escaped scene and instead I had to deal with captain coming to ask questions.

My question is: how can I improve this? I know its all well saying "first thing you should look for is the offender, then consider how to penalise them", but at times it can be easy to forget when the first instincts are "get in a credible spot, correctly apply law".

Thanks

 

[JamesL]

The trick is to not wait for something to happen but to constantly "commentate"
I try to catch both players (potential offender and victim) in case it results in afters. It helps with anticipating what's next too.

 

[wazztie16]

I used to be a bugger for missing numbers at fouls and the like, I trained myself to clock the numbers during the 'event', 2 players running down the wing for example.

Best advice I can give really. Just takes a bit of training. Other things to clock are boots, hair etc, if something stands out.

 

[HibbyGaz]

I know what you mean. I find if I stop play for an injury I often can't remember who was in possession or which way the throw goes! However, re the issue hear, I find it mentally helps to commentate in your head as it happens.

 

[dylanbailey4444]

‘7, yes please, come here’
(the second after you’ve blown the whistle)

 

[Samuel]

‘7, yes please, come here’
(the second after you’ve blown the whistle)

Continuing with this, I usually decide just before talking to them. Sometimes if I was thinking no yellow I change while speaking to them.

I find it helps me often to constantly be saying the players numbers in my head whenever the game is going on

 

[one]

When one says I forget to do something, the answer one is not looking for is "next time remember not to forget". I have to 'remind' my missus about that at least once a month.

To answer your question, changing your routine (whatever it is) maybe helpful. It wasn't for me. I can give you a couple of other recovery tips. If you have ARs add it to your instructions for them to make it a priority to identify and record the culprit(s).
The other is a trick I used instinctively after a brawl and a few more times after that. Find a reason to get the captain(s) in for a chat. Something like it's your team and I would like you to control your players, or I am going to go easy on him this time but won't be so nice next time etc. Then after that ask the captain to bring his player in. It hasn't failed me yet.

 

[RefereeX]

When one says I forget to do something, the answer one is not looking for is "next time remember not to forget". I have to 'remind' my missus about that at least once a month.

Is this a generalisation? Or are you referring to yourself in the third person?

 

[DJIC]

When one says I forget to do something, the answer one is not looking for is "next time remember not to forget". I have to 'remind' my missus about that at least once a month.

To answer your question, changing your routine (whatever it is) maybe helpful. It wasn't for me. I can give you a couple of other recovery tips. If you have ARs add it to your instructions for them to make it a priority to identify and record the culprit(s).
The other is a trick I used instinctively after a brawl and a few more times after that. Find a reason to get the captain(s) in for a chat. Something like it's your team and I would like you to control your players, or I am going to go easy on him this time but won't be so nice next time etc. Then after that ask the captain to bring his player in. It hasn't failed me yet.

That’s a good tip ask the captain.

I have gambled on a couple of occasions, loudly asking “Yes please”, beckoning with your hand, at a group of players which hopefully includes the guilty player! Worked twice so far, but could go wrong

 

[RefereeX]

I have gambled on a couple of occasions, loudly asking “Yes please”, beckoning with your hand, at a group of players which hopefully includes the guilty player! Worked twice so far, but could go wrong

It is a good tip when all else fails, and it usually works, however I have had it go wrong on a red card decision and everyone stands there and says 'who'? You feel like a bit of a tool.

With regards to the captain, I've told the captain before 'help me out, I've lost the man, it's borderline red card that but I'm gonna only go yellow to keep everyone happy if you can bring the man in for me' and he obliged.... turns out it was the guy who actually came over initially with the captain and I told him to go away as I was going to talk to the captain

 

[JamesL]

That’s a good tip ask the captain.

I have gambled on a couple of occasions, loudly asking “Yes please”, beckoning with your hand, at a group of players which hopefully includes the guilty player! Worked twice so far, but could go wrong

Yea well, I once did this and it didn't work. Had an observer too. Thankfully someone else put themselves forward and even more thankfully the observer also didn't realise this has happened.

 

[RustyRef]

I had one in a step 3 game, being observed, where I'd lost a player who'd committed DOGSO in the crowd of players after it. There were two defenders chasing the attacker, and in my panic at realising I didn't know which one it was I managed to lose both. Blind panic at this point so went to speak to the active AR who didn't have a clue, staring at non-active AR and he was giving me nothing, so now I'm really in trouble. Then I remembered a trick someone had told me before, pulled my wallet out with the yellow card showing and shouted "yes please". Player stepped forward and to say he was not happy when I put the wallet away and pulled the red from my back pocket was the understatement of the year. I certainly wouldn't recommend it as a management technique as had no one come forward I'd have looked a total clown.

Since then if there is a potential DOGSO I repeat the number to myself quietly, people probably think I'm going mad when I'm muttering "six, six, six, six" to myself but it seems to work.

 

[volt177]

I know what you mean. I find if I stop play for an injury I often can't remember who was in possession or which way the throw goes! However, re the issue hear, I find it mentally helps to commentate in your head as it happens.

I've done this for my last few games now, muttering to myself the play in front of me. Few weird looks from nearby players who hear me going "right back.... right wing... centre mid" but it has helped so far

 

[Silverref]

I had one in a step 3 game, being observed, where I'd lost a player who'd committed DOGSO in the crowd of players after it. There were two defenders chasing the attacker, and in my panic at realising I didn't know which one it was I managed to lose both. Blind panic at this point so went to speak to the active AR who didn't have a clue, staring at non-active AR and he was giving me nothing, so now I'm really in trouble. Then I remembered a trick someone had told me before, pulled my wallet out with the yellow card showing and shouted "yes please". Player stepped forward and to say he was not happy when I put the wallet away and pulled the red from my back pocket was the understatement of the year. I certainly wouldn't recommend it as a management technique as had no one come forward I'd have looked a total clown.

Since then if there is a potential DOGSO I repeat the number to myself quietly, people probably think I'm going mad when I'm muttering "six, six, six, six" to myself but it seems to work.

Totally agree with this approach. I found saying it out loud -“no 7 red” at the time was much more effective for me than saying it in my head.

 

[Gabriel]

Only just seen this, but thought I would mention numbers on shirts really can help! I had a youth game last season where I needed to caution a player, and hadn't checked his number. It then turned out he had an identical twin on the pitch. I still don't know if I cautioned the right one I just went with the one who came towards me when I took the card out, which gave me a 99% chance of getting it right I suppose