For the Good of the Game: Modern Techniques and Practical Wisdom for Today's Soccer Referee

In this book the authors share their insight into refereeing soccer. Modern techniques of soccer officiating are exposed through the eyes of these seasoned professionals. Referees at all levels will benefit from this practical resource. Here are some of the helpful topics:

- The Art of Refereeing
- Preparing for the Game
- Setting the Tone for the Game
- Recognition of Fouls and Misconduct
- The Mysteries of Offside Revealed
- Use and Misuse of Advantage
- Free-Kicks
- Control of the Game
- Movement of the Referee
- Preventive Refereeing
- Fitness
- The Mental Factors

Robert Evans, Ph.D.

Robert Evans grew up near Swansea in South Wales, and played soccer in the local youth and senior leagues. Graduating from the University of Nottingham with a degree in Geology, he emigrated to Canada to pursue his studies, earning a Master of Science degree at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It was in Nova Scotia that he first studied the Laws of the Game, and qualified as a referee while recuperating from a broken leg suffered while playing -- for the local brewery -- in the Nova Scotia league. Then followed a Ph.D. in Geology at the University of Kansas, where he was the player-coach of the university soccer team.

He arrived in Texas in 1969 to work as a research geologist for Mobil, and was convinced that his soccer career was over. But within weeks he was invited to be player-coach of the eventual league champions. He was also only the fifth registered referee in the city, and soon started teaching others, including a likely young lad named Edward Bellion. But for one more season they played together on the eventual State Champions of Texas, but then Bob gave up playing and coaching to concentrate on the fine art of refereeing, encouraged by the appearance of the North American Soccer league and its obvious need for officials.

He worked in the NASL from 1972 until the demise of the league in 1985. Bob joined the International Panel in 1979, and refereed preliminary games in the World Cup and the Olympic Competition. Travelling overseas throughout Central America and three times to Asia for tournaments, he refereed teams from every confederation in FIFA. He retired early from the list to accept the position of National Director of Referee Instruction for the USSF in 1988. In 1992 he became the first American to be appointed a FIFA Referee Instructor. Currently he is a National Referee Instructor and National Referee Assessor.

In 1996 he left Mobil, returned to school, completing the Science Communication program at U.C. Santa Cruz, and now freelances as a science writer from his home in northern California. In addition to his scientific papers in national and international journals, he has published articles in major popular magazines and websites, including Smithsonian, New Scientist, Exploratorium, WebMD and others. He is the author of "Manual for Linesmen" and "Teaching Offside" (with Tony Waiters), and dozens of articles on refereeing. Bob is the recipient of the Eddie Pearson Award, and the Bill Scofield Award of the United States Soccer Federation.

Married to the writer Jane Ellen Stevens, he has two daughters, Rhiannon, a flight attendant in Atlanta with Delta Airlines, and Si‰n, a surgeon in Merced, California.

Edward Bellion, Ph.D.

Edward Bellion was born and raised in Liverpool, England. He was educated in the local school system, after which he attended the University of Leeds where he received a B.Sc.(Hons) in Chemistry and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry. Following a research fellowship at the University of Minnesota, he accepted a faculty position in 1970 at the University of Texas at Arlington, where he is currently Professor of Biochemistry. His research interests lie in the biochemistry of growth of microorganisms in which he has authored over 30 scientific articles in national and international professional journals, and has lectured on his work at various International Scientific Symposia in Europe, Asia and North America.

His lifelong interest in soccer was ignited as a boy in Liverpool, a well-known soccer hotbed. He pursued his interest by playing and later coaching at the amateur level, and became a referee shortly after arriving in Texas. He was subsequently appointed to the North American Soccer League, first as linesman, and then as referee. His NASL career reached its zenith when he refereed the 1983 Soccer Bowl (NASL Championship game) in Vancouver between Tulsa and Toro