Corner Kick Positioning 2

Let's talk a bit more about CK positioning.

Positioning is always flexible. You adjust your positioning based on the match situation in front of you. But there is a set of best practice recommended positions for various situations. You may deviate from them from time to time. But when you deviate from it, you really want to make sure that you are not taking an unnecessary risk.

DOGSO

DOGSO inside a penalty area can result in a red card or a yellow card. DOGSO by handball is always a red card. DOGSO that does not involve an attempt to play the ball (e.g. holding, pushing, pulling) is penalized with a red card, as well. But DOSGO as a result of an attempt to play the ball is penalized with a yellow card.

Referees are generally advised to give the defender a benefit of the doubt. We will never know the true intent of a player. But if you, as the referee, can make a case that the defender attempted to play the ball, then you are advised to give a yellow card. Of course, when a foul occurs when the defender has no chance to pay the ball (e.g. the ball is close to the attacker but not to the defender) or when it is one of the examples above (push, pull, hold), then an argument for a yellow card cannot be supported.

But what this means is that as referees, we can not just blow our whistle when we see a foul. We must examine the nature of an offence. We must have a macro view of the incident, and not focus just on the point of contact.

The video example below shows the importance of identifying the nature of an offence, because the consequence is very different (i.e. a red card or a yellow card).

Corner Kick Positioning

Where do you position yourself upon a corner kick when it is taken from the AR side? The Laws of the Game provides guidance on it.

Of course, just like any other positioning examples, some factors may affect where you actually position yourself. But as the diagram below shows, the referee is supposed to position themselves so that the goal, most of the penalty area, and the AR can be in their view.

Take a look at this video to learn more about corner kick positioning.

Urgency

There are many situations when you, as the referee, must show a sense of urgency. When there is a red card offence, you will want to get there to stop a possible flare-up. When there is a mass confrontation, your urgency is needed. Your presence can sometimes calm the situation down.

Another situation where you need to show your urgency is when there is a serious injury. You will want to get to the injured player quickly so you can get the needed assistance for them. The earlier you get to the injured player, the sooner you can get the athletic trainer.

Learn from the video below. Show urgency if you suspect a serious injury.

Corner Flag

As a player, have you taken a corner kick? Has a corner flag post every got in a way of your kick? Even if it gets in the way, a player cannot move it. But what if they did, especially if it is a moveable flag post? As the referee, do you tell them to put the flag back?

Moving a flag might look like a minor offence. You may not want to irritate a player by telling them to put the flag back. But what if they scored from the corner kick? How would you explain to the defending team? The defending team might very well complain that the restart was illegal.

So keep things simple. Take care of small things so you don't have to worry about a possible big issue. Watch the video below. Tell the player to place the flag back before the kick.

Securing 10 yards

How do you ensure that the attacking team gets 10 yards upon a free kick? Sometimes it takes a lot of work to move the wall that does not want to move back. The wall says they're too far from the ball. The attackers say the wall is too close.

But the basics are the same. If you determine that the wall is too close and that you need to get involved, make sure that everyone knows that the game would not resume without your whistle. Tell the attackers it is on your whistle. Tell the GK it is on your whistle. After that, tell the wall exactly where you want them to be. 

Wall Management

After you call a foul in the attacking area, you often have to manage the defensive wall. Besides making sure that the wall is at least 10 yards away from the free kick location, what else do you have to manage? On a contested game, there may be extracurricular incidents after you call a foul, away from the ball. This is why you should always keep as many players as possible in your view. You also want to keep your assistant referee in your view.

Below is a video example of how a referee could have done better with his wall management. 

Offside

Ask yourself. When you are an assistant referee and the ball is on the other side of the field, how much attention do you pay to the ball/play versus the offside line in your half of the field? You know you need to be aligned at all times. But you know the ball is unlikely to come to your half of the field.

But incorrect alignment can be costly. Not paying attention to the offside line can easily leads you to not know who was onside and who was offside at the moment of the last touch. Watch the video below. An unexpected ball forces the AR to make an offside position. Unfortunately, he was not aligned. He was watching the ball and not the offside line. So he ends up making an incorrect decision.