All officials, especially referees, in the game of football know how important the rules of the match are. Besides these obvious regulations of the game, there some football rules which are not written, but is a standard that everyone must follow. Here are the five unwritten rules of officiating.
Keep the Ball Moving
Some football officials would prefer to stand on the field for a long game. Some football matches can be longer than other games, as a result of poor play, that causes a penalty shoot-out, that can stretch the game for as long as three hours. However, it is wrong for officials to drag a game for too long. Officials must always ensure that the ball keeps moving, and the clock is running throughout the game.
When Doubt Arises, Do What Is Expected
Officials must follow the rules of the game in all situations. There are some occasions, however, when an official may not know the course of action to take, after observing an incident. When an official isn’t sure of whether to make a call or not, it is best to do what would be expected in that given situation. For instance, if it is uncertain that a player has a concussion or not? It is better to have that player checked.
If You Think You’ve Seen Something, You Probably Didn’t
During the game, an official may be focusing on the coverage area, and in that concentration, notice something that draws his attention. It may look like a foul, but the official didn’t see it all. It isn’t good when a referee fails to call it if it actually happened, and it would be even less acceptable, if the official calls something that didn’t happen, based on his gut feeling. Officials should only call something they saw with their own eyes.
When Making an Unexpected Call, be 100% Sure
When an official sees an incident happen on the field, he has to be very sure that what he has noticed, actually happened before he makes a call. It should be a call that he can defend, and be 100% confident that the incident occurred.
Concentration Should Be Doubled When the Game Is Nearly Over
During the time the game is about to end, you notice players will just be going through motions. Officials may get caught up with thoughts about the next game, or anything possible could grab their attention, knowing that the game is about to end. It is actually during the few minutes to end the game that officials should increase their concentration. The blow out time is the perfect period when officials can work on some mechanics, instead of just quitting the game.
