Recommended referee position during a few common plays.
Corner Kicks – same as free kicks:
Position during free kicks in the kicking team’s attacking third: Position yourself on the opposite side of the kick and in view of the AR.
Identifying where the drop zone is and be prepared to be there:
Goal kicks, free kicks, corner kicks etc. During the first few goal kicks you can identify where the kicker tends to send the ball – be there. The same holds true for free kicks, realize where the ball might go and head towards that sport. Don’t hang around where the kicker is, there is no need to be near him/her, the action is going to take place where the ball is going to land. Be prepared.
If there is a change in possession on either side of mid-field going the other way, be prepared for the long pass as these tend to give us (referees) a momentary disadvantage until we catch up to the play. If the change in possession occurs where a defender turns over the ball to an attacker, position yourself and the AR in that area to manage the situation as it unfolds. Be prepared.
Position during penalty kicks:
Recording goal in a three-man referee match: Remember T L C (Trailing, Leading and Center). When you have a 1 nil or a tied score close to the end of the match, it is important to not have all three of you recording the score and not paying attention to what is happening on the field. The trailing AR records first and the second AR and the Center referee record the score as players are separating and heading towards their respective positions for the kickoff. (this also is good practice throughout the match).
Recognize and penalize easy fouls early.
In a solo Center match try to be closer to the play to help recognize and call the off side you may want to advise the players at the beginning of the match to remain at least a yard in front of the second to the last defender.