This referee gave the assist of the year. After a player took the corner kick it deflects on the referee and gives a striker the perfect opportunity to shoot. The ball went straight into the goal. Could he have prevented that? Tips for referee positioning at corner kick situations.

But check out the video of this situation first. It’s a game between Sampdoria and Hellas Verona that ends in a 5-0 win for the home team.

First ask yourself what would be your ideal position for a corner kick? Do you stay in the penalty area or not?

According to guidelines by The FA you should be able to see both the ball and the players in the penalty area. In a publication they wrote: “The referee’s optimum position would be where he can view the ball and the players at the same time in the penalty area to observe any possible challenges or infringements that may occur.”

FIFA Guidelines

Ideal positioning for the referee according to FIFA guidelines is just outside the penalty area a bit left from the goal (so NOT on the side where your assistant is).

That is the positioning when the corner kick is take at the side of the referee. You’ll see a small difference in the image below, when the corner kick is at the assistant referee’s side. Have you seen it?

The body of the referee is slightly different. The first picture indicates that you should also be aware what happens to the left of you. Positioning yourself as in the first image would give you the opportunity to watch to the corner kick taker as well.

Don’t watch to the taker constantly, but have a quick look now and then so you’ll know when the ball is taken and if it moves in your direction. The main focus should be on the penalty area, because that’s where most important things might happen.

Managing a corner kick

This blog focuses only on the positioning during the corner kick. Stephen Green – a referee tutor who unfortunately passed a way while cycling for a good cause – has written a guest post on my blog. Check out his tips on how to manage a corner kick.

All promoted referees posted happy things on Facebook after the end of the season. There was one positive message from a referee that has been relegated. His motto: don’t quit, but work even harder to get back on a higher level. “Giving up is the easy way”, says the relegated referee. “You can get back if you really want to.”

It wasn’t the first time Ronny Mulder got the news that he was relegated as a referee. He refereed in the Topklasse, the highest amateur level, when it was introduced in 2010-2011. But he was already relegated twice before and worked his way up again. “I know how it feels to relegate. I am 56 now and it’s my 28th year as referee. You should always have a goal as referee – no matter how old you are. I was already 50 when I reached the national amateur level.”

His most important message for referees: don’t quit if you have a setback. “Giving up is the easiest way. That is not an option for me.”

We don’t learn to lose

“As a referee on the higher amateur levels we know that 3 or 4 out of 12 will relegate”, Mulder says. “It can happen and you should take it into account. But the problem is: we don’t learn to lose.”

Mulder is also a coach for young talented referees. “What would those refs think if I would quit?” When his pupils get a bad mark he learns them not to complain about he assessors. “I ask them how they will try to improve on that aspect of the game. They need to make reflective reports about their performance. Everybody wants the pat on the shoulder, but somotimes you need a kick in the butt as well”

The road to the top is long for referees. Mulder has much respect the referees in the lowest groups. “Only 3 or 4 out of 75 will make the step up. Then you need persistance, because the chance you won’t earn a promotion is so high”

Lessons from Ronny Mulder

• Determine for yourself what your top level will be. Don’t set a goal that is too high, not everybody is good enough to reach the top. “If you’ve don that, you will really appreciate your games.”
• Don’t call off your games when you know you will have a stern assessor. “Yes, that is what happens a lot.”
• Don’t complain about the assessor, but have a look in the mirror after every game. Ask yourself how you did and what should improve.
• You are never too young to reach the top. Mulder was 50 when he reached the national amateur level.
• And the most important one: don’t quit when you relegate or have a bad mark.

Have you ever been relegated? How did you find the power to go for it another season and did it pay off?
For our Dutch colleagues. Ronny Mulder was referee in the game which tv host Hans Kraaij jr. threw away his jacket.

PS: Ronny sells Acme whistles. Check out his website.

The Graham Norton Show had a wonderful episode about refereeing. I did not expect it, but have you ever thought of David Beckham as football referee?

What he told was a nice story of how difficult it could be to referee a match of one of your kids.

“I ref’d one of the games of Romeo. Romeo is the most emotional of all of my kids actually. He was playing at this game and the referee didn’t turn up. All the parents were looking at me as if to say …”

“I went on the pitch and started refereeing the game. It went great, they were winning 4-0. And then one of the opposition players went towards our goal.” The he realises he should be neutral as referee and adds: ‘I shouln’t say it was our goal’.”

“Then Romeo went to make a tackle. He missed the ball and took the player down. It was an obvious penalty and I am thinking: “Oh no, I really don’t want to be making this decision. But then, I looked at our parents and I know I had to give the penalty. I give the penalty and Romeo is looking at me and see his eyes are wetting up. The kid stepped up and took the penalty – and I shouldn’t say thankfully – but he missed it. And as our team, as Romeo’s team was breaking he ran passed me and said: ‘I can’t believe you did that, daddy’.”

A great story to learn from. Be honest as referee – even when you have to referee your own kids and give a penalty kick against them.

Interested in more youth football lesson. Check out how a coaches teaches his pupils to respect the referee.

I heared a story of a few talented referees who quit refereeing before they reached the top level. Not because they were not good enough, but they felt they were not treated the right way. Such a waste of quality!

And when I read a story from Jeff Weiner, CEO at LinkedIn, I thought it would be useful for my blog. It gives an answer to how football assocations can retain talented referees – and what referees should do themselves!

And it’s not only 3 musts for national football assocations. If you want to get a better referee you should ask the following 3 things from your FA and work hard to make the most of it:

1. Mentorship
2. Career path
3. Recognition

Mentorship

Jeff Weiner: “The primary role of a mentor in this case is to help the mentee determine what it is they ultimately want to do, and ensure they are well equipped to pursue that path.”

What mentors should do: listen to young referees and help them in their needs.

What refs can do themselves: As a talented referee you maybe need tips for better training, nutrition or you want to improve your non-verbal communication. Tell your mentor what you need and he will provide useful info for you.

Career path

Jeff Weiner: “Understand what it is you ultimately want to accomplish.”

What both mentors and referees should do: talk together and share your expectations of each other. Plus make a plan for your career.

Two important factors here:

1. The football association should keep promises towards referees
2. Referees should work hard to achieve the set goals

Recognition

Jeff Weiner: “Every individual you work with, regardless of their position within the organization, not only wants to be recognized – they need to be recognized. It’s a fundamental part of human nature.”

It’s not just financial compensation. It’s also recognition of hard work. Most professional referees will get a very good match fee, but young refs spend lot of time in their refereeing career without earning a lot. I’ve heard examples of talented referees being a fourth official on Dutch 2nd League on Friday night, having their own game on Saturday, being a mentor themselves of young kids on Sunday and being a 4th official again on Monday. Quite a busy weekend.

FA’s can motivate young refs by giving them recognition for their hard work. Show your appreciation. Give a call after a good assessment, share the good performances of talents on local meetings or ask regularly how they are doing. Get personal!

And the most crucial lesson from Jeff Weiner: “Recognize a job well done (good refereeing performances) consistently and you’ll not only be more likely to retain your most valuable people, you’ll motivate them to do their best work along the way.”

Barry Kelly is a top class hurling referee. I have to admit I didn’t know what kind of sport it was when I went to Dublin. But eventhough I am not familiair with it, Kelly gave me some wonderful tips and lessons I can use as football referee.

If you don’t know hurling either, check this out:

Here are some nice lessons and quotes from Barry Kelly:

• Always make decisions on it’s merits
• Get some people skills
• You’ll make mistakes whey you’re tired
• The best place to watch a game is from the center of the field
• You can even loose controle after 10 seconds
• There’s less intolerance of mistakes
• No one starts refereeing with dreams of getting to the very top
• Refereeing can be easier in stadiums with big crowd

Barry Kelly worked out a few of them in his speech. I’ve added that below.

Always make decisions on it’s merits

Barry Kelly: “The pressure is on after a red card or a second yellow. In hurling they might have almost decapitated an opponent with their stick. But they expect you to do them a favour. And I know people don’t like it when players are sent-off, especially in finals. My advice: Always make judgements on it’s merits.”

Seems obvious, but you only will do that when you keep it in mind. This season I gave a penalty kick and a player of the other team fell in the penalty box just a few minutes later. I did not give it, but that’s when they will ask you for a penalty kick too.

Get some people skills

So you need to be psychologically and socially strong. Wikipedia writes: It’s “the ability to communicate effectively with people in a friendly way”. You need to build relationships of trust. Barry Kelly: “I work at a secondary school and that’s how I learn a lot of those skills. Others should maybe work on that.”

There’s less intolerance of mistakes

Barry Kelly: “People want referees to be perfect. There is less intolerance of mistakes. You can ref well for 88 minutes, make one mistake then and you are the bad guy.”

Big crowd

Barry Kelly: “Refereeing can be easier in stadiums with big crowd. You just hear the noice. You don’t hear individual comments any more.”

Read other stories from the referee conference in Dublin:

• 7 lessons from David Coldrick for referees in all sports.
• Road of recovery from Mark Halsey after getting cancer
• Visualise game situations as match preparation