The International Football Association Board, guardian of the Laws of the Game, announced a few months ago this seasons changes to the Laws.
Some, in recent years have proved controversial but if you look at this year’s changes, it is doubtful that anyone will be upset. Except perhaps me.
I say this because a number of the changes affect only substitutions in the very top games. One however, seeks to change my actions of a lifetime of refereeing.
This particular changed law now reads, ‘The referee tosses a coin and the team that wins the toss, decides which goal to attack in the first half or to take the kick off’.
Previously, the law said, ‘The team that wins the toss decides which goal to attack in the first half or to take the kick off’. No mention about who tosses the coin.
It has always been my habit to give the coin to the home team captain to toss and then ask the away team captain to call heads or tails.
My idea is to make the captains feel part of this little ceremony, rather than just bystanders. Of course it doesn’t always work. When refereeing a Greek Cypriot team some time ago, their captain asked me what I meant by ‘heads or tails’.
When they come for the toss-up, it is a time to make a connection with the captains. I tell new referees that this is where they start to use body language. The Laws of the Game tell you what body language isn’t but not what it is, so here is an early example.
As each captain approaches, pull your shoulders back, step forward looking them in the eye, with an out stretched hand, a greeting, and a smile on your face.
You want the captains on your side and this hopefully will impress them that you are friendly but firm, that you are in charge.
Will the IFAB now also expect the ‘coin’ to be as described in the dictionary, ‘one used as a currency?’
On my only appointment as fourth official, the Football League referee ran over after the toss-up and handed me his ‘coin’, a large metal medallion. No wonder he didn’t want to run around with it in his pocket.
I remember watching Turkey play Azerbaijan, with the television zooming in on the toss-up.
The Danish referee spoke to the captains, in English of course, pointing to one side of his ‘coin’, a rather large disc. ‘Red’ he explained before turning it over, ‘and blue’. Perhaps that’s what I should have had for the Greek Cypriots game.
By Dick Sawdon Smith
