Week in Review - week 32

Let's review US Soccer's Week in Review for week 32.

First, here is the link: http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Referee-Programs/2010/11/2010-Referee-Week-In-Review-32.aspx

The first clip in this is in reference to dissent.  Dissent is essentially actions or words directed at an official (not another player - that is UB) that are unsporting.  The first thing we need to realize is that different referees have different tolerance levels.  What I may be able to handle is different than what a 14 yo kid who just got his badge can handle.  And that is perfectly fine!  However, what US Soccer wants is some consistency on this call.  A goalkeeper running 20-30 yards while screaming at the ref, then the AR, then the ref is too much.  What's more is that the keeper is not the captain.  I could understand if the captain comes running over at the MLS level and wants to protect his players.  However, a player who is not a captain should not be allowed to literally get in the face of both officials and scream at them.

In my local meeting last week we also went over this clip, which I believe is from South Africa: http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1584889

This is completely inappropriate and the player should have been red carded for abusive language.  Instead the Ref and AR did nothing.  When you do nothing in this situation you make it that much harder for the next ref who has this guy as this guy now thinks he can get away with it all the time.

Clip two is about a technical issue.  Small?  Yes, but still important.  The referee must card a player who has been injured.  Common sense needs to prevail here so instead of carding a player while he's down (insult to injury) we should wait until he's up again or figure out a way to administer the caution (or send off) in a way that is not demeaning to the injured player.  We also need to do so before the player leaves the field.  In this situation the player is up and coherent so the referee shows the yellow to him then.  What if the player needs to be stretchered off?  In that situation I would get some distance away from the injured player, say 6-10 yards, point with one hand to him and hold the yellow up in the other hand.  Again, you should not be standing over him to do this.  Another option I have seen used is to pull the captain over, show him the yellow card while pointing to the injured player.  No matter what the card is for the injured player, the one who committed the foul.

Clip three is important as it reviews the importance of which side a corner is taken.  The coach is upset because the corner is taken from a side that allows a deadly crosser to maximize his team's goal-scoring potential.  That man is David Beckham.  The corner is taken from the right side, which means the ball is swerving out from the keeper, making if very difficult for the keeper to make a play on the ball.

What is important about this clip is positioning.  Notice how the referee is fairly close to the action but he is also anticipating where the ball is going to be played.  He is getting ready for the next phase of play.  As the ball comes across the box he is on the 18 slightly to the left of the center of the field.  He can clearly see where the ball went out and quickly and correctly makes the indication that the corner is to be taken from the right corner.

What are your thoughts on this week's Week in Review?  Did any situations like these happen in your games?