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  • About
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Case studies
  • Interviews
  • Tips & tricks
    • Development as ref: start with the selfscan
    • Game management
    • Goal-setting for referees
    • Effective communication
    • Mental toughness
    • Focus and concentration
  • Fitness
    • Importance of physical training
    • Fifa fitness test for referees (men and women)
    • Assistant referee fitness test
    • Change of Direction Ability (CODA) fitness test
    • Single Double Single High Intensity Interval Test
    • ARIET fitness test
    • Nutrition for referees
  • Resources
    • Football Laws of the Game
    • Futsal Laws of the Game
    • Laws of the Game Quizzes
    • FIFA refereeing international lists 2023
    • Refereeing Assistance Programme
    • Refereeing magazines
  • About
  • Blog,  Laws Of The Game

    Answer: 46 is max number of cards before abandoning game

    11 June, 2013 / 7 Comments

    Here’s the answer of the question: How many cards can a referee give to active players during a competition match on highest amateur level before he needs to abandon the match? The options were, as posted in my previous blog post about the Dutch Laws of the Game Champions 2013 won by Utrecht. A. Max. 39 B. Max. 40 C. Max. 46 D. Max. 47 The correct answer is C. The explanation. I got questions about the number of substitutes. That is three. A referee could book all players from both teams: 2 x 11 = 22 yellows. Then the coaches could use substitues and all substitues could get booked…

    Read More
    Jan ter Harmsel

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    Laws of the Game Quiz 2024-2025 #1

    18 September, 2024
    Simona Ghisletta. Photo provided by referee.

    ‘Refereeing is expecting the unexpected’

    21 July, 2011

    Referee 2.0 uses smartphone app for goals and cards

    17 November, 2012
  • Blog,  Laws Of The Game,  video

    Bluff penalty kick fails and goalie saves the ball

    13 October, 2012 / 4 Comments

    Penalty takers try to mislead the goalie very often, but not all tricks work out as they were meant. Have a look at this bluff penalty. Don’t know the league or competition, but that’s not important if I want to explain the rules of the game. UPDATE: check comment from Laszlo Sipos below for more information about the match. The football Laws of the Game by Fifa state that ‘the player taking the kick must be properly identified’. For the viewer’s it’s at least not clear who’s going to take the kick. UPDATE: At first, I quoted the Laws of the Game that this is a case where ‘a teammate…

    Read More
    Jan ter Harmsel

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    Referee 2.0 uses smartphone app for goals and cards

    17 November, 2012
    Simona Ghisletta. Photo provided by referee.

    ‘Refereeing is expecting the unexpected’

    21 July, 2011

    Laws of the Game Quiz 2024-2025 #1

    18 September, 2024
  • Blog,  video

    Offside or just a stupid own goal?

    9 January, 2012 / 1 Comment

    Zanetti had a big smile on his face after he kicked the ball hard behind his own goalie. Just couldn’t stop laughing about this stupid action. But what he didn’t know that the goal in the match Parma – Inter didn’t count. Referee Antonio Giannoccaro took over the signal of his assistant Claudio La Rocca, who made an offside call for the attacker close to Zanetti. What would you say: stupid action by the defender or correct call by the assistant because the attacker is influencing Zanetti’s play although he didn’t touch the ball?

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    Jan ter Harmsel

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    Simona Ghisletta. Photo provided by referee.

    ‘Refereeing is expecting the unexpected’

    21 July, 2011

    Laws of the Game Quiz 2024-2025 #1

    18 September, 2024

    Referee 2.0 uses smartphone app for goals and cards

    17 November, 2012
  • Blog,  Laws Of The Game

    Re-re-re-re-retake the penalty kick, please

    23 July, 2011 / 2 Comments

    This referee let’s the penalty kick retaken over and over again. Players won’t stop complaining, isn’t he just strictly applying the rules? Teammates of the taker and as well as opponents infringe the Laws of the Game. Mostly by moving into the penalty area (or 9,15m circle) too soon. But also take a look at the goalkeeper during the penalty kick he saved. He moves forward to fast and is way in front of the goalline when the attacker actually kicks the ball. Anyone an idea why the goal from the before last kick is not allowed? Last week, I’ve started a discussion about giving a yellow for players who…

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    Jan ter Harmsel

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    Simona Ghisletta. Photo provided by referee.

    ‘Refereeing is expecting the unexpected’

    21 July, 2011

    Referee 2.0 uses smartphone app for goals and cards

    17 November, 2012

    Laws of the Game Quiz 2024-2025 #1

    18 September, 2024
  • Blog,  Laws Of The Game

    Original Laws Of The Game sold for £881,250

    14 July, 2011 / 2 Comments

    The original Laws Of The Game (LATG) have been sold for £881,250 at an auction. The anonymous bidder gets the unique handwritten rules of 1858 and the only known surviving copy of the only known surviving copy of the printed Rules, Regulations, & Laws of the Sheffield Foot‐Ball Club (1859). Both documents are part of the archive of world’s oldest football club Sheffield FC. Sotheby’s description of the document: “The 1858 rules promoted a passing game played with the feet, and included the free kick, throw‐in, goal kick, restrictions on handling the ball, and the banning of “hacking or tripping”. The code built on earlier football rules (most importantly from…

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    Jan ter Harmsel

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    Laws of the Game Quiz 2024-2025 #1

    18 September, 2024

    Referee 2.0 uses smartphone app for goals and cards

    17 November, 2012
    Simona Ghisletta. Photo provided by referee.

    ‘Refereeing is expecting the unexpected’

    21 July, 2011
  • Blog,  Laws Of The Game,  video

    Fifa: ‘Penalty via bar, ground & in goal = goal’

    23 June, 2011 / No Comments

    Fifa has announced that a goal should be allowed when a penalty kick – as last action of a half or in a shoutout – is shot on the bar, then touches the ground and crosses the goal line. That’s why the Dutch Football Association KNVB has announced a new interpretation of the Laws of the game for next season. Last weeks many referees discussed the match Dro and Termeno in Italian football. The referee allowed a goal. It now turns out he was correct, according to Fifa. In 2009 the Dutch referee commission announced that a goal should not been allowed in the situation above. The PK situation was…

    Read More
    Jan ter Harmsel

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    Referee 2.0 uses smartphone app for goals and cards

    17 November, 2012
    Simona Ghisletta. Photo provided by referee.

    ‘Refereeing is expecting the unexpected’

    21 July, 2011

    Laws of the Game Quiz 2024-2025 #1

    18 September, 2024
  • Blog,  Laws Of The Game

    Red card in a friendly: yes or no?

    9 August, 2010 / 2 Comments

    Last weekend I watched a friendly match and the referee didn’t give a card. In my opinion he could give at least one direct red card. Should players not be booked for an offence because it’s a friendly? Should referees change their match policy in non-official matches? Do you see it more often that the man in black doesn’t show a red card in a such matches? Let me know what you think. Red or yellow card in a friendly: yes or no? (and why)

    Read More
    Jan ter Harmsel

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    Simona Ghisletta. Photo provided by referee.

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    Laws of the Game Quiz 2024-2025 #1

    18 September, 2024

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