Alert on 2007 FIFA LOTG
Major change not indicated by the USSF Memorandum nor by change bars in the document

SUMMARY:

FIFA has included a New, 72 page Additional Instructions section reportedly made up from the old 8 page Additional Instructions, old Referee and Assistant Referee Signal pages, old Offside diagram pages, and the old FIFA Q&A.

These new additional instructions are NOT included in the USSF printed version of their FIFA LOTG 2007 Edition. Instead, it appears USSF has chosen to simply replicate last years material except to include the actual Law text changes inside Laws 1 through 17.

AYSO has taken the new FIFA 2007 LOTG and replicated it in its entirety in their print AYSO print edition, annotating their youth rules as they commonly do via boxes of instructions on the law pages. So the new, "Additional Instructions" are included in this print version that is available from the AYSO Supply Center. AYSO has also added to the previously blank pages (page 136 and page 4) some additional AYSO instructions and information. Otherwise, the AYSO print version is the FIFA edition exactly.

DETAILS:

Normally, we do not generate a difference document for the FIFA LOTG because the changes are so minor, they are clearly and accurately marked with change bars, and are detailed in the USSF memorandum generated from the IFAB report. But this year is a different story and hence the alert.

The 2007 Edition of the FIFA LOTG has minor changes in the 17-laws section as before and follows the USSF memorandum (also USSF PPT) put out by USSF based on the IFAB report. In fact, USSF's version of the FIFA LOTG captures the minor changes as expected. USSF then simply replicates last years USSF edition material otherwise -- giving the false indication there is no further change.

The alert is for the "Additional Instructions" section of the FIFA LOTG document. What previously was an 8 page section (3 pages in the USSF edition) has been expanded to 72 pages (pages 59-130) in the new FIFA LOTG.

Much additional material has been added to this Additional Instructions section. Incorporated in this expanded section are:

1) the previous FIFA LOTG pages on refereee and assistant referee signals,
2) the previous FIFA LOTG 3D drawings on offside (which have been replaced with some "overhead", 2D diagrams now),
3) restart positioning diagrams very similar to the USSF Guide to Procedure diagrams added last year, and
3) the FIFA Q&A in a more direct, stated form (according to the speaker notes of the USSF "PowerPoint" memorandum presentation:

As we hear and learn more, we will post it here. In the mean time, you are alerted to this major expansion that almost doubles the length of the previous 2006 LOTG publication.

ITOOTR, the "Additional Instructions" are very well written, concise like the laws, and add some of the language and definition that the ATR had provided us previously. Also, some instruction conveyed verbally in referee clinics is now captured. This material is an excellent, welcome addition and should be read by all. Based on an initial scan, there are some places where it appears something new or different has been added compared to previous material. Once this is confirmed with some senior referees, we will make a difference document (i.e. unofficial addendum to the Memorandum) to point these items out.

While not official in any capacity, we have found some other material that attempts to highlight the "changes" introduced with the "Additional Instructions". We have not verified the accuracy of the postings and encourage all readers to be aware and verify information for themselves.

• Site author's preliminary review of Additional Instructions section
• Alan Lee and Roy Levin's more extensive review of Additional Instructions and the implications
• 2007 LOTG  File Format: Microsoft Powerpoint

Finally, we point out some additional, new material on the FIFA site: http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/developing/refereeing/teachingmaterial.html

Alert #2 on 2008 USSF Resolution
2007 FIFA Additional Instructions section finally appears in a USSF published document

SUMMARY:

USSF has replaced their traditional "Resolutions" document with the content of the FIFA 2007 "Additional Instructions" section from the LOTG. They have not included the diagrams but instead refer you back to the FIFA law book (or possibly the new 2008 edition of the USSF Law Book).

DETAILS:

As given in the original alert back in Summer 2007, USSF did not include the new "Additional Instructions" section in their 2007 version of the Laws of the Game. On 12 May 2008, USSF published a new, 2008 "Instructions for Referees and Resolutions Affecting Team Coaches and Players" pamphlet. According to the memo on release (see first text after cover), they have replaced all their previous content of this Resolutions document with the "Additional Instructions" from the FIFA 2007 law book.

There may be some changes by USSF to the FIFA "Additional Instructions". A more thorough comparison to the FIFA 2007 "Additional Instructions" LOTG is forthcoming. If there are changes, a version of the Resolutions document will be given with change bars to indicate any changes, additions or deletions as compared to the FIFA document.

Remember that we are awaiting a major cleanup of the FIFA 2008 LOTG as it is. It is not clear if this new 2008 USSF Resolutions document has incorporated any of these expected changes.

Site created and maintained by a fellow developing referee, Randy Harr.  Please email him at randyh@socref.net with any corrections or questions.  Last updated May 12, 2008 . This collection and original material copyright (c) 2002-2007, Randolph E Harr.