Coming up this weekend the following games will be covered by Ref Cam: 1st Aug, 3:00 pm Women’s FA Cup Final – Chelsea Ladies v Notts County Ladies – 2nd Aug, 3:00 pm FA Community Shield – Chelsea v Arsenal,  A list of all the big games coming up on YATR is always available at: http://you-are-the-ref.com/ref-cam/  Good night from me and have a good week. Regards Andy Martin

The referee Jose Carlos Rivero has remained firmly in control of this game how? Well, he has retained throughout the game a good and credible proximity to play achieved by a very good movement and achievement of viewing angles. Good detection of fouls, penalty kick and non penalty kick, free kick awards in the penalty area. Little dissent seen from players is a credit to the referee and his reading of play. Just some areas to consider as discussed- avoid the man handling of players, foul throw ins and get up signal to players. This has though been one of the best referee performances that I have seen by a referee on the MLS league to date. Well done Jose! Also very good and low key support from both ARs who correctly recognised that Jose was well in control of this game and that there was little need to intervene such was his overall control of this end to end game.

3-2 Full time summary to follow:  

Good final sprint from our referee with a good positive arm signal for a throw in to PU.  

3 MINS ADDED TIME DC SUB 10 OFF 30 ON  

Again good running movement and hold of the flag by our nearside AR, this must be Paul Rejers Coaching advice, well done!

The referee is firmly in control of this game and now must ensure that he retains this after all the hard work that he has done to date

Offside – correct decision from far side AR – just but enough and correct

Good movement and close proximity to play by the referee as we enter the final stages of this game

Free kick to PU spray out again good use of the verbal advice to the offending DC player

Good detection from both Referee and AR for a ck to PU

Offside against DC – PU have made 2 subs

DC SUB 9 OFF

3-2 what a comeback from the league leaders!  

The referee plays an advantage to PU which is a good advantage and then decides no foul to DC he then gives a get up signal to the DC not best practice here as you can never be sure that the player is not injured. No free kick award is enough

DC SUB 18 OFF 17 ON

Player`s are showing a confidence in our referee following another free kick award in the penalty area

Again, good free movement by our referee who is displaying a good posture and body language

The referee is maintaining close proximity to play. Award of a free kick and a to 14 of PU. After some thought by referee a yellow card is then shown. This would have been an ideal opportunity to use your time as a referee ask the player his name and remind him of his responsibilities for the remainder of the game. A yellow card is a reminder and a warning to be careful for the rest of the game  

2-2 Leaders DC are back in the game, can they go and win?  

Free kick to DC foul on gk the referee has been consistent in this area and refers back to my comments regarding incidents in the penalty area

DU gk comes out a long way to clear for a throw in which leads to a ck to PU

From a deflection from a PU player we see the referee use a good blast of the whistle to indicate a corner kick to DU. No doubt and positive

One thing that I hope from our Premier League this season is that grappling is eradicated from our game. How? by either pro active management by our referees, either award a free kick or penalty kick, never mind this concept about if it is a free kick outside the penalty area. But not enough to give in the penalty area, It either is or it is not. This would clean up this area of the game. As we have seen in our MLS games, with referees not afraid to award penalty kicks

Again, from a corner kick little grappling is seen, why may you be asking? because I believe that referees on the MLS will award penalty kicks if needs be

Offside against DC the DC player has run back from an offside position to become active into the other half of the field of play. The referee has correctly ensured the restart of play from the position when the ball was played forward to the offside player

Good advantage played by the referee to DC – this is an area discussed by Paul Rejer in Play 20 on the Pro Referee Organisation Web Site – well worth a read

Let us know what you think by contacting us on either on Twitter @youaretheref or email us at Info@you-are-the-ref.com

Good spot from the referee – close to play – handball from DC player

Second half is underway at The RFK Stadium

This has been an exciting first half – all round the referee has done well, good movement seen, positioning for key decisions remember this adds credibility particularly for the goals, penalty kick awarded and not awarded. He has remained firm and fair and not been influenced by player wanting yellow cards for the opposition. Areas to consider as I mentioned in my blog don’t man handle players leave this to physio, keep an eye on throw ins (foul throw ins) Both ARs have given good support to the referee, low key and that is what is required. Just 9 free kicks awarded by the referee with 6 against the home and 3 against the away and 1 offside given by each AR

1-2 half time summary to follow:  

No penalty kick to PU correct good position from our referee

2  minutes of added time

Free kick to PU foul on gk of PU correct as there is a foul on him by a DC player

Foul throw in by 22 of DC – incorrect delivery of the ball and foot raised from the ground at point of delivery not detected by referee or AR

Free kick to PU not good to see the PU wanting the referee to show a yellow card to the DC player. The referee remains firm and unmoved, good and speaks to player. Spray out for free kick management

1-2 how DC must be regretting that penalty miss!  

One thing I have noticed in the MLS games that I have blogged is the responsible behaviour of the technical areas. Is this really a problem in our game in England? See Hacketts BLOG for an update and also the latest ref show

Offside from our nearside AR who shows a good retention for his restart position  

Well the DC penalty kick goes high and over the crossbar

Penalty to DC a correct decision, given from a close and good viewing angle in a calm and controlled manner by the referee

To date the referee is showing a good movement and close proximity to play, he is letting the players get on with the game and just intervening as and when is necessary, this is the art of refereeing

Just in response to my earlier comment about the referee pulling up from the ground the injured DC player it is always the best action not to get involved or man handle players as there could always be possible further actions to be mindful of.

Free kick to PU again good use of the whistle by the referee no need for any further action, maybe not the best action to pull up from the ground the injured player, leave this to the physio to do, just monitor

DC are now pressing to get back in the game, the referee will be mindful of player position and game changing situations

This is the referee`s 50th MLS game tonight making his debut on the 12th MAY 2012

With the DC gk coming out right to the edge of his penalty area the AR has picked a good position to judge

Free kick to PU again the referee is swiftly onto the scene to award and control

Again no free kick correctly awarded and a corner kick is the outcome to DC

Free kick to DC good early use of the whistle by our referee who is using his whistle with a varied tone, depending on the severity of the challenge

The AR on the far side is showing a good in field movement, whilst retaining a credible position in line with the 2nd rearmost defender

Good non foul detection from both AR (BD) and Referee from close proximity

Good early signal from our far side AR Brian Dunn (BD) for a goal kick

And we have another  0-2. This game seems full of goals!

Good early movement seen from our referee, with good backwards movement seen

Well what a start and we have a  to Philadelphia Union after 20 seconds!    

Our Match Referee Jose Carlos Rivero (JCR) blows his whistle to signal the kick off

The Youdan Trophy – Starts tomorrow! for more information please visit -

    www.youdantrophy.com.    

Feel free to interact with me during the game by joining in on Twitter @youaretheref or e-mail at info@you-are-the-ref.com

Good evening and a very warm welcome to tonight`s MLS game played at the RFK Stadium.

Referee: Jose Carlos Rivero (JCR) AR1: Sean Hurd (SH) AR2: Brian Dunn (BD) 4th Official: Marcos De Oliveira (MDO)