Question Number: 5349

Law 5 - The Referee

RE: Internation Style School Game High School

Marc Watson of Luton, Bedfordshire, England, UK asks...

Hello!..I was wondering if you can help me here?..In just over a weeks time, my school is going to have a match, with our German twin school here in England...I've been asigned as centre referee for the match, and my two assistants are going to be students at the German school...The students at my school want to put on a bit of a show for them. We already have got hold of a large German and English Flags. The plan here is to have the flag holders walk out infront of the two teams before Kick-Off...As we are walking out, there will be a natural football song being played, most likely the World Cup 2002 anthem. After lining up, national anthems will follow. I intend to start about four or five minutes afterwards. Half-Time and Full-Time musics will be a combination of German and English!..What I want to know is, how should the officials go about it?..Kit wise: Should we wear our native kits or Adidas kit? Neither is a proble for any of us. We will either wear Red or Yellow or Black or Green. The Yellow is looking the most likely, with the Red following. We all have the Adidas kits!..Flag wise: I have both WorldLine 1 (Squares) and Quardo 1 (Diamonds) flag sets that we could use..Which ones are more commonly used on International level? I know that Diamond flags are commonly used in Germany. Advice welcomed please...Whistle wise: We are playing in a standard field, supporters held in by rope barriers near to it! I want to use something loud and easy carrying, noise wise!The supporters will be close to the field. Should I go loud and shrill or loud and deep? I have two Fox40 Classics, two Fox40 Pearls, an Acme Tornado 2000, an Acme Tornado 622 an Acme Tornado 635 and an Acme Thunderer 660 that I can use. Advice please!..Also at the end, awards will be presented to both teams and the officials. Can we do anything along these lines?.I have been give a budget of ?150 to work with, and was thinking of hiring three small colour paper lauchers. A teacher has told me that a member of staff will fire them off! I've worked out a deal with the owner of the firm. ?100 for hire and use! What colour papers should we put into the lauchers? Advice please. Is there anything else we can do? ..Lastly, is there anything the students can do to muck in?.They keep asking me and I'm not sure what they could do. Any ideas?..Hope to hear from you...Thanks for your time!..Yours, in Sport...Marc Watson, aged 17

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Marc this is just another football match, you should do nothing out of the ordinary because there is more chance to get it wrong. You are there to enforce the Laws of the Game and protect the players. ..Let the school officials handle the celebrations. If they want to invovle the referee crew, try to limit your activity to standing to attention during the playing of National Anthems. ..Ensure your crew is dressed the same, including the length of sleeves. Enter the field as a team. Be professional. Good Luck...Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Fredrikssonk

I agree! The task of the referee is to enforce the LOTG, not to act as an celebrations manager. ..You should have a long instruction for your AR though, as the interpretations of the LOTG as well as the guidlines for the referees, differ somewhat from country to country...Good Luck!

Answer provided by Referee Victor Matheson

I would only say that any uniform/flag set that makes you guys look professional is perfect. Make sure you have a good time and help the players and the fans of the two teams have a wonderful experience as well.