Dear Players, Parents, and Coaches:I would like to suggest that you add something special to your game. It will raise your level of performance. It's fun, easy and unique because too few players do it regularly. It can make a positive impact on your personal development as an elite soccer player. What is it?

This is the first in a series of columns aimed at sharing a referee’’s perspective on the game of soccer. I thought I would start with my absolute favorite play, even though it is one where the referee is a mere spectator. It is a play that goes to the heart of what soccer is all about, but one that you will not find anywhere in the rule book. It is the play that happens when someone gets hurt.

You''ve just gotten done watching a binge of World Cup soccer. As a player or coach, you probably watched for things like skills and play development. But what did a referee see when he watched those same games?