Soccer Lover’s Best Ever Soccer Book Guide
This series reviews and rate books that teach, describe and document the beautiful game. Look for a wide variety of books and helpful insight from players who have been there and done it on the pitch. Here is a book that includes soccer with a broad range of topics.
FIVE STAR RATING – GREAT GIFT IDEA
You Are The Ref – A Guide To Good Refereeing
Written by By Keith Hackett and Paul Trevillion
Published September 2013 by Bloomsbury
You Are The Ref – A Guide To Good Refereeing is a cult classic comic strip in England that is fun, informative and entertaining. This is a RUSH OUT and GET book for Soccer Lovers. SoccerToday is thrilled to bring this to our American soccer audience and share these stunning portraits of soccer stars from all eras. For anyone who has ever questioned a ref’s eyesight or gripped with a clearly ‘wrong’ call, now it is your turn!
With a foreword by Howard Webb, MBE – Referee for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final, You Are The Ref – A Guide To Good Refereeing is unique and special in the world of soccer books.
As Webb says, “Whether you are an aspiring Premier League referee, a lover of football, admirer of great art or a combination of all three, I know you will enjoy owning, reading and learning from this amazing book.”
The aim with this book was to highlight how referees at all levels can imprmve in every aspect. Well, Hackett accomplishes his goal with ease in an great-to-read book that helps even parents and new lovers of the beautiful game under stand what makes a ref blow a whistle and fans cry out with angst. Understanding the Laws of the Game has never been so simple. The complexities of the game of soccer and comprehending the myriad of rules has never before been for the faint of heart.
Do you know what the six C’s are of refereeing? It all starts with CONTROL… and yes, Communication is one of them!
From the simple to the extraodinary, You Are The Ref – A Guide To Good Refereeing reminds the reader that the referee is in control of the game … and with good reason. Decision making for any human is complex, and for referees the results are unforgiving. Hackett explores the factors which may improve decision making on the field and offers ways to test yourself with fun challenges capable of inspiring armchair refs and newbies alike.
Soccer, as we call the international game of football, is a physical contact sport and there has been a clear escalation of holding, blocking and pushing offenses in recent seasons.
From explaining the crucial elements of calling a HANDBALL, awarding a PENALTY KICK, or dealing with mass confrontations and dissent, this book reminds the reader that referees need to be alert, aware and knowledgeable.
Paul Trevillion is a world renowned sports artist – famous for the legendary cult classic ‘You are the Ref’ column in the Observer. Known as the Master of Movement for his artistic creatitivity, Trevillion’s art makes the chracaters on the page leap to life.
Keith Hackett is a well known former international referee and now General Manager of the Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) – the referee’s governing body and, is the Referee Ambassador for the FA, Premier League and UEFA. Hackett has refereed some of the most important soccer games in the EPL and is a columnist for SoccerToday News.
According to Amazon’s Review: Based on the well-known, long-running You Are the Ref football feature, illustrated by legendary artist Paul Trevillion and written by former international referee Keith Hackett, this guide is aimed at anyone interested in football – spectators, players, coaches and referees.
Established, trainee, and newly qualified football referees will find this guide invaluable, and can test their knowledge throughout the book. Younger football fans can learn more about the beautiful game, while older fans can use the book to settle heated arguments about referees’ decision making!
This is an accessible, easy-to-digest guide and includes a Foreword by top referee Howard Webb. The mysteries of refereeing are explained clearly, and brought to life with Paul Trevillion’s images and Keith Hackett’s incisive text.
You are the Ref covers all aspects of Refereeing and Assistant Referee training: Movement and Positioning; Recognition of offences; Viewing angles; Whistle and Flag Technique; Management of Mass Confrontation; Sports Psychology; Managing Conflict; Teamwork; Law 11 (offside) explained; Goal and target setting; How to deal with Assessments; Warming up; Warming Down; Polar Heart Monitors; Pre- Match preparation; Body Language; Self Assessment; and much much more…
You Are The Ref – A Guide To Good Refereeing is available on Amazon.
According to David James, “Anyone who loves the game knows You Are The Ref. Paul Trevillion’s brillant art has been around for generations!”
Any opinions expressed in this column shall not be construed as advice on Laws of the Game, and may not represent the official position of US Soccer, the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), CalSouth, the Presidio League, or any affiliates thereof unless specified with appropriate attribution.
