Advantage

U.S. Soccer Federation Referee ProgramGrade 7 Referee CourseAmateur Adult Training

Laws of the Gameo The Referee:oAllows play to continue when the team

against which an offense has been committed will benefit from such an advantage and penalizes the original offence if the anticipated advantage does not ensue at that time

Examples

Exampleo Red team player takes a free kick but then

touches the ball again before it has been touched by another player

o Red team player’s second touch plays the ball to blue team player

o Blue team player begins to attack the red team’s goal

o Apply advantage

Exampleo Red team player takes a throw-in but has both

feet completely within the field of playo The ball goes to blue team player who begins

promising attack to the red team’s goalo Advantage not appliedo Throw-in awarded to blue team

Exampleo Red team player plays the ball to a teammateoOffside positiono Involved in active play

o Blue team goalkeeper collects the ball and then distributes to begin counterattack

o Apply advantage

Considerations we will discuss

o Game control versus game flowo 4 P principleo Wait and seeo Misconduct

Control and Flowo Game controloEnforcing the Laws of the Game

o Game flowoTempo and pace of the game

Balanceo Apply advantage to allow for game flow while

also allowing for the option to stop play for game control

o Vital to the amateur adult gameo Develops with experience

4 P Principleo Possession of the balloControl by team or player

o Potential for attackoAbility to continue a promising attack

o PersonneloSkill of attackers, numerical advantage

o Proximity to the opponent's goal

Wait and Seeo Assess the situationo Wait 2-3 seconds to see if the play developso Signal for advantageo If the attack doesn’t develop … Stop play and

award a free kick for the original offense

Misconducto If you apply advantage to misconduct:o At next stoppageo Issue misconductoEnsure the misconduct is clear to both

teamso Serious foul play offensesoNo advantage unless there is an obvious

and immediate goal scoring opportunity

Assistant Referees

Review Questiono When applying advantage, what factors

should the referee consider?

o Possession of the ballo Potential for attacko Proximity to the opponent’s goalo All of the above

Review Questiono Can effectively applying advantage assist

referees with managing game control?

o Yeso No

Review Questiono Does applying advantage only relate to fouls

and misconduct?

o Yeso No

Review Questiono Should the referee apply advantage if the

fouled player’s team is able to retain control of the ball as part of a developing or promising attack?

o Yeso No