Uefa launches a Refereeing Assistance Programme twice a year. It contains clips of recent match situations. You can install this on your pc or mac and train your refereeing knowledge. In case you missed it, it’s quite interesting material to develop yourself.

Refereeing Assistance Programme 2022:1

The new Refereeing Assistance Programme of summer 2022 has been published. It’s the 2022:1 version.

Download your RAP 2022:1 (11,3GB)

Note: since 2020 versions you need the Mulppy App (pay for download). It depends on your own laptop quality and restrictions, so download and pay at own risk.

Refereeing Assistance Programme 2021:2

Thanks to a reader I can share the Assistance Programme 2021:2 and the Euro 2020 version with you. The latter is linked below.

Download your RAP 2021:2 version (8,5GB)

Refereeing Assistance Programme Euro 2020

Refereeing Assistance Programme Euro 2020 is now also published by Uefa.

Download your RAP Euro 2020 version (5,1GB).

Refereeing Assistance Programme 2021:1

There has been a new Refereeing Assistance Programme published in the summer of 2021. It’s again packed with lots of interesting match situations. Download your copy of the 2021:1 version.

Refereeing Assistance Programme 2020:2

The RAP is shared by Uefa again and the link circulates online. Download your copy of the 2020:2 version.

Refereeing Assistance Programme 2020:1

The Uefa has released the Refereeing Assistance Programmes 2020:1. And now it’s been shared at summer courses, whether online or at FA headquarters, I share a link I’ve seen online too. Download the 2020:1 version (for both Mac and pc).

Refereeing Assistance Programme 2019:2

• UEFA 2019-2 PC
• UEFA 2019-2 MAC
• UEFA 2019-2 MAC (Mojave, Sierra)
• Read more about the app for Mac Catalina users

You’ll find earlier versions below the image.

And to help Mac users

Some referees experience problems with installing MAC versions.

• This document might help you.
• What worked for someone as well: download the MAC version on a Windows pc and then copy it via usb to your MAC.
• And the app Mulppy is the solution for the new Mac Catalina software.

Refereeing Assistance Programme 2019:1

• Uefa 2019:1 RAP for PC
• Uefa 2019:1 RAP for MAC
• Uefa 2019:1 RAP for Sierra and Mojave

Refereeing Assistance Programme 2018:2

Thanks to my readers I got the 2018:2 Refereeing Assistance Programme 2018:2

• UEFA RAP 2018:2 for PC
• UEFA RAP 2018-2 for MAC

2018:1 version

Thanks to readers of my blog I can present you RAP 2018-1. Please be aware the files are huge (10GB), so download via wifi.

• PC version
• MAC version
• MAC Sierra

Refereeing Assistance Programme 2017-2

Thanks to readers of my blog I can present you RAP 2017-2.

New situations from the last six months. Quite interesting for us all. Download the files and practice at home.

• Download the edition for PC
• Download the editon for MAC

Some experience problems with installing MAC versions. This document might help you.

RAP Women’s Euro 2017

A great download with match situations from the Women’s Euro in 2017.

• Download Women’s Euro version for PC
• Download Women’s Euro version for MAC

Referee Assistance Programme 2017-1

I am trying to get the 2017-2 version for you, but can already share the first edition of 2017 with you. In a few days I hopefully also have the Women’s Euro version.

Download 2017-1 version.

(below you’ll also find older versions)

Refereeing Programme Euro 2016 in France

Download the RAP files

Please note the files are links to WeTransfer files. Because the size is about 5 GB, make sure you have your wifi on. I personally have not tested the MAC-link, because I have a PC.

RAP Euro 2016 for PC

RAP 2016 (edition 2)

Download for PC
Download for MAC

I got these links via Arbiter Café on Twitter. Much appreciated!

How the RAP works

You can watch video’s in different categories, but will not see the correct call immediately. Make sure you think for yourself what decision you will make. Then you can click at the right bottom text, which gives you an explanation.

Good luck and enjoy!

Deliberate play guidelines for offside have been clarified by IFAB and FIFA. These football bodies want to give more clarity how referees, players and fans can distinguish “deliberate play” and “deflection”. This story has a few clips and also refers you to a full presentation at the IFAB website.

The laws now basically say when you’re in an offside position:

• after a deflection you’re still offside
• after deliberate play you’re onside

But the question is: what is the difference between these two? Because people in football thought a player should not be onside when an opponent moves to the ball and touches it. Most referees applied the law in a way where movement to a ball led to a deliberate play.

What is deliberate play then?

Because of this misunderstanding, IFAB and FIFA want to explain the terms a little futher. Doe the Laws of the Game need to adapted? “No change to Law 11 is necessary”, says IFAB in a statement. They define it as stated below.

“Deliberate play is when a player has control of the ball with the possibility of:

• passing the ball to a team-mate; or
• gaining possession of the ball; or
• clearing the ball (e.g. by kicking or heading it).

If the pass, attempt to gain possession or clearance by the player in control of the ball is inaccurate or unsuccessful, this does not negate the fact that the player ‘deliberately played’ the ball.”

Criteria you can use as a referee

The following criteria should be used, as appropriate, as indicators that a player was in control of the ball and, as a result, ‘deliberately played’ the ball:

• The ball travelled from distance and the player had a clear view of it
• The ball was not moving quickly
• The direction of the ball was not unexpected
• The player had time to coordinate their body movement, i.e. it was not a case of instinctive stretching or jumping, or a movement that achieved limited contact/control
• A ball moving on the ground is easier to play than a ball in the air

Examples not deliberate play

IFAB verdict on the situation in Belgium – Russia:

“Not deliberate play as the defender instinctively reacted to a ball whose direction was unexpected because of the presence and movement of the team-mate in front of him.”

Clip starts automatically at right moment. If not, scroll to 2:03.

Another clip at the 2019 club world cup. You can watch it on the FIFA youtube channel.

IFAB’s verdict: offside.

“Not deliberate play as the defender had no control of the ball and, as a result, no possibility of clearing by kicking.

The ball came from a short distance and moved quickly, and defender had no time to coordinate his body movement. He simply stretched out his leg with the aim of deflecting the trajectory of the ball.”

Laws of the Game 2022-2023 changes have been made.

The new laws hav been published in English already. Curious? Download your copy.

Referee Clément Turpin officiates the Champions League final in 2022. He was also the referee in the Europa League final in 2021 and was present at the most recent European Championships. In this blog post you’ll get a look into his career, plus some great insights in his fitness routines and match preparation. 

The quotes in this story come from the wonderful Uefa documentary Man in the Middle and an interview with uefa.com before 2022’s final. You can also watch the tips below in the video.

Game management and calmness

Referee Clément Turpin has some great tips on game management. He calls them extreme situations. “Extreme because there is pressure, there are a lot of emotions around you.” Because it’s also crucial to make the right calls, not necessarily the most popular decison. “You need to be courageous and be able to ease tension. Calmness breeds calmness in tense and difficult situations.”

But are you up for that task? “The life of a referee revolves around being ready to take decisions, being confident and being natural. You have to understand the game – the more you do, the better you can read a game as a referee.”

Smallest details are crucial to reach the top

Turpin finds the balance in the countryside and the hectic life as football referee with games all over Europe. He became a referee at the age of 16, but he never saw himself 20+ years later as an international referee. And 2021 will be the pinnacle of his career so far, with an appointment for the Europa League final between Manchester United and Villarea. He also goes to the Euro 2020 tournament.

Reaching the top comes to the smallest details, he says. “And these details, if you don’t have persons to help you to show what are these details, then it’s very difficult.”

Roberto Rosetti was his mentor 4 years ago and he helped him with finalising these last details that made him the referee that could become an Uefa Elite referee. “It’s so important to have a person with a lot of experience and a fantastic spirit to push you to reach this target.” 

Match preparation by referee Clément Turpin

Clément Turpin organises the match preparation around 4 topics. 

• Tactical organisation
• Set pieces – “in modern football set pieces are so important”
• Offside situations
• Behaviour of the players

“Thanks to these 4 topics I try to have a perfect view of both teams.” And during the game mutual respect helps you manage the game. “I give always respect to players and coaches, so I expect respect from them as well.”

As you can see, he does a very thorough preparation. It reminds me how the Dutch referees prepare for their games. In this story with video analyst John Balvers you can read more how they analyse all the clips and teams.

Find motivation to train

Because referees and the assistants in their team don’t always live nearby, they can’t train always as a team. “The differences between players and referees is for sure the motivation to go to the training”, Turpin says. “Because when you’re alone, it is difficult to find the motivation. But when you have the target of the Champions League matches, believe me, the motivation is so easy to have.”

An advice for all of us. Although you might not officiate at international level, you also have targets as a referee and keep these in mind and you’ll be more motivated to train. 

Don’t underestimate the physical aspect

“The physical aspect is one of the most important ones for referees. The intensity of play increases season after season and the referee has to follow. That’s why we have to do training sessions every day. That is normal.” The French top referee is convinced the training intensity of players and referees is more or less the same. “We have to sprint at high intensity, we repeat this high intensity. That’s why I have to focus on the physical aspect.” 

Also amateur levels improve, so should you as a referee. During the season you get tips every #FitnessFriday on my Instagram or YouTube. 

Referee Lina Lehtovaara officiates the 2022 women’s UEFA Champions League final. The Finnish match official has been named as a Euro 2022 referee as well. In this story she shares some valuable insights for you as a referee.

Continue reading →

The 2022 World Cup Referees have been announced by FIFA. For the first time female referees are selected for this men’s tournament.

• Stéphanie Frappart (France), Salima Mukansanga (Rwanda) and Yoshima Yamashita (Japan) are the 3 female referees
• Also female ARs are selected: Neuza Back (Brazil), Karen Diaz Medina (Mexico) and Kathryn Nesbitt (USA).
• 36 referees, 69 assistant referees and 24 video referees are selected
• England, France, Brazil and Argentina will have 2 referees present, other countries just 1

Check the full list of match officials (pdf with names of all referees, ARs, video referees)

The blog post will be updated with reactions and replies. Love to hear what’s the biggest surprise for you below in the comments or on my Instagram post.

Dit bericht op Instagram bekijken

Een bericht gedeeld door Jan from Dutch Referee Blog (@dutchreferee)

Collina explains early selection

Collina explains the early selection, 6 months before the final rounds to be played:

“We are announcing these selections well in advance as we want to work even harder with all those who have been appointed for the FIFA World Cup, monitoring them in the next months. The message is clear: don’t rest on your laurels, keep working hard and prepare yourselves very seriously for the World Cup”

Europa League final referee Slavko Vinčić is “full of emotion, pride and happiness” by his appointment. He officiates Eintracht Frankfurt vs Glasgow Rangers in 2022. In this story you’ll get some valuable lessons from him.

Be yourself as a referee

Referee Slavko Vinčić talks with Uefa.com before the final, from which I cite in this article. Be yourself is crucial for the Slovenian referee, who officiated at Euro 2020. “Of course, you do look at other referees and how they handle things. But we’re really all different people, from various environments and cultures. I definitely think that you have to be natural, rather than a ‘copycat’.”

Analyze your own performance

“You must be self-analytical as a referee”, is what referee Slavko Vinčić says. It’s only briefly mentioned in the article, but it’s a crucial thing. Make sure you know how you performed, how you handled the game.

A great technique for this is the 24-24 rule by MLS AR Katy Nesbitt.

Preparation of referee Slavko Vinčić

The Slovenian referee has officiated 10 UCL games, including 2 in the qualification this season (a few football stats websites count 1 more than Uefa). For him this experience is important. “You’re ready in many ways to referee the match before it starts. Of course, circumstances change in a match, but if you’re sufficiently prepared, not only tactically, but also mentally and physically, you have a much greater chance of a successful game.”

Make sure you prepare well. Curious how referees tactically prepare? Check the interview with video analyst John Balvers, who helped Björn Kuipers a lot.Read the full article at the Uefa website.