During the run of play, the ball travels directly over the corner flag out of touch. What would be the proper restart?
We know that if the ball was last touched by an attacker, the restart choices are either a throw-in or a goal kick. Similarly, if the ball was last touched by a defender, the restart could be a throw-in or a corner kick. In each case, consider the following when making the call:
Whatever ruling is made must be “sold” and accepted. Proper positioning, use of whistle and voice will go far in gaining acceptance by players, coaches and spectators.
The following are a couple of tips to make game administration easier ...
There is often a fine line between a fair tackle and tackles that should result in a foul. As referees we process a variety of information at game speed, and our ability to decide on which side of the line the tackle lands will determine the success of the referee crew on a given day. Foul tackles fall into one of three classifications:
Careless – No disciplinary actions required – foul only (direct free kick restart)
From the Laws of the Game … “The player has shown a lack of attention or consideration when making a challenge, or acted without precaution”, meaning the player has not exercised due caution in making a play. Typically this manifests as a miscalculation of strength or a stretch of judgment by the player committing the foul.
From the Laws … “The player has acted with complete disregard to the danger to, or the consequences for, his opponent” meaning the challenge is clearly outside the norm for fair play.
As referees we strive to raise our game to meet the competitive level of each match. Two important aspects are recognition of persistent infringement and having the courage to issue second cautions and send off a player for receiving the second caution in the same match.
The game referee should maintain an ongoing database of information during each match, including:
Players involved and player reactions
Frequency of the fouls
Time of the offenses
Persistent infringement (PI) is categorized into two areas:
How often do we hear fans and coaches offering that tidbit of advice from the sidelines?
We all know that a player is in an offside position if they are across the half-line, and closer to the opponent ‘s goal than either the ball or the second to the last defender. The offside violation prevents an attacker from camping behind the defense and gaining an advantage from that position. And we also understand that it’s not an offense in itself for a player to be in an offside position unless that (offside) player becomes actively involved in play at the time the ball is being played to them by a teammate.
This is where the Referee’s judgment is called into action and also where "60 Seconds on Officiating" Soccer Editor Dave Herwig steps in to offer his insight on this critical component of the game...
No doubt many of our "60 Second" visitors conduct their personal affairs using the biblical 10 Commandments as a guideline for living an honorable life...
Well Dave Herwig, the Rules Interpreter for the South Jersey Soccer Officials Association, has created his own set of commandments for soccer officials -- 11 in all -- that if followed will serve as an excellent roadmap for a better officiating experience.
In this premiere issue we examine the "first tablet," commandments 1 thru 6:
1. Calls dictate how the game will be played. As Officials, we need to take charge of the game early to establish control and authority. It is difficult to bring a game back into control once it is “out of hand,” so maintain control right from the first whistle. Limit the use of “Advantage” until game control is established.
Soccer Officiating
During the run of play, the ball travels directly over the corner flag out of touch. What would be the proper restart?
We know that if the ball was last touched by an attacker, the restart choices are either a throw-in or a goal kick. Similarly, if the ball was last touched by a defender, the restart could be a throw-in or a corner kick. In each case, consider the following when making the call:
Careless – No disciplinary actions required – foul only (direct free kick restart)
As referees we strive to raise our game to meet the competitive level of each match. Two important aspects are recognition of persistent infringement and having the courage to issue second cautions and send off a player for receiving the second caution in the same match. 
We all know that a player is in an offside position if they are across the half-line, and closer to the opponent ‘s goal than either the ball or the second to the last defender. The offside violation prevents an attacker from camping behind the defense and gaining an advantage from that position. And we also understand that it’s not an offense in itself for a player to be in an offside position unless that (offside) player becomes actively involved in play at the time the ball is being played to them by a teammate. 
No doubt many of our "60 Second" visitors conduct their personal affairs using the biblical 10 Commandments as a guideline for living an honorable life...