Author: Jim Allen

"Inventive" Refs

NO LECTURES ON HOW TO PLAY!

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Question:
This week in a U-10 girls’ match, the adult referee told the team before the match that it was, “okay to play with your elbows up as long as they did not go above your shoulder.” The end result was a match that mainly featured players keeping other players away from themselves (and the ball) with their arms bent / elbows up at shoulder height. It also featured players impeding other players’ progress with their arms bent / elbows up at shoulder height in order to maintain an advantageous position and not allow a player to get around them and make a play for the ball. My understanding has always been that the arms need to remain by the player’s side and cannot be used to shield or impede and that players can only be physical “shoulder to shoulder.” Your thoughts on this will be much appreciated.

USSF answer (September 14, 2011):
Coach, one of the things we tell both new and experienced referees is not to lecture players on how to play or on any other aspect of the game during the pregame activities. We referees have enough problems managing the game without also acting as coaches on the field. That is the job of the coach.

The arms should remain in a normal athletic position while playing soccer, used only to maintain balance or to aid in running faster. No elbows up, no pushing, no holding, no tripping.…

Law 18 - Common Sense

SPECTATOR DEFIES RULES OF COMPETITION

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Question:
state association has a issued a memo stating that only players,and coaches on the roster may be in the bench area. situation a spectator places a seat between the players bench,and the goal line on the players side of the field before the match starts. This spectator is asked three times by center official to move,spectator refuses. spectator asks if he doesn’t move what will happen, official responds that they will be asked to leave. spectator responds that isn’t permissible,as it is in a public park. what is the rule?

USSF answer (September 14, 2011):
In a case like this, the referee should work through any league/tournament representative on site or, if none, through one or both coaches, with their incentive being that the match is suspended until the spectator leaves in compliance with the competition authority’s rules and the match will be terminated if compliance is not achieved within a reasonable period of time.…

Injury

GOALKEEPER INJURY

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Question:
Normally, if a player has a minor injury, I would allow them to step off the field, receive treatment, then reenter with my permission, or be subbed at the next stoppage. If a goalkeeper is injured but wishes to remain in the game, does he have to give his jersey to another player while he is being treated and can he go back to keeping goal at the next stoppage?

USSF answer (September 10, 2011):
Unless a goalkeeper is so seriously injured that he or she must be removed from the game and taken for more complete medical attention and care, the ‘keeper will be treated on the field. If the ‘keeper needs to be treated off the field and might return after the treatment, then an outfield player must assume the uniform and duties of the goalkeeper. See the following excerpt from the Interpretation of the Laws of the Game and Guidelines for Referees in the back of your Law book, under Law 5:

Injured players
The referee must adhere to the following procedure when dealing with injured players:
• Play is allowed to continue until the ball is out of play if a player is, in the opinion of the referee, only slightly injured
• Play is stopped if, in the opinion of the referee, a player is seriously injured
• After questioning the injured player, the referee may authorize one, or at most two [medical staff persons], to enter the field of play to assess the injury and arrange the player’s safe and swift removal from the field of play
• Stretcher-bearers should only enter the field of play with a stretcher following a signal from the referee
• The referee must ensure an injured player is safely removed from the field of play
• A player is not allowed to receive treatment on the field of play
• Any player bleeding from a wound must leave the field of play. He may not return until the referee is satisfied that the bleeding has stopped. A player is not permitted to wear clothing with blood on it
• As soon as the referee has authorized the doctors to enter the field of play, the player must leave the field of play, either on a stretcher or on foot. If a player does not comply, he must be cautioned for unsporting behavior
• An injured player may only return to the field of play after the match has restarted
• When the ball is in play, an injured player must re-enter the field of play from the touch line. When the ball is out of play, the injured player may re-enter from any of the boundary lines
• Irrespective of whether the ball is in play or not, only the referee is authorized to allow an injured player to re-enter the field of play
• The referee may give permission for an injured player to return to the field of play if an assistant referee or the fourth official verifies that the player is ready
• If play has not otherwise been stopped for another reason, or if an injury suffered by a player is not the result of a breach of the Laws of the Game, the referee must restart play with a dropped ball from the position of the ball when play was stopped, unless play was stopped inside the goal area, in which case the referee drops the ball on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the ball was when play was stopped.
• The referee must allow for the full amount of time lost through injury to be played at the end of each period of play
• Once the referee has decided to issue a card to a player who is injured and has to leave the field of play for treatment, the referee must issue the card before the player leaves the field of play

Exceptions to this ruling are to be made only when:
• a goalkeeper is injured
• a goalkeeper and an outfield player have collided and need immediate attention
• players from the same team have collided and need immediate attention
• a severe injury has occurred, e.g. swallowed tongue, concussion, broken leg.

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Advice to Referees

ALLOW TRICK PLAY ON PENALTY KICK IN EXTENDED TIME? NO!

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Question:
How far does “free kick” go in taking a PK in time extended solely to take the PK? In regulation time a team can legally have a choreographed play whereby the kicker taking the PK passes the ball forward to an oncoming, not encroaching teammate – who finishes with a shot on goal. Could this be done in time extended solely to take the PK, or is only a direct one-time shot on goal allowed?

USSF answer (September 8, 2011):
The PROCEDURES TO DETERMINE THE WINNER OF A MATCH OR HOME-AND-AWAY, listed at the end of the Laws of the Game, tell us, “Unless otherwise stated, the relevant Laws of the Game and International F.A. Board Decisions apply when kicks from the penalty mark are being taken.”

Penalty kicks, once awarded, are taken regardless of the amount of time remaining in the half. If time expires or will expire before the restart can occur, the referee should announce this fact and indicate clearly that the penalty kick is now being taken “in extended time.” This means that no player other than the kicker and the opposing goalkeeper may enter the penalty area before or after the kick is taken by the original kicker. Therefore, no trick play such as you theorize would be possible.

Even if the second player did break the Law and enter the penalty area illegally, this excerpt from Advice to Referees 14.8 would also apply:

At the taking of a penalty kick in extended time, violations of Law 14 are handled the same as if the kick were not in extended time but with the following exception: if the required restart after a violation would be an indirect free kick, the kick in extended time and the period of play are considered over.

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"Inventive" Refs

A PROPER SHOULDER CHARGE

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Question:
I’ve read your comments on the shoulder tackle and they agree with what I was taught. However, I find that we have fouls called on us for what appear to be legal shoulder tackles about 75% of the time in youth soccer within our league and at tournaments. Most referees don’t call 75% of the trips or pushes. Reasons given are 1) excessive force (other player fell down), 2) arm was bent (and close to body), 3) arm was straight (and close to body), not playing the ball (but playing the player with the ball). Players on some teams we play flop on the ground as soon as anyone tries to shoulder tackle and that is rewarded with the foul call. Please help the referees come to some consensus on how to referee this type of tackle. I’ve given up teaching players to shoulder tackle. Too bad they won’t learn how to play soccer.

USSF answer (September 8, 2011):
Strange and mysterious are the ways of referees. It would appear that there is a vast difference between what you see happening on the field and what some of the referees who work your games have been taught.

Although you will have to search very hard to find it written anywhere, the world accepts a fair charge of the opponent if the players make contact shoulder to shoulder, with the charging player’s arms in at his side, while both players have at least one foot on the ground. The charging player may not charge carelessly, recklessly, or use excessive force. At the youth level, particularly in the early teenage brackets, where players of the same age may experience growth spurts differently, a “best effort” at a should-to-shoulder charge is accepted.

A player charging “for the ball” need not _play_ the ball at all, but he or she must be challenging for the ball. Referees must make the distinction necessary to apply the Law correctly. We must also admit the answer on the degree of force involved can vary, depending on player skill level. Players at higher skill levels will accept a bit more force than those at lower skill levels. (And the same applies to the referees who call these games.) However, anything that appears to done recklessly or with excessive force MUST be punished.

The Federation has defined the fair charge quite clearly in its publication “Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game”:

12.5 CHARGING
The act of charging an opponent can be performed without it being called as a foul. Although the fair charge is commonly defined as “shoulder to shoulder” and without the use of arms or elbows, this is not a requirement and, at certain age levels where heights may vary greatly, may not even be possible. Furthermore, under many circumstances, a charge may often result in the player against whom it is placed falling to the ground (a consequence, as before, of players differing in weight or strength). The Law does require that the charge be directed toward the area of the shoulder and not toward the center of the opponent’s back (the spinal area): in such a case, the referee should recognize that such a charge is at minimum reckless and potentially even violent.

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"Inventive Coaches"

THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS

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Question:
A team chooses to play a game with the minimum # of players, but have an injured player on the bench. The team then gets a red card putting them under the minimum requirement to play, however they elect to sub in the injured player to maintain the minimum requirements on the field because there is only a couple minutes left in the game–are they allowed to use that player to maintain the minimum and continue the game?

USSF answer (September 7, 2011):
Unless having had a player sent off actually created the situation, there is nothing in the Laws of the Game to forbid a team that has been playing under strength — for whatever strange reason — to augment its numbers to a greater (but still within the number established by Law 3 or the rules of the competition) by inserting a substitute already listed on the roster (if rosters are required in this competition), not as a replacement for the red carded player, but to augment an understrength team. The only problem in this scenario might be the ability of the “injured” substitute to play.…

Law 11 - Offside

OFFSIDE QUESTIONS; NO HIGH SCHOOL QUESTIONS, PLEASE

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Question:
Offside and when to blow the whistle to award the indirect free kick. Currently I have had several discussions with coaches and referees concerning a certain kind of offside and when or if to blow the whistle/raise the flag to call it.

Our High School rule as stated in the rule book per this issue: It is not an offense in itself to be in an offside position. A player shall only be penalized for being in an offside position if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by a teammate, the player is involved in active play by: a. Interfering with play or with an opponent; or b. Gaining an advantage by being in that position.

I will try to describe the scenario – The ball has transitioned from one side of the half line (team B offensive side) to the other (team A offensive side), approximately mid-way between the top of the penalty area and the halfway line (on team A offensive side). The team A defensive backfield has come up and formed a line at the halfway line.

One team B forward striker is still 3-5 yards in his offensive half from the halfway line. No team A defenders between him and team A Goalie, who still stands right in front of his goal.

Team B wins control of the ball (on team A’s offensive side) and sends the ball straight at team A goalie, directly over the head (approx 10 ft or more) of the lagging team B forward striker who is in the same position as described (an offside position). The ball lands approximately half way between team B forward striker and team A Goalie and starts bouncing/rolling straight to the team A goalie.

Situation A: Team B player does not make any play on ball (gives up) and it rolls to team A goalie who collects it and then clears the ball.

Ruling: No whistle, play continues.

Situation B: Both players start to run to gain control of ball. Team A Goalie, by several yards (very evident and clearly), collects the ball cleanly and clears it.

Ruling: No whistle, play continues.

Situation B(a): Same as B above, but goalie doesn’t handle it cleanly and it goes into his net.

Ruling: Goal is indicated for team B

Situation C: Both players start to run to gain control of ball. It looks very close as to who will win control, so prior to any touch by any player and/or the ball being closer to any player Ruling: Blow whistle, offside is called

Situation D: Or except for “Situation A” where the team B player clearly gives up on the ball and play – it is automatic.

Ruling: Blow whistle, offside is called

Your thoughts and advice would be helpful – Thanks

USSF answer (August 29, 2011);
We appreciate it when people send in questions, as this allows us to spot problems in referee training. Unfortunately, we CANNOT answer questions regarding games played under the rules of the NFSHSA. This answer addresses the same situations under the Laws of the Game.

Situation A — no offside violation and no whistle

Situation B — offside violation but “wait and see” and allow the play to develop, leading to no whistle and play continues

Situation B(a) — offside violation but “wait and see” and allow play to develop, leading to a whistle, goal canceled, and an indirect free kick for the defense (offside position attacker becomes actively involved in play by interfering with an opponent — acting to distract or deceive)

Situation C — offside violation, whistle, and an IFK for the defense (offside position attacker becomes actively involved in play by interfering with an opponent — acting to distract or deceive and specifically covered in FIFA Circular regarding avoidance of potential collision)

Situation D — we have no idea what ” Or except for “Situation A” where the team B player clearly gives up on the ball and play – it is automatic.” means and cannot comment unless it is clarified.…

"Inventive Coaches"

OFFSIDE? NO!

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Question:
a free kick from 25 yards, all players onside just after ball is kicked defenders step out leaving 2 attackers inside keeper parries shot to one of them he slots home? goal or offside….?

USSF answer August 28, 2011):
Score the goal. The key to the answer lies in two words in your scenario, “just after.” Because the two attackers were not in an offside position when their teammate played the ball, they cannot possibly be called offside.…

"Inventive" Refs

QUESTIONS INVOLVING UNLIKELY SITUATIONS

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Question:
1) The penalty taker slips while taking a penalty kicks the ball into the net with both feet.
a. if the kick with both feet is instantaneous, does the goal stand?
b. if the kick with both feet is perceivable seconds apart, does the
goal stand?
2) The player claims that a piece of jewelry he is wearing ( like a bracelet ) is important part of his religious belief. How can I as a referee decide whether that piece of jewelry is dangerous? What decision should I take as the player is protected by ‘ The race relations act’?
3) A striker a attempts ‘Hand of God’ and fails to connect but ends up distracting his marker and the goalkeeper. The ball hits the marker and rebounds of the striker (the wannabe maradona) past the distracted goal keeper into the goal. Should the goal stand?

USSF answer (August 28, 2011):
We hope this is not a question regarding high school rules, as we are not permitted to answer questions involving the rules of the NFSHSA.

1a. Yes, but only if the referee is certain that that the touch with both feet was indeed simultaneous.
1b. No, the player has committed a “double-touch” offense.
2. You make the decision on this piece of jewelry as you would with any other piece of equipment. Is it dangerous to the player or to any other participant? If it is dangerous and cannot be made safe, then the player cannot wear it. No ifs, ands, or buts.
3. Yes, the goal stands. There is no such infringement as “attempting to handle the ball.”…

Law 12 - Fouls & Misconduct

SUBSTITUTE ATTEMPTS TO PREVENT GOAL (REDUX)

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Question:
Follow-up to August 23 question about a substitute trying to prevent a goal by entering the pitch without permission. You answered what to do if the goal is made, but . . .
(1) What if the goal is NOT made?
(2) What if it was definitely an OGSO?
(3) What if it was an OGSO and NO foul was committed, but the ball was “fairly” taken/played from the attacker by the substitute (who is an illegal player at this point)?
(4) do any answers change if the scene happens outside the penalty area versus inside the penalty area?

I understand at a minimum a yellow is coming, and a red if denying the goal with a foul.

Mainly, my question is what is the restart to each scenario above?

USSF answer (August 28, 2011):
The original question and answer:

Question: A substitute, warming up behind his own goal, enters the field of play, touches the ball and tries to prevent the ball entering the goal with his foot. The ball, however, enters the goal.

What action does the referee take?

Answer of August 23: The referee should play the advantage and award the goal. The referee should then caution the substitute for unsporting behavior for entering the field of play without the referee’s permission, including all details in the match report. (The referee could also consider a second caution for unsporting behavior for interfering with play and thus send off the substitute for the second caution in a match.) Finally, the referee should prevent substitutes from warming up behind the goals. However, in some stadiums warm-ups are allowed behind the goal (because there is no space along the touchlines).

Answer to current question:

(1) Indirect free kick for the attacking team from the place where the ball was when the referee stopped play for the misconduct.
(2) and (3) A foul or misconduct, regardless of the circumstances, which is not committed against an opponent and which is not handling is not a sending-off offense under Law 12 (at least not under reasons #4 or #5). If it was a tactical foul (which this was not) and was the offender’s second caution, then there would be a send-off, just not under sending-off reasons #4 or #5. Restart as in (1).
(4) No, but it is even less likely to have been an obvious goalscoring opportunity. …