ADVANTAGE

ADVANTAGE

The Four Ps

Important in Match Management:

Players Want To Play!Soccer is a sport involving

Action!Movement!Excitement!

(little of this occurs during a stoppage)

One way to keep the match moving:

Don’t stop play for violations that “don’t matter”

Former IBD-8, Law 5

Paraphrased as:

Don’t whistle for doubtful or trifling violations

One way to keep the match moving:

Don’t stop play for violations that “don’t matter”

Former IBD-8, Law 5

Paraphrased as:

Don’t whistle for doubtful or trifling violations

What is“doubtful”?

One way to keep the match moving:

Don’t stop play for violations that “don’t matter”

Former IBD-8, Law 5

Paraphrased as:

Don’t whistle for doubtful or trifling violations

What is“trifling?

Another way we keep the match moving is to apply advantage

Law 5

Paraphrased as:

Signal that play will continue if stopping play would benefit the team that committed the

violation

Another way we keep the match moving is to apply advantage

Law 5

Paraphrased as:

Signal that play will continue if stopping play would benefit the team that committed the

violation

Signaling “advantage”IS

CALLING THE FOULThe signal only indicates that play will continue

“doubtful or trifling” applies to

Any violation

Any offense

Any infraction

of any Law

“advantage” applies only to

Violations of Law 12

(fouls or misconduct)

“doubtful or trifling” applies to

Any violation

Any offense

Any infraction

of any Law

“advantage” applies only to

Violations of Law 12

(fouls or misconduct)

Although not expressly described as “advantage”

Law 5 does apply the advantage concept to occurrences of misconduct

Infringement

X

A1. Whistle

2. Punishment

3. Re-Start

Involves a Delay

B 1. No Whistle

2. “Advantage”

3. Play Continues4. Acknowledge

Infringement

MUST DEAL WITH MISCONDUCT AT NEXT STOPPAGE

PossessionActive and Credible Control

By

Player Fouled or by Teammate

The First P is

PossessionActive and Credible Control

By

Player Fouled or by Teammate

The First P isBall played into space or a teammate rushing in to

support the fouled playerUsually requires seeing the wider field and

waiting a second or two

PossessionActive and Credible Control

By

Player Fouled or by Teammate

The First P isWhat makes control

“active and credible”?

The Four Ps

Without POSSESSION

None of the other Ps matter

This is the FIRST decision

The First P = Possession

Now add the second P

POTENTIAL

POTENTIAL is

the probability of continuing an immediate and dangerous

attack on the opponent’s goal

Possession + Potential

POTENTIAL is

the probability of continuing an immediate and dangerous

attack on the opponent’s goal

Possession + PotentialProbability =

likelihood

POTENTIAL is

the probability of continuing an immediate and dangerous

attack on the opponent’s goal

Possession + PotentialImmediate =

no break in possession

POTENTIAL is

the probability of continuing an immediate and dangerous

attack on the opponent’s goal

Possession + Potential

Dangerous = possibility of success

POTENTIAL

the probability of continuing an immediate and dangerous attack on the opponent’s goal

What is not included here?

Violation slows up player long enough to permit more defense by opponents

Violation forces continued play away from opponent’s goal

POTENTIAL

the probability of continuing an immediate and dangerous attack on the opponent’s goal

Two more Ps:

PERSONNEL

PROXIMITY

These are not independent

They assist in evaluating POTENTIAL

PERSONNEL

Refers to the number and skill of the attackers relative to the number and skill of the defenders at the time of

or immediately following (2-3 seconds) the violation

Possession + Potential

PERSONNEL

Refers to the number and skill of the attackers relative to the number and skill of the defenders at the time of

or immediately following (2-3 seconds) the violation

Possession + PotentialHaving a “numbers” advantage over the defenders increases the potential

PERSONNEL

Refers to the number and skill of the attackers relative to the number and skill of the defenders at the time of

or immediately following (2-3 seconds) the violation

Possession + Potential

Having a “skill” advantage over the defenders increases the potential

(skill could refer to speed, agility, ball handling, strength, etc.)

PROXIMITY

Refers to the distance from the opponent’s goal

Less distance (closeness) increases POTENTIAL

Possession + Potential

PROXIMITY

Refers to the distance from the opponent’s goal

Less distance (closeness) increases POTENTIAL

Possession + PotentialDistance could be defined purely in terms

of yards or we could use the more traditional concept of “defensive third,”

“middle third,” and “attacking third”

Direction of Attack

Def

ensi

ve

Th

ird

Mid

dle

Th

ird

Att

acki

ng

T

hir

d

Low Probability of Success

ModerateProbability of Success

HighProbabilityof Success

Direction of Attack

Def

ensi

ve

Th

ird

Mid

dle

Th

ird

Att

acki

ng

T

hir

d

Low Probability of Success

Why is the penalty area

marked differently?

ModerateProbability of Success

HighProbabilityof Success

POTENTIAL Outside the Penalty Area

the probability of continuing an immediate and dangerous attack on the opponent’s goal

POTENTIAL Inside the Penalty Area

Scoring a goal immediately (within a play) after the violation

The Four PsPOSSESSION1

+

POTENTIAL2

Evaluated based on

Personnel and Proximity3 4

In deciding about POSSESSION and

in evaluating POTENTIAL using PERSONNEL and PROXIMITY

The Four Ps

We need to consider the players, the teams, the game, and ourselves

Consider the Players:

Skill

Sophistication

Experience

Consider the Team:

Strategy

Teamwork

Consider the Game:

Timing

Field Conditions

Intensity (level of competition)

“Temperature” (degree of feeling)

Consider Ourselves:

Authority

Control

Personality

Potential is

A feeling for

how factors involving

the players in/around the area of the incident, the effectiveness of the

teams, the field conditions, and your own responsibility for game control all come together in an instant to support

a decision to not stop play

The greatest danger in using advantage is

The possibility of retaliation

WHAT SHOULD BE ALLOWED IS

WHAT PLAYERS WILL

TOLERATE

REMEMBER

ALSO REMEMBER

Applying advantage must not be automatic

It must be the result of careful thought

Every advantage incident is unique

Advantage is a useful tool:It can give you an opportunity to adjust or readjust control

Advice to Referees

Do not use advantage as an excusefor failing to act on the violation

Do not fail to punish any misconduct associated with the violation

Every advantage incident is unique

Advantage is a useful tool:It can give you an opportunity to adjust or readjust control

Advice to Referees

Do not use advantage as an excusefor failing to act on the violation

Do not fail to punish any misconduct associated with the violation

Or to talk to or warn the offender if the action falls

short of misconduct

More Advice to Referees

Consider carefully whether to apply advantage if there is a high probability of retaliation

Consider carefully whether to apply advantage after a bad challenge – violence needs to be punished quickly and firmly

Avoid being influenced (one way or the other) by appeals from players, team officials, or spectators

Final Advice to Referees

Remember that advantage is not a gift from the referee …It is a decision by the referee not to take it away

Advantage is not defined solely in terms of scoring a goal – it consists of continuing a credible, dangerous attack on goal … which may or may not be successful

1 POSSESSION

SUMMARY

Control byPlayer or Team

1 POSSESSION

2 POTENTIAL

SUMMARY

Ability to continue credible and dangerous attack

1 POSSESSION

2 POTENTIAL

3 PERSONNEL

SUMMARY

Element of PotentialSkill, Numbers, etc.

1 POSSESSION

2 POTENTIAL

3 PERSONNEL

4 PROXIMITY

SUMMARY

Element of PotentialCloseness to Goal