At the moment his teammate plays the ball, yellow #30 is closer to the opponent's goal than both the ball and the second-to-the-last opponent.
Answer: The referee can only penalize a player for an offside infringement when two key components are present. First, the player must be in an offside position. The potential offside position of a player is evaluated at the moment the ball touches or is played by a teammate. The second component is involvement in active play. The player is involved in active play if in the opinion of the referee he is interfering with play, interfering with the opponent, or gaining an advantage by being in the offside position.
Notes on the video clip:
- 1-3 seconds - The goalkeeper for the white team kicks the ball away.
- 3.5 seconds - The yellow team controls the ball, creating a "snapshot" for evaluating potential offside position. Yellow #30 is in an offside position because he is closer to the opponent's goal than both the ball and the second-to-last opponent.
- 4 seconds - Yellow #30 takes off from the offside position to go play the ball passed by a teammate.
- 6 seconds - Yellow #30 interferes with play when he touches the ball. At this point, the assistant referee should raise the flag to indicate that yellow #30 may be penalized for being in an offside position. The referee should look at the assistant referee, blow the whistle and penalize the player.
- The restart should be an indirect free kick for the white team from where #30 was when the ball was passed by a teammate.
This offside decision is challenging to make because when yellow #30 plays the ball, at least three opponents (two defenders and the goalkeeper) are behind him, giving the illusion that he is not in an offside position. The assistant referee (AR) can help the referee "sell" this correct offside decision by providing a signal to indicate that #30 came from an offside position. The typical signal discussed in the pregame conference and used by the AR to indicate this type of offside involves using both arms. The AR first raises the flag to signal the offside with her left arm, and after making eye contact with the referee, she swings her right arm (without the flag) in a vertical arc motion, from her right side to her left side. This signal indicates to the referee, coaches, players and others that the player came into play from an offside position.
(See pages 33 and 102-10 in the 2011-12 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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February 23, 2012
In a U-14 girls game, the blue team is controlling the ball in the middle of the field. The trail assistant referee (TAR) observes blue #3 pushing red #5 to the ground in a reckless manner, inside the blue team's penalty area. The TAR determines that the referee did not see the infringement, so she raises her flag, which is then mirrored by the lead assistant referee (LAR). When the referee looks at the TAR, she slightly waves the flag, so the referee blows the whistle.
Answer: One of the duties of the assistant referee, subject to the referee's decision, is to indicate when misconduct or any other incident occurs out of the view of the referee. In this case, the TAR was correct in signaling the infringement, and the LAR in mirroring the flag to get the referee's attention.
After stopping the game, the referee needs to confirm the nature of the infringement, which in this scenario can be done by talking to the TAR and, if needed, the LAR as well. The TAR should provide the facts and any recommendations for possible disciplinary actions.
The TAR should say: "Blue #3 committed a pushing foul in her own penalty area. She did it in a reckless manner, so I recommend that you caution her and then restart the game with a penalty kick for the red team." Because of the good teamwork relationship between the referee and her assistant referees, she will proceed in accordance with the TAR's direction and recommendation.
It is important for the TAR to pay close attention to the players that are out of the view of the referee and to quickly manage possible infringements. This will help minimize misconduct that can escalate to critical levels.
(See pages 27 and 34 in the 2011-12 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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February 16, 2012
In a U-12 boys game, the blue team's goalkeeper drops the ball to the ground so he can kick it away. Red #9, who is standing behind the goalkeeper and inside the blue team's penalty area, comes around and shoots the ball into the goal.
Answer: When a goalkeeper has control of the ball with his hands, he cannot be challenged by an opponent. A goalkeeper is considered to have control of the ball when:
- The ball is either between his hands or between at least one hand and any surface, such as the ground or his body.
- He is holding it in his outstretched open hand.
- In the act of bouncing it on the ground or tossing it into the air.
In this scenario, the goalkeeper deliberately relinquished control of the ball when he dropped it on the ground. Therefore, the ball was in play and available for anyone to play it when red #9 kicked it into the goal. The goal is valid and the referee should restart play with a kick-off for the blue team.
In youth games, referees are an extension of the coaching program and can help players learn more about the game by providing quick, brief advice. Before restarting play, it is OK for the referee to say, "Keeper, next time look around you to make sure there are no opponents nearby before you release the ball."
(See page 114 in the 2011-12 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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February 9, 2012
View the first eight seconds of the video clip and then pause it. Evaluate the play and determine if you would penalize offside. After making your decision, watch the entire video clip to get the correct answer.
Answer: The referee can only penalize a player for an offside infringement when two key components are present. First, the player must be in an offside position. The potential offside position of a player is evaluated at the moment the ball touches or is played by a teammate. The second component is involvement in active play. The player is involved in active play if in the opinion of the referee he is interfering with play, interfering with the opponent, or gaining an advantage by being in the offside position.
Notes on the video clip:
- 1-3 seconds - Black #2 dribbles the ball and takes a shot at goal, which is saved by the goalkeeper.
- 3.5 seconds - When black #2 takes the shot, this is the first "snapshot" for evaluating potential offside position. However, teammates #8 and #7 are not in an offside position because they are behind the ball.
- 4 seconds - #7 shoots and hits the crossbar, creating the second "snapshot" for evaluating potential offside position. At this time, teammates #2 and #8 are not in an offside position because they are behind the ball.
- 6.5 seconds - Black #2 kicks the ball, providing the third "snapshot" for evaluating potential offside position. Teammates #8 and #7 are both in an offside position at this time, because they are closer to the opponent's goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent.
- The assistant referee should not raise the flag until it can be determined that a player in an offside position becomes involved in active play.
- 7 seconds - Black #7, who is in an offside position, interferes with play when he heads the ball. At this point, the assistant referee should raise the flag to indicate that #7 may be penalized for being in an offside position. The referee should look at the assistant referee, blow the whistle and penalize the player.
- The restart should be an indirect free kick for the green team.
This clip demonstrates how important it is for the officials to be in the right position and how it is important to be completely concentrated at all times to make correct decisions.
(See pages 33 and 102-10 in the 2011-12 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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February 2, 2012
In a U-16 girls game, blue #3 takes a quick free kick from within the blue team's penalty area. The ball hits the referee's arm and is redirected outside the penalty area, leaving the field of play over the goal line near the corner flag.
Answer: For free kicks taken by the defending team from within their own penalty area, the ball is in play when it is directly kicked outside the penalty area. The referee is neutral and considered to be part of the field when he is standing inside the field of play, and the same holds true for assistant referees when they accidentally stand inside the field of play. Therefore, in this scenario, the ball was correctly put into play when it went directly outside of the penalty area and into the field of play. Because the referee's arm is considered neutral, the outcome is the same as if the ball had left the field of play directly from the taking of the free kick. The referee should restart the game with a corner kick for the red team, since the ball went over the blue team's goal line having last touched a blue player (blue #3).
The referee should not get in the way of players' passing lanes to avoid unfairly impacting the teams. It helps to look at the player who will take the free kick to determine which direction to use to get out of the way without interfering. It is good to be close to play, but not so close that you interfere with play.
(See pages 39 and 50 in the 2011-12 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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January 26, 2012
In a U-19 boys game, blue #7 grabs the ball to take a throw-in. He runs down the line about eight yards past the point where the ball left the field of play, then takes the throw-in from there.
Answer: At the taking of a throw-in, the player should deliver the ball from the point where it left the field of play, and no further than one yard from this location. If the player takes the throw-in from beyond the one-yard limit, as in this scenario, the referee should award a throw-in to the opposing team from the place where the ball originally left the field.
The primary function of a throw-in is to put the ball back into play as soon as possible. In this context, infringements related to Law 15 can be trifling, especially in youth games. However, coaches, players and spectators can use these trifling incidents as excuses to complain to the referee because they are frustrated by other aspects of the game. Therefore, the referee should manage throw-ins and not let them become an excuse for people to dissent.
In youth games, the player may either not know the procedure for the throw-in, may be overwhelmed by the game and not notice that he is getting far away from the proper location for the throw-in, or may just want to gain an unfair advantage. To avoid these outcomes in situations similar to the one in this scenario, the referee can help the player take a proper throw-in and manage it by taking the following steps:
- Line up with the point where the ball left the field of play.
- Point with an extended arm to the location where the throw-in should be taken. Once it is clear that the player knows where the throw-in should be taken, the referee should move to an appropriate location to be near play once the throw-in is completed.
- If the player who is taking the throw-in starts getting far away from the location for the throw-in, the referee should blow the whistle or verbalize to get the player's attention before the throw-in is taken. After making eye contact with the thrower, the referee should point to the location or provide verbal direction to get the player back to the correct location.
(See page 46 in the 2011-12 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game and section 15 in the USSF Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game).
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January 19, 2012
In a U-16 girls game, blue #14 is about to take a corner kick. Blue #9 is standing behind the red team's goalkeeper. As the corner kick is taken, blue #9 runs off the field of play into the area within the net, and then comes back into the field of play, in front of the goalkeeper.
Answer: All players have the right to stand anywhere they want on the field of play, as long as they don't gain an unfair advantage and/or create a dangerous situation for themselves or their opponents. Players may step off the field of play, temporarily, if they are going around an opponent in an attempt to play the ball. However, players who are attempting to gain an unfair advantage may not leave the field of play without the referee's permission. In this case, blue #9 left the field of play without the referee's permission, so the referee has to handle the situation in accordance with one of the following scenarios:
- Blue #9 returned to the field of play and interfered with the goalkeeper's ability to play the ball - The referee should stop play, admonish/verbally warn blue #9, or caution her for unsporting behavior (trying to gain an unfair advantage is more serious than leaving the field of play without the referee's permission). Then he should restart the game with an indirect free kick for the red team.
- Blue #9 left the field of play to get around the opponent and have a good chance at playing the ball - If in the process of returning to the field of play, blue #9 does not interfere with the opponent and/or does not put any player in danger, the referee should allow play to continue.
(See page 36 in the 2011-12 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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January 12, 2012
View the video clip below (courtesy of USSF) involving U-15/17 players, and analyze the action. Do you see any wrong actions committed? If so, what would you do as the referee? After you review the clip and develop your answers, read Whistle Stop's response.
Answer: Blue #14 is dribbling fast and pushes the ball into the white team's penalty area. White #11 challenges blue #14, and both players make fair upper body contact. Blue #14 tries to kick the ball, but instead kicks white #11's left foot and trips him. As white #11 falls, his right hand makes contact with the ball. The referee calls a handling offense, awarding a penalty kick to the blue team.
The tripping foul by the blue team occurred before the possible handling of the ball, but because it was not seen by the referee or the assistant referee, an unfair penalty kick decision is made. The correct decision should be to call the tripping foul by blue #14, stop the game and restart it with a direct free kick for the white team.
Here are actions that the referee and/or the assistant referee can take in order to make correct decisions in similar situations:
- The assistant referee should concentrate on players challenging for the ball so that he can see potential fouls.
- The assistant referee should indicate offenses not seen by the referee or whenever he has a better view than the referee to see an offense.
- The referee should keep a clear, unobstructed view of play with a good angle of view. A good angle of view helps the referee make correct decisions, as well as determine whether contact is fair, careless, reckless or done using excessive force.
- The referee should keep the assistant referee in view so he can see flag signals.
- The referee should be close to play, without interfering with players or ball movement, to help him make correct decisions. When the referee is far away, it makes it easier for players and others to question his decisions.
(See pages 27, 34 and 113 in the 2011-12 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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January 05, 2012
In a U-14 girls game, red #10 takes a penalty kick with 10 seconds left in the first half. The ball hits the crossbar, causing its seams to burst.
Answer: If the ball becomes defective during the taking of any kick from the penalty mark, and this occurs before the ball touches a player, in this instance - the goalposts or the crossbar, then the penalty kick is retaken. In this case, the ball became defective after hitting the crossbar, and therefore, the penalty kick is considered completed. The referee should stop play, replace the ball and restart play with a dropped ball.
If the same situation happens during the taking of a kick from the penalty mark to determine a winner, the penalty kick is considered completed.
(See section 14 in the USSF Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game).
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December 22, 2011
In a U-12 boys game, the blue team sets up a wall to defend against a free kick. Red #10 takes a hard kick, sending the ball directly at blue #5 in the middle of the wall. As he reacts and turns away, the ball hits his hand.
Answer: Handling of the ball involves a player making contact with the ball with his hand or arm. The referee should punish only deliberate handling of the ball, meaning only those actions in which the player strikes or propels the ball with the hand or arm. If the referee feels that handling of the ball was not deliberate, he should allow play to continue. Deliberate contact with the ball includes:
- When the player can avoid touching the ball but chooses not to do so.
- When the player's arms are not in a normal playing position at the time.
- When the player deliberately continues an initial accidental contact to control the ball and gain an unfair advantage.
The referee should consider the following factors to determine if a player handled the ball or not:
- If the hand is moving to the ball, it is probably handing; if the ball is moving to the hand, it is probably accidental.
- The distance between the player and the ball just before it is kicked. The closer the player is, the less likely that handling has occurred.
- Is it an unexpected ball? For example: a quick, hard kick from a short distance, or the ball strikes the player's hand or arm from behind.
- Position of the hand does not automatically mean infringement. Using hands or arms to protect the body at a free kick is not necessarily deliberate contact, unless the player uses the protection to control or direct the ball in a manner that gains an unfair advantage.
- If the player is intentionally moving the hand/arm to make himself bigger and cover more space, gaining an unfair advantage.
- The age and skill level of the players. The younger or less experienced the players, the less likely they will deliberately handle the ball.
In this scenario, blue #5 instinctively turned away from facing the ball to protect himself, and the ball accidentally hit his hand. Therefore, there is no deliberate handling of the ball, and the referee should allow play to continue. Additionally, the fact that a player may benefit from the ball accidentally contacting his hand does not make the event an infringement.
(See page 113 in the 2011-12 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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December 15, 2011
In a U-16 girls game, red #9 is standing inside the blue team's penalty area in an offside position. Red #5 puts the ball into play with a throw-in. The ball hits blue #3 on the knee and goes to red #9, who controls it and scores.
Answer: There is no offside infringement when a player in an offside position receives the ball directly from a throw-in. In this scenario, even though the ball deflected off a blue player, it is still considered to have gone directly to red #9 from the throw-in. Therefore, the referee should allow the goal and restart the game with a kickoff for the blue team.
When a player in an offside position receives the ball from a throw-in, the assistant referee will often have to think twice about the action, especially when the attacker is a considerable distance ahead of all defenders. Sometimes assistant referees instinctually react to the attacker's perceived infringement, or to a defender yelling, "Offside, ref!" and they raise the flag. This is why it is very important for referees to pay attention at all times, so that they are not surprised by any plays and can keep track of the restart that is in progress.
It is recommended that the referee reminds both the assistant referee and the players of this rule, and can say, "There is no offside on a throw-in," as the ball is going over to an attacker in an offside position.
(See page 33 in the 2011-12 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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December 8, 2011
In a U-14 girls game, blue #12 receives permission from the referee to leave the field of play to change her shoes. Blue #12 is running toward the opponent's goal line to leave the field when the ball comes to her, so she kicks it into the goal and scores.
Answer: When the referee gave permission to blue #12 to leave the field of play, she was expected to leave the field without participating in the game, and not return until given the approval of the referee. By playing the ball when she did, blue #12 committed a misconduct. Therefore, the referee should stop play, disallow the goal and show the yellow card to blue #12. After cautioning her for unsporting behavior (playing the ball after being granted permission to leave the field of play), the referee should restart the game with an indirect free kick for the red team.
When a referee allows a player to leave the field while the ball is in play, he should ask the player to do so away from play and remind them not to interfere with play or the opponents.
(See pages 36 and 117 in the 2011-12 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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December 1, 2011
Please view the attached video clip (courtesy of USSF) involving U-12 players, and analyze the action. Do you see any wrong actions committed? If so, what would you do as the referee? After you review the video clip and develop your answers, read Whistle Stop's response.
Answer: Red #8 is screening the ball, trying to control it, when blue #11 charges him from behind. A player can legally screen the ball if it is within playing distance, and the referee should consider the player's skill level when determining if the screen is legal or not.
In this video clip, the ball is within playing distance from red #8 when blue #11 makes direct contact with red #8's upper back, causing him to fall. Blue #11 lowered his shoulder just before he made contact. This should be a warning sign to the referee that the charge is not fair contact in an attempt to "play the ball," but rather is an unfair attempt to "play the opponent" by knocking him away from the ball.
Blue #11 has committed a careless charging foul that is punished with a direct free kick. The charge was not reckless and did not involve excessive force, so it does not merit a caution or send off. However, because fouls often generate frustration, the referee should make sure that blue #11 is aware of his actions to encourage him to change his behavior and prevent red #8 from retaliation.
In similar situations, the referee should consider the following factors to determine if the player is committing a foul:
- Proximity to play - Is the player close enough to have a chance of playing the ball?
- Attempts to play the ball - Is the player trying to play the ball or the player? Where is he looking, at the ball or at the opponent?
- Able to play the ball - Was the player able to play the ball? He could be close and trying to play the ball, but ends up making accidental contact with the player instead.
- Force used - Was the force used normal, careless, reckless or excessive?
- Contact with the opponent before the ball - If the player contacts the opponent before the ball, then there is a greater chance that the player committed a foul.
- Malicious intent - Malicious intent is not always easy to identify, but body language is a key factor. Screening an opponent from the ball is legal in most cases, so the referee should focus more on minimizing illegal contact. This can be accomplished by remaining close to play and using phrases such as "Easy," "Not from behind" or "Play the ball" to verbalize awareness.
(See pages 34 and 111 in the 2011-12 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game and sections 12.5 and 12.15 in the USSF Advice to Referees).
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November 17, 2011
The blue team is winning a U-16 girls final championship game three to zero. In the last five minutes of the game, the red team scores three goals to tie the game which sends the game into extra time. Kicks from the penalty mark are needed to determine a winner. The blue team misses the first kick and two of its players, who were taking the next kicks for their team, get into a fight and start punching each other on the face.
Answer: The referee must suspend the taking of the kicks from the penalty mark, show the red card to the two blue players who punched each other, send them off for violent conduct and continue the kicks from the penalty mark. The referee must document the incident in the game report.
Kicks from the penalty mark must be started with both teams having the same number of players. Therefore, if one team finishes the match and any extra time with more players than the opposing team, the team with the greater number of players must "reduce to equate" the number of players so that both teams start the process with the same number.
This reduction of players applies only between the time regular or extra time has ended and the time the actual taking of the penalty kicks begins. Once the kicks from the penalty mark have started, there is no further application of this reduce to equate principle. In this scenario the two players were sent off after the taking of the kicks began, therefore the blue team must continue participating with two fewer players.
(See pages 37 and 53 in the 2011-2012 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game and section 3.12 in the USSF Advice To Referees on the Laws of the Game).
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November 10, 2011
In a U-12 boys game, the ball is in play inside the blue team's penalty area when the referee from an adjacent field blows her whistle. Blue #3, assuming the referee in his game stopped play, picks up the ball with his hands. Develop your ideas on how you would respond to this scenario, then read Whistle Stop's response.
Answer: Deliberately handling the ball is punished with a direct free kick or a penalty kick if the offense is committed by a defender inside his own penalty area. However, in this scenario, the player made an honest mistake by believing that the referee had stopped play. Within the "Spirit of the Game," the referee should consider the age and experience level of the players when determining options for game management. If the referee believes that the whistle from the adjacent field interfered with play, he should stop play, advise the player to pay more attention and restart play with a dropped ball.
Children under 12 years of age are still learning about the game, and sometimes they can benefit much more when the referee teaches rather than when he punishes. The referee can use this scenario to teach awareness to all the players on the field.
(See page 34 in the 2011-12 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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November 3, 2011
In a U-16 girls game, blue #10 is taking a corner kick. Before kicking the ball, she grabs the corner flag and pushes it away, and doesn't release it until after the kick. The ball goes to red #4, who is standing inside her goal area. Develop your ideas on how you would respond to this scenario, then read Whistle Stop's response.
Answer: "Corner flags" are posts that are at least five feet high with a non-pointed top and a flag, and are placed at each corner of the field. The corner flags, like all other parts of the field, must be respected by all players, and grabbing, moving or removing the corner flags may be considered misconduct. The referee should take the following actions based on the scenarios listed below:
- If the player deliberately grabs or removes the flag post prior to taking the corner kick - the referee or assistant referee should instruct the player to reset the flag post to its correct place before taking the corner kick.
- If the player makes incidental contact with the flag post in the process of kicking the ball - the referee should allow play to continue, but should ask the player to be careful in the future not to touch the flag post when taking corner kicks.
- If the player deliberately moves the flag post in the process of kicking the ball, which then goes to a teammate or in front of the goal - the referee should immediately stop play, warn the player not to touch the flag post and have the corner kick be retaken, because moving the flag post is an offense.
- If the player deliberately moves the flag post in the process of kicking the ball, which is then intercepted and controlled by a defender - the referee should allow play to continue, since the offense was trifling and retaking the corner kick would reward the team committing the offense.
A player who deliberately moves the flag post may be cautioned for unsporting behavior, but it may be more effective to first warn the player that any future occurrences of moving the flag post may result in a caution.
(See pages 8, 36 and 50 in the 2011-12 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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October 27, 2011
In a U-10 boys game, blue #3 and red #9 are challenging for the ball when blue #3 touches it out of the field of play over the blue team's goal line, close to the corner flag. The referee, to ensure a correct decision, checks with the assistant referee who is signaling for a corner kick. The referee awards a corner kick to the red team just as red #5 commits a tripping offense on blue #8 in the penalty area. Develop your ideas on how you would respond to this scenario, then read Whistle Stop's response.
Answer: A ball is out of play when it has completely crossed the goal line or touch line, and a foul can only occur while the ball is in play. Therefore, in this scenario, the referee is correct in awarding a corner kick to the red team. Although the tripping offense is not a foul because it occurred when the ball was out of play, the referee should address it because it is still an offense and it may provoke frustration and/or retaliation.
An offense that occurs when the ball is not in play is a misconduct and can earn a disciplinary sanction varying from a caution to a send-off, and at least requires having a word with the player. In AYSO, children who are under 12 years of age should not be formally cautioned or sent off, unless under exceptional circumstances. Referees should consider whether children in this age group are fully aware of their actions, and should consult and work with the coach to educate them on sporting behavior. For young players, a verbal admonishment is usually enough to warn a misconduct, thus avoiding the need to display any cards.
(See pages 31, 36, 50 and 111 in the 2011-12 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game, and page 18 in the 2011 AYSO Guidance for Referees).
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October 20, 2011
In a U-16 girls game, blue #7 controls the ball and shields it with her body, obstructing red #9 who then charges shoulder-to-shoulder with reasonable force. Blue #7 falls to the ground and as red #9 controls the ball and dribbles away, a couple of parents yell, "Foul, ref!" Develop your ideas on how you would respond to this scenario, then read Whistle Stop's response.
Answer: Shoulder-to-shoulder charging is allowed in soccer if it is done with reasonable force by a player attempting to play a ball that is within playing distance. The legal shoulder-to-shoulder charge does not become illegal if a player falls to the ground. Therefore, in this scenario, the referee should allow play to continue.
In youth games, referees have the opportunity to teach players about the game. When a player goes down due to physical contact that was safe and fair, it is recommended that the referee provides a brief and quick explanation as to why play was allowed to continue. This will help the players understand the referee's calls, support his/her decisions and learn more about the game. The referee's explanation will also most likely gain the parents' support as well.
(See section 2.5 in the USSF Advice to Referees on The Laws of the Game).
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October 13, 2011
Be the referee and make your decision.
Watch the above video clip (courtesy of USSF) involving U-19 players and analyze the action. Do you see any wrong actions performed? If so, what would you do as the referee? After you review the video clip and develop your answers, read Whistle Stop's response.
Answer: White #9 receives the ball, turns, then slips and falls as he tries to dribble. Black #9 tries to challenge for the ball in fair manner, but white #9 crawls under black #9, covering the ball in a dangerous manner. Falling while in possession of the ball is not an offense in and of itself. However, the actions made by white #9 after he falls create an unfair situation for the opponents. Black #9 is forced to stop attacking the ball and move away with his hands up as black #7 tries to challenge for the ball with white #9 remaining on the ground, still covering the ball in a dangerous manner.
White #9 is guilty of dangerous play, and therefore, the referee should stop play and restart the game with an indirect free kick for the black team. This type of dangerous play has the potential to frustrate players and make them kick the player who is on the ground. The recommendation is for the referee to quickly signal for the offense and approach the players with a sense of urgency that will help them remain calm.
(See page 35 in the 2011-12 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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October 6, 2011
Be the referee and make your decision.
In a U-16 boys game, the referee talks to blue #4 and then cautions him for unsporting behavior. During the post-game ceremony, blue #4 shows dissent by pulling his hand away in a gesture of disrespect.
Answer: The referee's authority begins when he or she arrives at the area of the field of play, and continues until he or she has left the area after the completion or abandonment of the game. The referee has the power to take disciplinary actions, including cautions and send-offs, as long as the match remains under his or her jurisdiction. This authority persists not only throughout the game, but also during the time after the game has finished, during halftime break, in temporary suspensions, and in additional periods of play or kicks from the penalty mark as required by the rules of the competition.
Players must respect the opponents and others at all times, and this includes during the post-game ceremony. In this case, the referee may show the yellow card to blue #4 and caution him for unsporting behavior, or at least verbally admonish the player and make his coach aware of the misconduct. If the referee decides to caution blue #4 after the game, he or she needs to first show him the yellow card and explain the caution (dissent) to him, then show him the red card and tell him that he will be reported as being sent-off for receiving a second caution within the same game. The incident must be documented in the game report. Referees should help coaches identify misconduct so they can mentor the players about all aspects of Good Sportsmanship, one of our six AYSO Philosophies.
(See pages 37 and 67 in the 2011-12 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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September 29, 2011
Be the referee and make your decision.
In a U-19 girls game, the blue team is winning 4 -1 with 10 minutes left in the second half when the referee awards a goal kick to the blue team. Red #9 kicks the ball toward the blue goalkeeper so she can restart the game, but the goalkeeper lets the ball roll by and then slowly walks after it. The red team coach yells at the referee, "Ref, she is wasting time! Do something!"
Answer: Wasting time when your team is winning is poor sportsmanship, and it generates a lot of frustration from the opponents, coach and spectators. Frustration on the field can become a game-a control issue for the referee, so he or she needs to take action to prevent or reduce it. Therefore, the referee should go over to the goalkeeper and get her to restart the game as quickly as possible. Then the referee can say to the red team's coach: "I'll take care of it. I've got the time [pointing to her watch]. Thank you."
The referee and assistant referees should be ready to prevent time-wasting in order to reduce any potential frustration among the coaches, players or spectators. The referee can help restart the game quickly by alerting the player(s) that should be initiating the restart. In similar scenarios, the goalkeeper has to retrieve the ball, so the referee should remain close by and make her aware of the urgency to restart the game quickly. The referee can do this by verbalizing, "Keeper, get the ball, thank you," and stand nearby to ensure that the goalkeeper gets ready to restart the game. The referee's message should be respectful but firm, and clear enough so that everyone can notice it. Players, coaches and spectators are likely to remain calm and not yell at the referee when they see him or her effectively managing time-wasting situations.
(See page 37 in the 2011-12 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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September 22, 2011
Be the referee and make your decision.
In a U-16 boys game, red #12, a team substitute, enters the field of play without permission from the referee. While the ball is in play, blue #5 strikes red #12 in the middle of the field.
Answer: The referee should stop play, show the red card to blue #5, and send him off for violent conduct for striking red #12. Then the referee should show the yellow card to red #12, and caution him for unsporting behavior when he entered the field of play without permission from the referee. The referee should start play with an indirect free kick for the red team. Violent conduct is a more serious misconduct than entering the field of play without permission, and so the send-off is managed first in order to calm players down and prevent possible player confrontations and/or additional misconduct.
Assistant referees(AR) should keep an eye on the bench personnel and immediately get involved if they see a substitute enter the field of play. The AR can help prevent negative actions by checking with the coach every now and then as he runs by the bench. It is easy to connect with the coach to show your support by saying something like, "Thank you coach, for taking care of the kids." Connecting with the coach allows the AR to be helpful and supportive, and in a subtle manner check the emotional status of the bench personnel.
(See pages 36, 37 and 122 in the 2011-12 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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September 15, 2011
Be the referee and make your decision.
In a U-8 boys game, red #5 takes a throw-in with his right foot completely inside the field of play. As he makes the throw-in, the ball goes to blue #8 who controls it, giving him an advantage, and starts dribbling it away.
Answer: Per the Letter of the Law, the player taking the throw-in must have part of both feet either outside the field of play or on the touch line. Therefore, according to the Laws, the referee would have to stop play and restart the game with a throw-in for the blue team because the restart was incorrect. Advantage only applies to infringements of Law 12, so it cannot be applied during a throw-in.
However, in U-8 games the players are still learning how to play, which includes learning how to properly restart the game. The invalid throw-in in this case becomes a trifling offense, primarily because youth players are still learning the application of the Laws and because the red team did not gain an advantage from the invalid throw-in.
If the referee sees a player planning to take a throw-in from inside the field of play, he can get the player's attention and ask him to move back. Also, in accordance with the Spirit of the Game, the referee may allow the thrower to try again, or may simply allow play to continue and at the next opportunity remind red #5 to keep both feet on the touch line or outside the field of play. In youth games, the referees are an extension of the coaching program and should continue teaching the players the application of the Laws.
(See page 46 in the 2011-2012 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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September 8, 2011
Be the referee and make your decision.
In a U-16 girls game, the referee conducts the coin toss before the game and the red team wins the toss. After both teams set up to start the game, the red team takes the kickoff. Two minutes later, the referee realizes the wrong team took the kickoff.
Answer: In the kickoff procedure, the team that wins the coin toss decides which goal it will attack and the opposing team takes the kickoff to start the game. When the referee realizes that the wrong team took the kickoff, he should forget about his mistake and let the game continue. This mistake, especially in youth games, is a trifling error. If the blue team comment on the referee's mistake after the game has started, the referee should apologize and allow the game to continue. The blue team should take the kickoff to start the second half.
This mistake can easily happen as many youth teams don't know the Laws of the Game, so the referee needs to concentrate on every aspect of the game, including who should take the kickoff. The referee can avoid the mistake by writing down which team should take the kickoff in his record book immediately after the coin toss, and should double check it just before signaling for the start of the game. Writing the information in his book will also help the referee confirm who should take the kickoff at the start of the second half.
(See page 29 in the 2011-12 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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September 1, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U-14 boys game, red #10 takes a shot on goal from just inside the blue team's penalty area as his shoe comes off. The shoe hits the goalkeeper, making him close his eyes and miss the ball as it goes into the goal.
Answer: Striking an opponent in a careless manner is punished by a direct free kick, or a penalty kick if the offense is committed by a player inside his own penalty area. Red #10 accidentally lost his shoe, which in this scenario is considered an extension of the player's foot. Intent is not required in order for an action to be judged as a foul. When the shoe hit the goalkeeper while the ball was in play, it became a careless striking foul committed by red #10. Therefore the referee should stop play, check to make sure the goalkeeper is OK, ask red #10 to put his shoe on, and restart the game with a direct free kick for the blue team.
(See page 34 in the 2010-2011 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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August 25, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
Please view the video clip below (courtesy of USSF) involving U-16 players, and analyze the action. Do you see any illegal action by players? If so, what would you do as the referee? After you review the video clip and develop your answers, read our response in the answer section.
Answer: This video provides an example of a tripping foul that is reckless. The white player gets to the ball first and touches it past the blue player. The blue player slides to try and tackle the ball away as it is played beyond her reach. She misses the ball and trips the white player, making contact with the lower part of the leg and causing her to fall hard on the ground. The blue player may have not intended to hurt the white player, but her decision to slide was reckless because it placed the white player in a potentially injurious situation when she took her legs out from under her. In other words, the blue player acted with disregard for the safety of the opponent. Referees must judge the result of the contact and not the intent of the player committing the offense.
Therefore, in this scenario the referee should stop play, show the yellow card to the blue player, caution her for unsporting behavior and restart the game with a direct free kick for the white team.
(See pages 32, 34 and 109 in the 2010-11 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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August 18, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U-16 girls game, red #6 takes a throw-in, sending the ball in the direction of the blue team's goal.
The blue team's goalkeeper runs to catch the ball but misses it as it bounces over her head. Blue #3 reaches out and punches the ball over the crossbar while she is inside her goal area.
Answer: A direct free kick is awarded to the opponent if a player handles the ball deliberately except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area. If the handling of the ball offense is committed by a player inside his own penalty area then a penalty is awarded to the opponent. Therefore in this scenario the referee should stop play, show the yellow card to blue #3, caution her for unsporting behavior (blatantly handling the ball), and restart the game with a penalty kick for the red team.
Blue #3 did not deny a goal scoring opportunity because a goal cannot be scored directly against the opponent from a throw-in. If the ball enters the opponent's goal directly from a throw-in then the referee must award a goal kick to the opponent. In this case, if the ball had entered the goal directly from the throw-in by the red team then the blue team would have been awarded a goal kick.
(See pages 32, 34, 44, 111 in the 2010-2011 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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August 11, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U-14 boys game, the blue team's goalkeeper yells at blue #3, "Hey, you have to mark your man." Blue #3 laughs and ignores the goalkeeper. Two minutes later, red #9 dribbles around blue #3 and takes a shot which the goalkeeper barely saves. The blue team's goalkeeper, while standing inside his penalty area, gets mad and deliberately throws the ball at blue #3 who is standing outside the penalty area, hitting him in the face.
Answer: Deliberately striking a player with the ball, using excessive force or brutality, even if it is a teammate, is a violent conduct offense. Therefore, the referee should stop play and show the red card to the blue team's goalkeeper. The referee should send the goalkeeper off for violent conduct (deliberately striking a player with the ball using excessive force), ask for a new goalkeeper for the blue team, and restart the game with an indirect free kick for the red team. The position of the restart should be where the ball struck or would have struck blue #3.
The restart is an indirect free kick because the incident involved teammates while the ball was in play. If the goalkeeper would have deliberately hit an opponent with the ball using excessive force while the ball was in play, the restart would have been a direct free kick from the position where the ball struck or would have struck the opponent or penalty kick if the opponent was inside the offending player's own penalty area.
Referees need to pick up player signals that indicate potential player misconduct and influence their behavior toward fair and safe play. When the goalkeeper yelled at his teammate who then laughed and ignored him, the referee should have identified this as a signal that things could escalate. This was an opportunity for the referee to provide awareness to the goalkeeper and his teammate and help them avoid future problems. The referee can say as he runs close by, "Keeper and #3, keep it positive. You are on the same team so help each other. Thanks." This action will make the players realize that the referee is watching everything and will take action if needed. In most cases, if players hear from the referee when they first experience frustration, they will not take action later on.
(See pages 119, 120 and 121 in the 2010-11 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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August 4, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U-16 girls game, red #9 is dribbling the ball inside the opponent's penalty area, getting ready to take a shot on goal. Blue #2 and #15 are standing in front of their goalkeeper. As red #9 takes the shot on goal, blue #5 trips red #9 in a careless manner and causes the shot to be deflected high above the cross bar.
Answer: Tripping an opponent in a careless manner is penalized with a direct free kick. When a player inside his own penalty area commits this offense while the ball is in play, a penalty kick is awarded to the opponents.
In this scenario, red #9 was not denied a goal scoring opportunity because there were at least two other defenders, in addition to the goalkeeper, with the opportunity to defend against her.
Therefore, the referee should stop play and restart the game with a penalty kick for the red team. Since the offense was a careless foul there is no need for a caution or send off. However, depending on the temperature of the game, more specifically the emotional state of the players, the referee could provide awareness by talking to the player who committed the foul.
Decisions inside the penalty area provide the biggest challenge for referees. The referee should understand the flow of the game and as soon as he sees the play moving towards a penalty area, he should quickly move towards the penalty area. The referee should run trailing play and open to his left to obtain a better angle of vision and to box play between him and the leading assistant referee. He should also get close to play, staying out of the player's passing lanes, which will help him make correct decisions that are convincing to players and others.
(See page 32 in the 2010-11 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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July 28, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
Analyze the actions of the video clip below. Do you see any wrong action(s) by players? If yes, what would you do as the referee? After you review the video clip and develop your answers, read our response in the answer section.
Answer: This video provides an example of a charging foul that is reckless. Just as blue #11 gets to the ball, a white player running at full speed charges into him sideways. This causes blue #11 to fall to the ground. The referee can look for the following actions by the white player to identify this charging offense as a reckless foul:
- He is looking more at the opponent than at the ball
- He has a chance to play the ball in a fair manner but decides to charge without regard for the safety of the opponent
- He charges the opponent sideways, then turns his back and upends him in a dangerous manner
- His move appears designed to intimidate
Therefore, the referee should stop play, show the yellow card to the white player, caution him for unsporting behavior and restart the game with a direct free kick for the blue team.
This type of charging is not normal play and it must be eliminated from the game to keep it safe for all participants. It is recommended that the referee take the following steps to properly manage this incident:
- Talk to the guilty player when administering the caution, "Be careful."
- Be sure to get acknowledgment by asking. "Do you understand?" Pause and after receiving the player's response say: "Thank you."
- Talk to the fouled player to make him feel safe. Say: "I'll take care of this. Please keep playing soccer. Thank you."
- Stay close to the players involved in the incident to influence good behavior by presence, including verbalizing awareness as needed.
(See pages 32 and 34 in the 2010-11 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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July 21, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U-16 boys game, the red team's goalkeeper is taking a goal kick. Blue #6 is inside the red team's penalty area next to the penalty area line, which is parallel to the goal line. The goalkeeper kicks the ball to red #4 who is standing just outside the penalty area. Blue #6 gets to red # 4, challenges fairly from behind, takes the ball away, turns around and scores a goal.
Answer: For a goal kick to be correctly completed, opponents must remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in play - and the ball is in play when it is kicked directly out of the penalty area. In this scenario, the ball left the penalty area but the opponent, blue #6, was inside the penalty area when the goal kick was taken. Blue #6 came from an illegal position to challenge red #4 and gained an unfair advantage. Therefore, the referee should stop play, verbally admonish blue #6 and restart the game with an indirect free kick for the red team. If an attacker inside the penalty area during the taking of a goal kick does not interfere with the goal kick, and does not gain an illegal advantage from such position, then the referee may allow play to continue.
(See page 46 in the 2010-11 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
Note: There is a correction to last week's answer. Please see below for revised version.
Whistle Stop readers indicated that the restart for last week's "To Whistle Or Not To Whistle?" scenario is incorrect. We checked with USSF, and the correct restart is a retake of the Goal Kick.
During the Goal Kick, opponents must remain outside the Penalty Area until the ball is in play. If an attacker who is inside the Penalty Area does not interfere with the taking of a Goal Kick then his illegal position becomes a trifling offense and the referee may allow play to continue.
However, in the scenario provided last week, the attacker decides to interfere and gets control of the ball. Even though the ball went outside of the Penalty Area and was controlled by a team-mate of the goalkeeper, the attacker was inside the Penalty Area when the Goal Kick was taken and gained an unfair advantage. Therefore, the attacker's illegal position, being inside the Penalty Area during the taking of the Goal Kick, requires a retake of the Goal Kick.
If the attacker was to repeat the offense of interfering with the Goal Kick, then the referee should caution the attacker for unsporting behavior. Thank you for helping us provide accurate information and we apologize for the inconvenience created by the wrong answer.
Thomas Bobadilla, National Referee Administrator
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July 14, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U-19 girls game, the referee signals for the blue team to kick-off to start the match. A blue player kicks the ball back toward her own goal to pass it to a teammate. The referee blows the whistle and asks the blue players to start the game by kicking the ball forward. Blue #9 gets mad and insults the referee.
Answer: In a kick-off, the ball is in play when it is kicked and it moves forward, and a player who uses insulting language must be sent off. Therefore in this scenario, the referee should show the red card to blue #9 and send her off for using insulting language toward the referee. Then the referee should allow the blue team to replace the sent-off player with a named substitute because the match had not started since the kick-off never took place. The referee should then start the match with a kick-off for the blue team.
(See page 13 the USSF Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game 2011).
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July 07, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U-16 boys game, the ball leaves the field of play over the touchline and was last touched by the blue team. As the referee signals a throw-in for the red team, red #5 trips blue #8.
Answer: The ball is out of play when it completely leaves the field of play over the goal line or the touchline. An infringement can be considered a foul only when it is committed by a player, on the field of play, while the ball is in play. In this scenario, play had stopped before the tripping incident occurred, so the ball was out of play when the contact occurred. Therefore, the referee should manage the incident based on the severity of the tripping. This could range from a verbal admonishment, a caution or even a send-off if the player used excessive force in tripping the opponent.
The referee should then restart the game with a throw-in for the red team. Sometimes parents, the coach or other players may verbalize dissent over the contact incident and request/expect their team to get the ball. This is why it is important to acknowledge and manage the contact incident, and if necessary explain the decision so it is clear that the ball was out of play when the red player tripped the blue player.
(See pages 22, 29 and 109 in the 2010-11 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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June 30, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
Please view the video clip below and analyze the action.
- Do you see any wrong action(s) by players?
- If yes, what would you do as the referee?
- After you review the video clip and develop your answers, read our response in the answer section below.
Answer: White #9 has control of the ball. Red #7 approaches white #9 and kicks him from behind, stomping down on his calf, using excessive force. This is a foul, which becomes violent conduct instead of serious foul play, because red #7 was not challenging for the ball.
Things that will help the referee evaluate this as a violent conduct include:
- 0:09 - The ball is up in the air, in front of white #9, and red #7 is looking down and does not have a chance of getting to the ball.
- 0:09 - Red #7's leg is stretched out and ends up knee-locked when contact is made.
- 0:09/0:10 - Red #7's only effort is to stop white by kicking him.
- 0:11 - Red #7 acknowledges to the referee that he had done wrong.
- 0:11/0:13 - White #9's body language is projecting the pain.
Unfortunately, sometimes teenage players feel that they have to play tough and accept this type of incident without major complaint at first. Notice that even white team players did not react to the foul in a drastic manner. However, as the game goes on, players who have been victims of violent conduct that go unpunished will find an opportunity to retaliate in a similar or worse manner.
Referees need to identify and properly manage violent conduct. In this case, the referee should stop play immediately, check on white #9 and allow the trainer/coach to provide assistance, show the red card to red #7, send him off for violent conduct, reassure the white team that he will control the game, and restart it with a direct free kick for the white team.
(See pages 35 and 119 in the 2010-2011 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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June 23, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U-12 boys game, red #9 is dribbling the ball inside the blue team's penalty area with just the blue team's goalkeeper between him and the goal. Blue #3 catches up and challenges red #9 in a dangerous manner, causing him to stumble. Red #9 continues to control the ball. The referee signals advantage and red #9 takes a shot on goal kicking the ball over the crossbar.
Answer: The referee may signal for and apply advantage, allowing play to continue, when the team impacted by the opponent's infringement would benefit from such an advantage. In this scenario, the play has been stopped as the ball left the field of play last touched by an attacker. Red #9 controlled the ball and took a shot on goal eliminating the obvious goal scoring opportunity condition. The referee should verbally admonish blue #3 for playing dangerously and restart the game with a goal kick for the blue team.
(See pages 21 and 66 in the 2010-11 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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June 16, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U-12 girls game, blue #6 trips red #9 just outside the penalty area.The referee awards a direct free kick to the red team for the tripping foul, but he raises his arm indicating an indirect free kick. The blue team's goalkeeper sees the indirect free kick signal, waits for the red team to kick the ball and lets it go directly into the goal.
Answer: A goal can be scored from a direct free kick (DFK) if the ball is kicked directly into the opponent's goal, but a goal cannot be scored from an indirect free kick (IFK) if the ball is kicked directly into the opponent's goal.In this case, the referee provided the incorrect signal for the free kick and misled the blue team's goalkeeper. When the referee provides the incorrect signal for either a DFK or an IFK, the free kick must be retaken regardless of the outcome. Therefore, in this case the referee should not award the goal and restart the game with a direct free kick for the red team.
(See pages 32, 36 and 123 in the 2010-11 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game, and 71 and 72 in the USSF Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game).
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June 9, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U-10 girls game, blue #7 left the field of play without the referee's permission to have her Dad help fix her shoes and shin guards. Once Dad fixed her equipment, blue #7 entered the field of play without permission of the referee and deliberately handled the ball.
Answer: A player should be cautioned and shown the yellow card if he/she deliberately leaves the field of play without the referee's permission or enters the field of play without the referee's permission. The referee may consider deliberately handling the ball to be an unsporting behavior offense which would warrant a caution. Blue #7 committed three offenses that per the letter of the Law could be punished by the referee with a caution.
However, these incidents happened in a U-10 game where players are most likely learning about the game and probably do not know the Laws of the Game. Additionally, in AYSO, players who are under 12 years of age should not be formally cautioned or sent off unless there are exceptional circumstances. Referees should consult and work with the coach to get the desired behavior from players who can usually be controlled with a verbal admonishment, thus avoiding the need to display cards. This scenario created an opportunity for the referee to teach players, including blue #7, about the Laws of the Game. Therefore in this case, when the incident happens the first time and the referee senses that the player did not know what she was doing, he should:
- Stop play
- Tell blue #7 that she needs to let him know when she needs to leave or is ready to enter the field of play
- Tell blue #7 that she cannot handle the ball
- Restart the game with a direct free kick for the opponents
The discussion with the player should be firm and clear to make sure the coach and surrounding players hear it so they can also learn. The referee should also get acknowledgement from the player to ensure that she understands what is expected of her.
(See page 34 in the 2010=11 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game and page 18 in the AYSO 2011 Guidance for Referees, Coaches, Volunteers and Parents).
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June 2, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U-10 boys game, the red team's goalkeeper controls the ball with his hands and just as he is about to release it, he gets a pain in his right calf which makes him fall down and release the ball. In order to avoid the opponent from playing it, he slides over and lies on top of the ball without handling it.
Answer: Once a goalkeeper releases the ball, any player can attempt to play it as long as there are no safety issues for any players. In this scenario, there is no infringement of the Laws of the Game but the goalkeeper has put himself in danger by lying on the ball and is potentially guilty of dangerous play. However, he released the ball when he fell down due to the pain. Referees need to pay close attention to the safety of players and quickly take action to prevent putting them in dangerous situations.
Therefore in this case the referee should:
- Stop play.
- Check with the goalkeeper to see if he is okay.
- Allow his coach to change his place with another player.
- Substitute him if needed.
- Restart the game with a dropped ball.
(See pages 33 and 113 in the 2010-11 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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May 26, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U-19 girls game, red #9 takes a corner kick and the ball is going straight into the blue team's goal. Blue #3 jumps up, grabs the cross bar pulling herself higher and stops the ball from going into the goal by heading it away to a teammate.
Answer: Players are not allowed to hang from the goal posts or crossbar as this is an unsporting behavior action. Illegally denying a goal scoring opportunity (DOGSO) is commonly done by deliberately handling the ball or by committing an offense against an opponent which results in a free kick or penalty. Also, denying a goal scoring opportunity offenses are not limited to those punishable by a direct free kick and include misconduct or those fouls by which the restart is an indirect free kick. In this case, blue # 3 committed two misconducts at the same time. The first was unsporting behavior for acting in a manner which shows a lack of respect for the game by hanging from the crossbar to assist play. The second was denying a goal scoring opportunity while committing the unsporting behavior offense. The referee needs to document both offenses in the game report but he should penalize only the most serious of the two offenses. Therefore the referee should stop play, show the red card to blue #3 and send her off for denying a goal scoring opportunity. Consider explaining to the players and coach the reason for the send off and then restart the game with an indirect free kick for the red team on the goal area line parallel to the goal line, at the spot closest to where the misconduct occurred.
(See pages 34 and 35 in the 2010-11 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game and pages 27 and 64 in the 2010-11 USSF Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game).
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May 19, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U-14 boys game, just before red #10 takes a penalty kick, red #8 encroaches into the penalty area. Red #10 plays the ball forward towards red #8 who shoots and scores a goal.
Answer: During a penalty kick, the players other than the kicker and the goalkeeper must be located inside the field of play, outside the penalty area, behind the penalty mark, and at least 10 yards from the penalty mark.
If the referee gives the signal for the penalty kick to be taken and, before the ball is in play, a teammate of the kicker infringes the Laws of the Game, the referee should still allow the penalty kick to be taken. If the ball enters the goal, then the kick should be retaken. If the ball does not enter the goal, then the referee should stop play and restart the game with an indirect free kick for the defending team from the place where the infringement occurred. Therefore, in this scenario the referee should stop play, admonish or caution red #8 as appropriate, and restart play with an indirect free kick for the defending team.
(See pages 40 and 42 in the 2010-11 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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May 12, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U-19 girls game, the referee awards an indirect free kick to the red team. Red #13 quickly grabs the ball, positions it on the spot identified by the referee, and kicks it into the back of blue #5's shoes as she is retreating. Then, red #13 controls the ball and takes a shot at the blue team's goal, putting the ball past the goalkeeper and scoring a goal. The blue team's captain complains, "Ref, you gave an indirect free kick!"
Answer: On an indirect free kick, another player, on either team, must touch the ball before a goal can be scored. When a player correctly takes a free kick, direct or indirect, he may intentionally kick the ball at an opponent in order to play the ball again as long as it is not done in a careless or reckless manner, or using excessive force. Therefore, in this scenario the referee should award the goal to the red team and restart the game with a kickoff for the blue team.
It can be challenging to convince the defending players that this decision is correct because this play is not very common, so players may feel confused when they see it.
Recommendation: as soon as the referee sees this happening and there is no infringement, he can help players understand by verbalizing, "Keep playing. Good restart," to help all players focus on playing and not on the restart.
(See page 123 in the 2010-11 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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May 05, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U-14 boys game, the referee awards a direct free kick to the red team just outside the blue team's penalty area. Red #11 runs towards the ball, feinting to take a shot at goal, but he just runs over the ball. This causes the blue team's goalkeeper to react and start moving towards his right side. Right after that, red #9 takes a shot towards the goalkeeper's left side and the ball goes into the goal.
Answer: Feinting to take a free kick to confuse the opponents is permitted in soccer. However, if in the opinion of the referee the feinting is considered an act of unsporting behavior, then the player must be cautioned. In this scenario, the feinting was legal, therefore, the referee should award the goal to the red team and restart the match with a kick off for the blue team.
(See page 123 in the 2010-11 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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April 28, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U-16 girls match, red #9 takes a shot inside the blue team's penalty area which blue player #3 blocks with her leg. Blue player #3 controls the ball and starts dribbling it when red player #9 trips her inside the penalty area.
Answer: Tripping is one of the fouls which merits a direct free kick, or a penalty kick if it is committed by a defender inside his/her penalty area. In this case, the foul was committed by the attacker, red player #9. Therefore, the referee should stop play and restart the game with a direct free kick for the blue team.
(See page 32 in the 2010-11 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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April 21, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U-14 boys match, the referee sent off blue player #7 before starting the 4th quarter. During the 4th quarter, red player #10 takes a penalty kick and the goalkeeper makes a save with his hands, causing the ball to rebound into the field of play. As the ball is rolling away from the goalkeeper, blue #7 runs onto the field of play and kicks the ball. What should the referee do and how is play restarted?
Answer: Anyone not documented on the team list as a player, substitute or team official is an outside agent. Blue player #7 became an outside agent when he was sent off. After a penalty kick is taken and before anybody touches the ball, if it is touched by an outside agent as it moves forward, then the referee should stop play, remove the outside agent, and restart the game with a penalty kick.
However, in this scenario the penalty kick ended when the goalkeeper made the save. When the outside agent blue #7 touches the ball, the referee should stop play, remove the outside agent from the field of play and its immediate surroundings, restart play with a dropped ball from the position where the outside agent touched the ball and document the incident in the game report.
The recommendation is for the referee team to ensure that all sent off players are under the management of their team's coach. Sometimes it is a good approach to remind the coach that a sent off player cannot come on to the field of play and ask him to please make sure to "keep an eye" on the sent off player.
(See pages 43 and 60 in the 2010-11 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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April 14, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U-16 boys game, red player #8 takes an indirect free kick and shoots the ball directly at the opponent's goal. Blue player #4, who is not the goalkeeper and is standing inside his goal area, prevents the ball from entering the goal by deliberately deflecting it over the goal line with his hand.
Answer: A goal cannot be directly scored from an indirect free kick. Therefore, blue player #8 did not deny an obvious goal scoring opportunity and cannot be sent off. The referee should show the yellow card to player #4 and caution him for unsporting behavior, then restart the game with a penalty kick for the red team.
(See pages 34 and 36 in the 2010-11 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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April 07, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
During the 2nd half of a U-12 girls game, the referee adds extra time because of an injury. In the last seconds of play, red player #5 scores the winning goal. Before restarting the game with a kick-off, the referee realizes that the time expired 20 seconds before the goal was scored.
Answer: Per Law 5, the referee is empowered to act as the timekeeper, and per Law 7 the referee is instructed to add extra time to each period to allow for time lost due to the assessment of injury to players. The amount of time to be added is not specified, but the referee should use common sense and discretion in deciding how much time to add.
Unfortunately, in this scenario the referee failed to keep track of time and now he/she has to make a correct decision, even if it looks ugly.
The referee decides when the period ends, so if in his/her opinion the half ended before the goal was scored, then he/she should do the following:
- Explain to both captains and coaches that he/she made an error in keeping track of time.
- He/she could say, "I'm sorry but I made a mistake in keeping track of time and the goal was scored after the half had ended. The goal will not count as the game ended 20 seconds before it was scored. Thank you."
- Expecting some frustration, he/she may consider allowing the captains and/or coaches to ask questions.
- However, aim to move quickly to the center circle to conduct the AYSO after-game teams' protocol.
- Report the incident in the report so the competition administrators will be able to respond to any inquires and/or complaints.
This situation can be very frustrating to players, coaches and parents, so referees should avoid it by keeping track of time. Here are some things that a referee can do to ensure proper tracking of the game time:
- Set the watch alarm to go off at the end of the duration for the half. In the case of U-12 it would be 30 minutes.
- Record the starting time for the half period and then blow the whistle to start the game.
- Thirty seconds before the end of the half, determine how much extra time will be added. This will be the time to add after the alarm signal.
- Make eye contact with the ARs and use the subtle signal that was agreed to in the pre-game discussion to indicate the number of extra minutes to be played.
- During the last 60 seconds, look at your watch often, say every 10 seconds, when it is safe to take your eyes off the players.
(See pages 21 and 26 in the 2010-2011 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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March 31, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In an U-16 boys game, red player #9 is in an offside position standing about seven yards to the blue team's goalkeeper's left. Red player #8 takes a shot from just outside the blue team's penalty area near the penalty arc. The shot goes over the goalkeeper's head and into the goal. Immediately after the ball goes into the net, two defenders from the other team start yelling, "Number nine is offside!"
Answer: A player in an offside position should be penalized only if, in the opinion of the referee, after the ball was played by a teammate, he/she becomes involved in active play by interfering with play, interfering with an opponent or gaining an advantage by being in the offside position. In this scenario, interfering with play (touching the ball) and gaining an advantage by being in the offside position (touching a ball that has rebounded from a crossbar, goalpost, or goalkeeper) are not relevant because the player in the offside position never touched the ball. Interfering with an opponent is the only possible involvement in active play to be considered by the referee. The diagram shown below illustrates this scenario.
If, in the opinion of the referee, the player in offside position did not interfere with the goalkeeper, then there is no infringement. The goal counts and the referee should restart the game with a kick-off for the blueteam.
If, in the opinion of the referee, the player in offside position interferes with the goalkeeper by yelling at him/her, gesticulating at him/her or taking any other action that impacts his/her ability to play the ball, then he should penalize him/her for being offside. The referee should stop the game and restart it with an indirect free kick for the blue team.
(See pages 31 and 105 in the 2010-11 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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March 24, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U-12 boys game, blue player #7 takes a shot on goal which the red team's goalkeeper saves with his feet. Then the goalkeeper dribbles the ball outside the penalty area looking for a teammate to pass the ball to. He sees a blue team player approaching him to challenge for the ball so he dribbles back into his penalty area and picks up the ball.
Answer: An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper, inside his own penalty area, touches the ball again with his hands after he/she has released it from his/her possession and before it has touched another player.
In this case, because the red team's goalkeeper originally saved the shot with his feet, he is allowed to handle the ball. Since the goalkeeper did not previously touch the ball with his hands, he did not commit any infringement when he picked up the ball inside his penalty area.
A common challenge for the referee and assistant referee (AR) is to remain focused and concentrated, and to not be surprised when the goalkeeper dribbles the ball back into his penalty area and picks it up. Here is a recommendation for the referee and ARs to manage this situation.
- The referee and the AR need to keep looking at the ball and players involved throughout the entire sequence of actions. If the referee and/or AR take their eyes off the ball or players, there is a good chance they will miss a critical action which will be a key factor in making a correct decision.
- When the goalkeeper handles the ball, the referee should look at the AR to get input and confirm his/her thinking before making a decision.
- The AR should make eye contact with the referee and provide input.
- If play should continue, the flag should remain down, and if needed the AR can use the subtle "Keep playing" signal that was agreed to in the pre-game discussion. When in doubt, please keep the flag down.
- If play should be stopped, the AR should raise and wave the flag. If the referee acknowledges with a whistle signal, then the AR indicates direction with the flag, uses the subtle "Indirect Free Kick" signal that was agreed to in the pre-game discussion to indicate the restart, and if needed the AR can verbalize "Double touch by the Goalkeeper." If the referee waves down the flag, it is recommended that it be done in a positive manner such as "Keep playing. I've got it, thank you." The AR should then bring the flag down and continue concentrating on the game.
(See page 33 in the 2010-2011 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).
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March 17, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U1-4 girls game, blue player #3 accidentally collided with red player #9 and asked the referee's permission to leave the field of play to recover. Four minutes later, blue player #10 is dribbling the ball into the red team's penalty area with a good chance of taking a shot on goal. At this moment, blue player #3 enters the field of play from her goal line without permission from the referee and pushes red player #9 inside the blue team's penalty area.
Answer: It was okay for blue player #3 to leave the field of play because she had the referee's permission. It is not okay for blue player #3 to reenter the field of play without the referee's permission. This offense requires the referee to stop play immediately because blue player #3 interfered with an opponent and because her teammate, blue player #10, had control of the ball at the time.
In this scenario, the referee must show the yellow card to blue player #3 and caution her for reentering the field of play without the referee's permission. Or, if the push was done using excessive force, show her the red card and send her off for violent conduct. Either way, the restart should be a penalty kick for the red team.
The assistant referees should help the referee keep track of players who leave the field of play so they can assist in getting them back onto the field when they are ready, and help them avoid committing misconduct.
(See pages 17, 34, 35 and 61 in the 2010-2011 AYSO FIFA Laws of the Game).).
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March 10, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U-16 boys game, the referee accidentally allows blue player #3, a substitute who was not on the field of play when the game ended, to take a shot in a series of kicks from the penalty mark to decide a winner and he scores. Five sets of kicks have been completed without determining a winner.
Answer: Once the taking of kicks from the penalty mark begins, the referee shall not abandon the game, unless one of the teams is reduced through injury or dismissal - reducing the team to zero players, before a winner has been decided.
If blue player #3 was the final blue team kicker in the fifth set of kicks and since the referee has not started the next set of kicks, he/she should:
- Nullify the shot taken by blue player #3
- Show him the yellow card, caution him for entering the field of play without permission, remove him from the field of play
- Show the yellow card to the player who was replaced by blue player #3, caution him for leaving the field of play without permission, ask him to join the team and participate in the kicks from the penalty mark
- Have the kick retaken by him or another eligible player of the blue team
If blue player #3 took a kick during the first four sets of kicks, the referee should abandon the match and report the incident in full to the competition authorities who will determine a winner based on competition rules. However in amateur games, especially in youth competitions, when there are no competition rules that apply and it is difficult to reschedule games due to limited resources, the referee should apply common sense and follow the same procedure as if blue player #3 had taken the shot in the last set of kicks.
If the illegal player took a kick but did not score a goal, the referee should allow the illegal player's kick to count, deal with the illegal player and the player that left the field without permission, and continue the kicks as appropriate.
(See page 84 in the 2011 USSF Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game).
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March 03, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U-12 boys game, the blue team's goalkeeper accidentally crosses over the penalty area line as he is releasing the ball from his hands. The assistant referee(AR), Peter, sees the goalkeeper touching the ball with his hands, slightly outside the penalty area, so he raises his flag to indicate handling of the ball.
Answer: Let's start by sharing some very wise words from FIFA that describe the Spirit of the Laws… "The Laws of the Game are intended to provide that games should be played with as little interference as possible, and in this view it is the duty of referees to penalize only deliberate breaches of the Law. Constant whistling for trifling and doubtful breaches produces bad feeling and loss of temper on the part of the players and spoils the pleasure of spectators."
Accidentally stepping outside of the penalty area to release the ball so that others can play the ball should be considered a trifling offense. And ARs should assist the referee subject to the decision(s) of the referee. Therefore, in this case we recommend that the referee allow play to continue.
This incident provides an opportunity for the referee to strengthen teamwork with the ARs and increase the awareness of the teams. He can do this by first verbalizing, "Keep playing," to eliminate possible confusion by the players due to the AR raising the flag. Then he can say "I got it Peter. Thank you," as he smiles and shows a "thumbs up" to the AR. Then the referee can then run by the goalkeeper and provide awareness by saying, "Keeper, be careful and release the ball before you get to the line," as he points to the line. If the goalkeeper intentionally does the same thing again, then the referee can award a direct free kick to the opponents for deliberately handling the ball. At the end of the half, the referee can explain and discuss the decision with the ARs and check with the coach to make sure that the goalkeeper understands the Law.
(See pages 25 and 32 in the 2010-11 AYSO Laws of the Game and page 9 in the 2011 AYSO Guidance for Referees, Coaches, Other Volunteers and Parents).
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February 24, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
After the first half ends in a U-14 boys game, blue player #11 strikes a teammate during the halftime interval. The blue team's coach decides to substitute #11 so he asks blue player #21 to replace blue player #11. The blue team, with blue player #21 and without blue player #11, gets on the field of play and gets ready to start the second half.
Answer: Striking a teammate is an act of violent conduct and therefore blue player #11 should be sent off by the referee. The substitution took place because blue player #11 left the field of play and then blue player #21 entered the field of play.
However, the blue team has to play short because the misconduct occurred during the halftime interval and before the second half started. Therefore the referee should show the red card to blue player #11, explain to the blue team's captain and coach why he sent off blue player #11, ask them to remove a player from the field of play and restart the game with a kick off for the appropriate team.
(See page 35 in the 2010-11 AYSO Laws of the Game).
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February 17, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U-19 boys game, blue player #10 recovers the ball and attempts to pass it to his goalkeeper, but red player #9 intercepts it and dribbles towards the blue team's goal with just the goalkeeper in front of him. Blue player #4 is trailing red player #9 just outside the penalty area, skips over to his right to avoid making contact with him and but grabs his left arm, causing him to lose control. Red player #9 starts falling down but manages to take an uncontrolled kick towards the blue team goalkeeper who saves the shot.
Answer: If in the opinion of the referee blue player #4 impacted, in a careless and/or unfair manner, red player #9's ability to control the ball, then he is guilty of committing a holding foul.
The video clip below, courtesy of USSF, demonstrates this scenario.
In the clip, blue player #4 catches up to red player #9 and attempts to stop him by quickly grabbing and releasing his arm as he jumps away from him to give the impression that he is avoiding contact. The blue player's intention is to stop the opponent without getting caught committing the foul. The referee should wait a split-second, applying advantage, to see if the kicked ball by red player #9 goes in for a score.
If the goal is scored, the referee should warn or caution blue player #4 depending on the nature of the foul and restart the game with a kick off for the blue team. Since the red team did not score and the foul occurred outside the penalty area, the referee should award a direct free kick (DFK) to the red team. Before awarding the DFK the referee should also evaluate if blue player #4 denied an obvious goal scoring opportunity by committing the offense.
In this scenario, blue player #4 denied the goal scoring opportunity because the red player was controlling the ball, was dribbling directly to the opponent's goal, and was going into the penalty area – only a short distance to the goal, and the goalkeeper was the only blue team player with a chance of stopping the red player.
In such a scenario, the referee should show the red card to blue player #4, send him off for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity, and restart the game with a DFK for the red team where the foul occurred.
(See pages 32, 35, and 122 in the 2010-11 AYSO Laws of the Game).
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February 10, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U-12 boys' game, blue player #3 is attempting to head the ball away from the red team. At the same time, blue player #5 kicks his leg high in the air, in a manner considered dangerous by the referee, in an attempt to kick the ball away. Blue player #5 misses the ball and almost kicks blue player #3 in the head.
Answer: Player safety is a priority and referees should address all dangerous situations. Per Law 12, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if, in the opinion of the referee, a player plays in a manner that is dangerous to the opponent. If, in the opinion of the referee, blue player #5's action did not endanger the red team or adversely and unfairly affect their ability to play, then it would be unfair to give them a free kick. In this scenario, the dangerous play involves teammates and therefore, the referee should stop play, check to make sure the players are okay, ask them to be careful and restart play with a dropped ball where the ball was when play was stopped.
Players with less experience and skill may not adequately judge the danger associated with their playing, so the referee should intervene when necessary and help them play in a safe manner. In youth games, players tend to have less experience, and it is more common for them to play in a dangerous manner. In judging dangerous play, the referee needs to consider the experience, skill, and emotional levels of players.
(See pages 33 and 113 in the 2010-11 AYSO Laws of the Game, and page 50 in the 2010-11 USSF Advice to the Referees on the Laws of the Game).
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February 3, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U-12 girls game, the ball is headed for the touch line and blue substitute #18 decides to try to preemptively stop it from rolling far away. She steps on the touch line and touches the ball with her foot to stop it, but instead the ball is deflected and remains in the field of play. The referee does not see that blue #18 touched the ball and allows play to continue. The blue team controls the ball and scores a goal. Before the ensuing kick-off the assistant referee (AR) tells the referee what happened.
Answer: When blue substitute #18 stepped on the touch line, she entered the field of play without the referee's permission and became an extra attacker. Regardless of whether she interfered with play or not, when her team scored the goal they had an extra player on the field of play. Since the referee became aware of the situation before the kick-off, he/she must disallow the goal and make sure blue substitute #18 is no longer on the field of play. Also, because the ball was last touched by an attacker and left the field of play across the goal line without a goal being scored, the referee should restart the game with a goal kick for the red team.
Per the letter of the Law, the referee should caution blue substitute #18 for unsporting behavior. However, in general and definitely in AYSO, children who are under 12 years of age should not be formally cautioned or sent off unless there are exceptional circumstances.
The purpose of a caution is to give players a fair notice/warning that the manner in which they are playing or behaving is unacceptable and that they will be sent off the field of play if they continue to play or behave in this manner. With children, the referee can accomplish this objective more effectively by verbally reprimanding, admonishing or warning the players. In this scenario, the player wanted to stop the ball from rolling far away and may have not known that she was stepping on the touch line.
(See pages 17 and 62 in the 2010-11 AYSO Laws of the Game, pages 17 and 18 in the 2010-11 AYSO Guidance for Referees and Coaches, and pages 17 and 18 in the 2010-11 USSF Advice to the Referees on the Laws of the Game).
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January 27, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U-19 boys match, the red team is losing 1 to 0. With 10 seconds left in the game, the referee awards a direct free kick to the red team six yards outside of the penalty area. Blue player #3 picks up the ball, jogs slowly towards his goal taking 5 seconds to get back to his position, turns around and waits for the referee to ask for the ball. Red players complain to the referee who is standing where the free kick will be taken, and the referee asks blue player #3 to give the ball to the red team. Blue player #3 kicks the ball in the direction of the referee but high over his head and far away, causing it to roll out of the field of play. Now 20 seconds have gone by.
Answer: When the game was stopped to award the direct free kick to the red team, there were 10 seconds of playing time left. The referee should make a mental note of this and add time at his discretion due to blue player #3 wasting time and excessively delaying the restart. The 20 seconds that elapsed while the blue player #3 delayed the restart should not be counted as playing time, therefore the referee should make sure that the players get at least ten more seconds of playing time.
The red team has the right to take the direct free kick immediately. The players on the blue team have the obligation to leave the ball alone or give it back to the red team right away, then move 10 yards away from the spot where the free kick will be taken. Blue player #3 is guilty of delaying the restart of play because his actions denied the red team their right to a quick restart.
Blue player #3's behavior could also cause the red team players to get frustrated and dissent to the referee and/or retaliate against blue player #3 or his teammates. The key refereeing tools needed in this scenario are communication and a sense of urgency in dealing with misconduct. To avoid or manage player frustration and possible retaliation, the referee should verbalize that he has control of the game clock: "Don't worry I control the time. Thank you." The referee should show the yellow card to blue player #3, caution him for delaying the restart of play, and restart the game with the direct free kick that was awarded to the red team.
(See pages 26, 34, 96 and 117 in the 2010-11 AYSO Laws of the Game).
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January 20, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U-16 boys game, red player #12, the center forward, injured himself while taking a shot on goal which ended up in a goal kick for the blue team. He leaves the field of play on his own initiative, after receiving permission from the referee to get treated. Just before the goal kick is taken, he asks the referee for permission to return to the field of play.
Answer: Only the referee may permit a player who left the field of play to be treated for an injury to return. Such player may return during play with the referee's permission as long as the player returns from the touch line, and preferably at the halfway line or at a point where he/she will not gain an illegal advantage. However, if the ball is out of play, the player may return with the permission of the referee, across any boundary line.
In this case, the game was stopped because the ball went of play and not because of the injury, and the referee did not beckon anyone onto the field of play to provide medical assistance to the player.
Therefore, the referee should allow red player #12 to return to the field of play and then restart the game with the goal kick for the blue team.
(See page 25 in the 2010-11 USSF Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game).
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January 13, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U16 boys game, red player #8 commits a reckless pushing foul so the referee awards a free kick to the blue team and cautions the red player. As the referee is recording the caution, red player #8 gets mad and walks away from the field.
Answer: Cautioning or sending off a player has the potential to generate additional misconduct issues – sometimes as soon as the player(s) hear the whistle. Therefore, it is very important for the referee team to have good awareness of potential negative behavior on the part of players, coaches and parents and quickly manage situations to help avoid additional misconduct.
In this scenario, if the referee determines that red player #8 is dissenting his decision to caution him and/or showing a lack of respect for the game, he should show him the yellow card, caution him per the appropriate second misconduct, then show him the red card and send him off for committing a second cautionable offense in the same match. Play should then be restarted with a free kick to be taken by the blue team.
Try to keep the cautioned player calm and positive as this will help him/her avoid an additional caution. Talk to the player to briefly explain what he/she did wrong, the expectation and check for understanding/acknowledgement. An example of things to say… "We need everyone to be safe so please stop pushing. Are you okay with my request? Thank you." If the player starts walking away from the field of play immediately get his/her attention and have a similar conversation. Most players react positively to the referee when he/she explains things in a positive, compassionate and respectful manner.
(See pages 32, 34 and 115 in the 2010-11 AYSO Laws of the Game).
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January 6, 2011
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U-16 boys game, the referee awards an indirect free kick to the blue team about 10 yards outside their penalty area. To restart the game, blue player #3 kneels on the ground and heads the ball back to his goalkeeper. The goalkeeper controls the ball outside of his penalty area and dribbles it inside and then picks it up.
Answer: The original restart was a free kick and as such cannot be headed to start play. Even though the blue team's goalkeeper picked up the ball, blue player #3 committed an offense that warrants caution by the referee by using a deliberate trick to circumvent the Law and pass the ball to his goalkeeper while he was taking the free kick.
If the referee is certain that the trickery occurred, it is not necessary to wait and see what the goalkeeper will do. Therefore, in this scenario the restart was never completed and the referee should show the yellow card to blue player #3, caution him for unsporting behavior and have the original free kick retaken from the spot where it was originally awarded.
If (unlike this scenario) the ball is in play while a player uses a similar deliberate trick to circumvent the Law to pass the ball to his goalkeeper (using his head, chest, knee, etc. on a ball that should instead be kicked), then irrespective of whether the goalkeeper touches the ball with his hands, play should be stopped, the guilty player cautioned, and the game restarted with an indirect free kick for the opposing team at the spot of the misconduct.
(See pages 34 and 115 in the 2010-11 AYSO Laws of the Game).
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December 16, 2010
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U-14 girls game, the trailing assistant referee(AR) raises his/her flag because blue player #10 kicked red player #2 out of sight of the referee. Right after this offense, red player #11 scores a goal. After signaling for the goal the referee turns towards the center circle and notices the trailing AR with the flag straight up.
Answer: The assistant referees (AR) should indicate misconduct or any other incident that occurs out of the view of the referee. In this scenario, the trailing AR was correct in keeping the flag up to signal the offense until the referee acknowledged it. The AR should quickly tell to the referee that blue player #10 kicked red player #2 before the goal was scored.
Since the offense was committed by blue player #10, a member of the team scored against, the goal stands. Depending on the nature of the offense, the referee should caution for unsporting behavior or send off blue player #10 for violent conduct , show her the yellow or red card, and restart the game with a kick off for the blue team. This scenario provides a good opportunity for teamwork and for the AR and referee to display courage by cautioning or sending off blue player #10. Referees should not be tempted to avoid punishing a player who is guilty of misconduct simply because the opponents score a goal – the one action does not offset the other.(See pages 25, 34 and 35 in the 2010-11 AYSO Laws of the Game).
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December 9, 2010
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U-16 boys game, blue player #6 is sent off. Ten minutes later he comes into the field of play and kicks red player #10 inside the blue team's penalty area.
Answer: Blue player #6 was sent off, therefore he is no longer a player or substitute and is now an outside agent. When an outside agent enters the field of play, he/she is considered an extra person and needs to be removed.
The entry of one or more outside agents could be considered a form of disorder, which may require the referee to suspend or terminate the match. In this scenario the referee should stop the game, remove the extra person and restart the game with a dropped ball. This incident must be documented in the referee's report.
(See USSF Position Paper on Extra Persons – November 9, 2010).
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December 2, 2010
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U-10 girls game, the referee notices that red player #9 is bleeding so he/she asks her to leave the field and get assistance. Red player #9 is treated and re-enters the field of play, while the ball is in play, without notifying the referee or the assistant referee. Ten seconds later the red team scores a goal.
Answer: Per Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct, a player is cautioned and shown the yellow card if he/she enters or re-enters the field of play without the referee's permission.
However, children are often learning about the game and they are not aware of rules and/or their actions. Therefore, the referee should always consider that he/she is officiating and teaching.
In AYSO, children less than 12 years of age should not be formally cautioned or sent off unless there are exceptional circumstances. In this case the red player #9's action should be considered trifling. Therefore, the referee should check that the player is not bleeding and there is no blood on her equipment. Then the referee should provide a verbal admonishment explaining the correct/expected behavior which will help teach the player and avoid having to display the yellow card. Next the referee should restart the game with a kick off for the blue team.
(See page 34 in the 2010-11 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game and page 18 in the AYSO Guidance for Referees and Coaches - 2010).
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November 24, 2010
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U-16 girls game the blue team's goalkeeper punts the ball as hard as she can. The ball rebounds off the referee's head while she is standing in the blue team's penalty arc and it goes back towards the blue team's goal. The goalkeeper makes an attempt to stop the ball from going into the goal by diving and touching the ball but is unable to stop it. The ball goes over the goal line and enters the goal.
Answer: If the ball accidentally hits the referee or an assistant referee while they are on the field of play, the ball continues to be in play because the officials are neutral. The goalkeeper commits an offense by touching the ball again with her hands after she released it from her possession and before it touched another player. However, since the goalkeeper did not stop the ball and there was a good chance of a goal being scored, the referee can apply advantage. Therefore, in this case the referee should stop play, award the goal and restart the game with a kick off for the blue team. To avoid interfering with play, the assistant referees should remain off the field of play as much as possible and the referee should avoid the area where players are passing or challenging for the ball.
(See page 33 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game and page 38 in the 2010-11 edition of the USSF Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game.)
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November 18, 2010
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
In a U-19 game, blue #7 commits a kicking foul in the 11th minute, which the referee penalizes with a direct free kick for the red team. In the 14th minute, the same player commits a pushing foul and the referee awards a direct free kick to the red team after having a brief but firm talk with blue player #7. Then in the 18th minute, blue #7 kicks a red player just outside the penalty area, committing his third foul, causing the red player to lose control of the ball. The ball rolls out to another red player who is not in an offside position.
Answer: Blue player #7 committed multiple fouls and should be cautioned for persistent infringement. Since the ball went to another red player, the referee should judge if allowing play to continue will benefit the red team's attack, that is, the referee should consider applying advantage.
For advantage to be considered, the red team should have a good chance of taking a shot on goal. Examples: the red player with the ball ends up on a one-on-one attacking situation against the blue goalkeeper; or the red team ends up with a numerical attacking player advantage on the blue team.
In considering advantage, we recommend for the referee to quickly take the following steps:
- Determine if any player wants to immediately retaliate.
- Sometimes the referee has to help avoid retaliation with a strong signal and verbal message, "Play on, I see the foul but you have the ball."
- If retaliation seems possible, stop the play, deal with the situation, show the yellow card to blue #7 and caution him for persistent infringement and restart the game with a direct free kick for the red team.
- If the red team ends up with a good chance for a shot on goal and there is no retaliation, apply advantage, and when the game comes to a stop, show the yellow card to blue #7 and caution him for persistent infringement.
- Every now and then the advantage does not materialize so if this happens, quickly blow the whistle, briefly but clearly verbalize the decision, award a direct free kick to the red team for the kicking foul, show the yellow card to blue #7, and caution him for persistent infringement.
(See pages 32, 34 and 117 in the 2010-11 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game).
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November 11, 2010
What should the referee do and how is play restarted if...
The referee awards a corner kick to the red team at the end of the first half. Before the corner kick is taken the referee looks at his watch and decides that the duration of the half has expired so he gets ready to blow the whistle. Then he thinks "The duration of either half is extended until a penalty kick and/or corner kick is completed."
He proceeds to allow the corner kick to be taken. Red player #9 heads the ball into the net and scores a goal. Immediately after the referee blows his whistle and ends the half.
Answer: Per Law 7, if a penalty kick has to be taken or retaken, the duration of either half is extended until the penalty kick is completed. However, this does not apply to corner kicks; the referee should not extend the duration of the half to complete a corner kick.
The Spirit of the Law and the fact that a restart is not valid makes it acceptable for the referee to correct wrong decisions. In this case, the referee should notify both captains - and we recommend that both coaches also be notified - that the goal will not count because it was not scored during playing time. This must be done as soon as possible before starting the second half. If the same incident happens at the end of the second half, the referee should notify the captains and coaches before they leave the field of play. The incident should be included in the game report.
(See page 26 in the 2010-11 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game).
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November 4, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
Red player #9 takes a penalty kick and kicks the ball high over the cross bar. Blue player #7 had entered the penalty area before the penalty kick was taken so the referee decides to restart play with a penalty kick for the red team. Red player #10 tells the referee that he will take the penalty kick. The captain of the blue team tells the referee, "Not only should you not repeat the penalty kick because player #9 missed it, but you can't change players in the middle of a penalty kick."
Answer: If the referee gives the signal for a penalty kick to be taken and a teammate of the goalkeeper infringes the Laws of the Game before the ball is in play - if the ball does not enter the goal, then the penalty kick should be retaken. In this scenario, blue player #7 committed an infringement of the Laws by entering the penalty area before the penalty kick was taken, so the referee was correct in deciding to restart with a penalty kick for the red team. If the referee orders a penalty kick to be retaken, it is not necessary for the same player to perform the restart of the game. Therefore, the referee should tell the blue team captain that it is okay for a different player to retake the penalty kick and allow red player #10 to retake the penalty kick. Changing the kicker for the retaking of a penalty kick is not a common situation so it may make referee think twice about the proper action to take, potentially projecting insecurity.
Referees need to always project confidence and make firm, clear signals. Referees can acquire and project such confidence by becoming students of the game. This will help the player feel that the referee knows what he/she is doing and accept the decision with little or no questioning. (See page 42 in the 2010-11 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game and page 73 in the 2010 AYSO Guidance for Referees and Coaches).
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October 28, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
In a U-8 boys game, the red team was attacking and getting close to the opponent's goal. Blue team substitute, player #7, steps into the field of play and kicks the ball, stopping the red team's attack. Before this incident, blue player #7 had stepped onto the field twice and his coach had to catch him and remove him from the field.
Answer: Law Three states if a substitute or substituted player enters the field of play without the referee's permission:
- The referee stops play (although not immediately if the substitute or substituted player does not interfere with play).
- The referee cautions him for unsporting behavior and orders him to leave the field of play.
- If the referee has stopped play, it is restarted with an indirect free kick for the opposing team from the position of the ball at the time of the stoppage.
However, in AYSO referees should not formally caution or send off players who are under 12 years of age. In addition, all free kicks in U-8 games are direct free kicks.
In this scenario, the referee should consider that the substitute may not be fully aware of his actions and because it is a U-8 player, treat the incident as an offense similar to interference by an outside agent, which requires a dropped ball restart. The referee should stop the game because the substitute who entered the field interfered with play, work with the coach to remove the substitute from the field of play, get him to bring forth the desired behavior and restart with a dropped ball at the place where it was located when play was stopped.
In summary, the referee cannot restart with an indirect free kick and a direct free kick would be too strong a punishment, especially if the stoppage is close to the goal. The dropped ball restart allows the referee and coach to work with the substitute player and teach him about the game.
(See pages 17, 28 and 61 in the 2010-11 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game and pages 13, 18 and 35 in the 2010 AYSO Guidance for Referees and Coaches).
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October 21, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
In a U-16 boys game blue player #2 takes a goal kick. Before the ball leaves the penalty area, red player #9 enters the penalty area and is fouled by blue player #5 three feet away from the penalty mark.
Answer: During the taking of a goal kick the opponents should remain outside the penalty area and cannot touch the ball until it is in play. The ball is in play when it is kicked directly out of the penalty area which means nobody, attackers and defenders, can touch the ball before it leaves the penalty area
Since the foul occurred before the ball left the penalty area, the goal kick must be retaken. Therefore the referee should stop play, may caution or send off blue player #5 depending on the nature of the offense and restart the game with a goal kick. (See pages 46 and 127 in the 2010-11 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game).
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October 14, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
In a U-10 boys game, the blue team's goalkeeper collects the ball in his goal area. He is holding the ball in his hands and getting ready to kick it when his pet Chihuahua dog gets away from his mother and runs into the penalty area barking at the goalkeeper and wanting to play with him. A couple of kids start chasing and playing with the dog.
Answer: Parents should not bring any pets to the soccer fields. In this scenario, the referee should blow the whistle to stop play and ask the parent(s) to remove the dog from the field of play. The referee can suggest to the parents to remove the dog from the location so there will not be another incident if the pet gets away from them.
Once the parents get the pet under control the referee should remind the players to refocus on the game – "Everyone, we're going to restart the game so please get ready. I'll restart with a dropped ball and in the spirit of the game allow the goalkeeper to get control of the ball because he had it under control when the dog came on to the field. Thank you." Next the referee should restart the game with a dropped ball and let the blue team's goalkeeper gain control of the ball.
(See page 28 in the 2010-11 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game).
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October 7, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
In a U-10 girls game the referee, who is supported by two club linesmen, makes a throw in decision in favor of the red team and the blue team's coach complains. The referee beckons the coach on to the field to explain his decision and within a couple of seconds the discussion becomes confrontational. The club linesman furthest to the confrontation runs to the referee and coach in order to help diffuse the situation. The coach turns around and yells at the club linesman "What are you doing here? Go back to the line and do your job!"
Answer: We strongly recommend that the referee not beckon a coach on to the field simply to explain a decision because such interaction can escalate into a confrontation. If the referee decides to talk to the coach it is best to isolate the coach outside of the field of play, away from parents and kids. This approach will eliminate the risk of the coach not wanting to leave the field of play.
Meanwhile, the club linesman's only responsibility should be to signal when the ball leaves the field of play, assisting the referee without undue interference. In this scenario the referee should first politely ask the club linesman to go back to the line and take his position. The request has to be positive as the referee needs the club linesman to feel appreciated for his efforts. Therefore, the referee can say "Thank you very much. Please go back to your position and I'll talk to the coach so we can get him back to his technical area and get the game restarted quickly."
This action will eliminate the risk of having the club linesman further frustrate the coach, may get some appreciation from the coach and may in turn influence the coach's thinking in the right direction. Next the referee should remind the coach that he needs to go back to the technical area and remain positive and supportive of referee decisions. One way to accomplish this is to say "Coach, thank you for your feedback and now please go back to your position so I can restart the game with a throw in." If the coach insists on not leaving the field the referee can say "Coach, out of courtesy I beckoned you on to the field so I could explain my decision which is something I don't have to do. Please leave the field now or I will have to expel you from the game. Thank you." And if the coach does not go to the technical area then the referee should expel the coach for irresponsible behavior and document it in the match report.
(See pages 21 and 22 in the 2010-11 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game and page 32 in the USSF Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game).
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September 30, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
In a U-19 boys game, red player #7 is dribbling the ball into the opponent's half of the field, looking for a teammate to pass the ball to. He sees red players #10 and #9 inside the blue team's penalty area so he sends a pass towards them. Red player #9, who is very close to the goal line, is in an offside position so he decides to step outside the field of play and show the referee that he does not want to participate in the play. The blue team's captain yells at the referee, "Red player #9 left the field, give him a yellow card."
Answer: A player in an offside position is only penalized if, at the moment the ball is touched or played by a teammate, he is involved in active play by interfering with play, interfering with an opponent, or by gaining an advantage by being in the offside position. If in the opinion of the referee, red player #9 did not interfere with the opponent or play as he was stepping out of the field of play, then he should allow play to continue because there was no infringement.
We recommend that the referee address the blue team's captain's request in a subtle but firm manner. As the referee allows play to continue he can respond to the captain "He is not participating in play so keep playing. Thank you." If red player #9 decides to re-enter the field to gain an unfair advantage, the referee should caution him for unsporting behavior. Red player #9 needs to ask and wait for the referee's permission to re-enter the field of play.
(See pages 31, 100 and 101 in the 2010-11 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game).
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September 23, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
In the opinion of the referee in a U-16 boys game, blue player #6 commits an offense which merits a caution, but the referee decides to apply advantage as he sees that red player #9 has a good opportunity for taking a shot on goal. Play continues for about ten seconds and blue player #3 kicks the ball over his own goal line very close to the corner flag. Red player #9 quickly gets the ball and kicks it from the corner arc.
Answer: It is okay for a referee to apply advantage when an offense has occurred that merits a caution, if there is a clear subsequent opportunity to score a goal and there is no immediate danger to any players. However, the referee should issue the caution at the next stoppage of game and if it is not done then the referee cannot caution the player later in the game.
Right after a stoppage, players want to continue playing as soon as possible, especially when they sense a chance for scoring. The referee should be aware that he mentally made a note to caution a player and therefore he/she needs to pay close attention to when the ball goes out of play next.
In this scenario we recommend that the referee immediately blow his whistle to get the players' attention, ask the red player #9 to wait even if he has kicked the ball, find blue player #6 and tell him that he committed an offense that needs to be cautioned – describe the offense, show him the yellow card and then ask the red player to restart the game with the corner kick. While the referee is looking for the player to be cautioned, the assistant referee closest to the red player with the ball can help manage the situation by saying "Wait please. As soon as the referee gives the signal you can take the corner kick. Thank you." (See pages 21 and 66 in the 2010-11 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game).
September 16, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
Red player #7 is dribbling the ball. Blue player #2 runs to defend against red player #7 and tries to kick the ball, but misses it and raises his foot high without committing a foul or playing dangerously. As the referee is thinking about what he is seeing he "jumps the gun" and mistakenly blows his whistle.
Answer: Every now and then a referee accidentally blows the whistle, such as in this case, when feeling that a foul is being committed and realizing too late that there was in fact no foul. The referee should always wait until he/she sees and is sure of an offense before blowing the whistle. Sometimes keeping the whistle in your mouth throughout the game contributes to the "jumping the gun." We recommend that referees have the whistle attached to their wrist or hand in order to help avoid unwanted whistling. It only takes a fraction of a second to blow the whistle so wait a moment to be sure a foul has been committed.
In this scenario, if the referee decides that there is no offense to penalize then he/she can explain that there was no foul, that he/she blew the whistle by mistake and restart the game with a dropped ball.
(See page 28 in the 2010-11 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game).
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September 9, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
Blue player #3 takes a goal kick. The ball hits blue player #7, who is standing inside the blue team penalty area and leaves the field of play over the blue team's goal line near the corner flag post.
Answer: A goal kick can be taken from any point within the goal area by any player in the defending team including the goalkeeper. The opponents should remain outside the penalty area and cannot touch the ball until it is in play. The ball is in play when it is kicked directly out of the penalty area, which means nobody can touch the ball before it leaves the penalty area. Since the ball was touched by a blue player before it left the penalty area the goal kick must be retaken, therefore the referee should restart the game with a goal kick. Often younger players may not know that they cannot touch the ball before it leaves the penalty area during a goal kick. Referees should recognize this and help them position for the goal kick.
(See page 46 in the 2010-11 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game).
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September 2, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
In a U-16 boys game, red player #12 is getting ready to take a corner kick. Before the corner kick is taken, blue player #3 who is inside his penalty area kicks red player #9.
Answer: Kicking an opponent when the ball is out of play cannot be a foul but is considered violent conduct which is a send off misconduct offense. When a misconduct occurs while the ball is out of play the restart remains the same. Therefore in this case the referee should show the red card to blue player #3, send him off for violent conduct and restart the game with the corner kick. While waiting for a corner kick to be taken, the referee should always be close to the players in the penalty area. This will allow the referee to ensure that the players feel his/her presence and help them avoid misbehaving. Sometimes it is necessary to verbalize a simple reminder – "I'm watching." Provide a quick smile, and say "thank you."
(See pages 35 and 119 in the 2010-11 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game).
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August 26, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
In a U-8 boys game, red player #10 removes his shin guards because they bother him and throws them out of the field of play. Immediately after he receives a pass, shoots and scores a goal without the shin guards.
Answer:
Law 4 – The Player's Equipment states that shin guards are part of the basic mandatory player equipment. Shin guards must be worn at all times in games and practices and should be entirely covered by socks. Removing the shin guards is an infringement which does not require play to be stopped, therefore in this scenario the goal counts.
The referee should ask the player to leave the field of play to correct his equipment and restart the game with a kickoff for the blue team. The player can reenter the field of play when the ball is out of play and his equipment has been checked by the referee. The referee can delegate this type of equipment check to the assistant referees in the pregame conference. In U-8 games referees are providing a lot of teaching of the game to the kids. The referee can explain to the player the safety benefits of wearing the shin guards and then recommend that he wears them at home to get used to them.
(See pages 18 and 19 in the 2010-11 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game).
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August 19, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
In a U-14 girls game the referee sends off blue player #5 and red player #9 ten minutes into the second half. Red player #9 switches shirts with red player #19 and at the end of the "quarter" gets substituted for red player #3. A couple of minutes later the referee notices that red player #19 is the red player who he sent off earlier.
Answer:
Red player #3 remains the player of record because the red player #19 was sent off while wearing #9, so from that point on she was no longer eligible to participate in the game. Any player who is sent off and goes back into the field of play is considered an outside agent. Therefore, the referee should stop the game, and have the player with the red shirt #19 removed from the field of play. The referee should also caution the substitute who is the official red player #19 for unsporting behavior by switching shirts, show her the yellow card and ask her to wear the red shirt #19.
If in the referee's opinion the coach knew about the players' misconduct, switching shirts and intentionally substituted a player who had been sent off, then he should dismiss the coach for irresponsible behavior. Ask red player #3 to get back on the field of play and restart the game with an indirect free kick for the blue team. All of the details must be properly documented in the game report. We recommend that the assistant referee on the side of the team bench always pay attention to the substitutes' activity in order to prevent this type of misconduct.
(See pages 17, 22, 33 and 60 in the 2010-11 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game and page 25, Section 5.10 in the USSF Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game, 2009-10 edition).
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August 12, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
In a U-16 boys game, red player #9 makes light contact with the blue team's goalkeeper as he challenges for the ball. The goalkeeper controls the ball and because he was upset over the contact, he throws it directly at the back of the head of red player #9 who is now 3 yards outside of the penalty area.
Answer:
Carelessly hitting an opponent with the ball is considered a striking foul which is punishable by a direct free kick. In this case, the point of the infraction is considered to be where the ball struck the opponent (or would have struck if the attempt missed). When the ball is in play and a player throws an object or the ball at an opponent in a reckless manner, with complete disregard for the safety of his opponent, he/she should be cautioned for unsporting behavior. If the player throws the object with excessive force, creating danger to his opponent, then he/she should be sent off for violent conduct. Therefore in this scenario the referee should stop play and, depending on his/her opinion, caution or send off the goalkeeper and restart with a direct free kick where the ball made contact with red player #9.
(See pages 32, 34, 35, 109, 115, 119 and 121 in the 2010-11 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game).
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August 5, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
In a U-19 girls' game, red player #9 is dribbling the ball into the blue team's penalty area. Blue player #7, attempting to get control of the ball, kicks red player #9 who is able to keep control of the ball and take a shot on goal which then goes over the crossbar.
Answer:
The FIFA Laws of the Game used to include the following paragraph known as International F.A. Board Decision 8 which was included in Law 5 until it was dropped in 1997: "The Laws of the Game are intended to provide that games should be played with as little interference as possible, and in this view it is the duty of referees to penalize only deliberate breaches of the Law. Constant whistling for trifling and doubtful breaches produces bad feeling and loss of temper on the part of the players and spoils the pleasure of spectators."
This statement has been captured in the AYSO Rules and Regulations, section I.D.5, and the spirit, if not the words, of this concept remains at the heart of the Laws and it is applicable to all possible violations of any of the Laws of the Game. As the skill (technical, physical and emotional) level of players increases more player actions become trifling and referees have more opportunities to allow game flow. Kicking the opponent may become a foul if it causes the opponent to lose control of the ball or if it interferes with the opponent's ability to effectively pass the ball to a teammate or take a shot on goal.
This criterion should be applied regardless of whether the action takes place in or outside the penalty area. n this scenario blue player #7's action can be considered trifling because red player #9 was able to keep control of the ball and take a shot on goal, so there is no foul to be punished.
However the referee should firmly warn blue player #7 to be careful with her playing and not to kick opponents so players continue to feel safe. If the player continues to kick the opponents the referee may find her guilty of persistent infringement which merits a caution.
(See pages 32, 34 and 110 in the 2010-11 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game and page 22 in the 2009-10 USSF Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game.)
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July 29, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
In a U-14 boys' game, before a penalty kick is taken by red player #10, the goalkeeper moves to his right and then to his left while remaining on the goal line. The kick is taken and the goalkeeper deflects the ball over the cross bar. Immediately after, the assistant referee stays in position at the intersection of the goal line and the penalty area line and signals by holding the flag across his lower body.
Answer:
Once the referee whistles for the penalty kick to be taken, the goalkeeper may move from side to side on the goal line but may not move off the goal line either into the field of play or off the field of play (backward) until the ball has been kicked. The goalkeeper may have one or both feet off the ground as long as he/she does not move forward or backward from the plane of the goal line. This goalkeeper movement restriction also applies to the procedure Kicks from the Penalty Mark which is used to determine the winner of a match. In this scenario the goalkeeper did not infringe any Laws so the assistant referee should have not signaled to the referee. Therefore the referee should waive down the signal and project good teamwork and support for the assistant referee by giving him/her a "thumbs up" signal and saying something like, "Thank you. I've got it."
The referee should signal for a corner kick because the ball was last touched by a defender before it left the field of play over the goal line without a goal being scored, and restart the game with a corner kick for the red team. We recommend that the referee team review in the pregame conference the procedures, mechanics and responsibilities for key game incidents such as the penalty kick procedure. The pregame conference helps develop awareness about the game and understanding of individual responsibilities which is good for avoiding misunderstandings and miscommunication.
(See page 48 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game and page 73 in the USSF Advice to the Referees on the Laws of the Game, 2009-10 edition).
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July 22, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
In a U-14 boys game the blue team's goalkeeper controls the ball with his feet and as he is clearing it out of the penalty area red player #9, who was challenging for the ball, knocks him down as they collide shoulder to shoulder. The ball is quickly recovered by red player #8 who takes a shot on goal while the goalkeeper is still down on the ground.
Answer:
It is not a foul when two or more opponents make contact as they challenge for the ball in a fair manner and somebody goes down – even a goalkeeper. Shoulder to shoulder contact while challenging for the ball, when it is within playing distance, is allowed so in this scenario there is no foul to be called. However, referees should always ensure that players are safe. If the referee feels that the goalkeeper is not injured then he may choose to let play continue. If the referee feels that the goalkeeper is injured then he should stop play, beckon the coach onto the field to help the goalkeeper, determine whether the goalkeeper may continue after some help from the coach, and restart play with a dropped ball. In determining injuries the referee should always take into account the age of the player(s). And when in doubt give the benefit to the safety of players and stop the game.
(See page 28 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
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July 15, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
In a U-14 girls' game the red team takes a direct free kick from three yards outside the blue team's penalty area. The blue team's goalkeeper jumps up and catches the ball in front of her goal. When she lands both of her feet are over the goal line and she is standing under the goal's cross bar in between the two posts.
Answer:
The ball is out of play when it has fully crossed the goal line or touch line whether on the ground, or in the air. The position of the player playing or attempting to play the ball, in this case the goalkeeper, does not matter as long as his/her action is part of normal play. That is the goalkeeper is allowed to leave the field of play as she attempts to catch and play the ball. In this direct free kick scenario, if in the opinion of the referee the ball completely crossed the goal line, then it is out of play. In addition, if the ball went out of play between the goalposts and under the crossbar then the red team scored a goal provided that there was no infringement committed by the red team prior to the scoring of the goal. Therefore, the referee should restart with a kickoff for the blue team. However, if in the opinion of the referee the ball did not completely cross over the goal line then the referee should allow play to continue regardless of the goalkeeper position of her feet.
(See pages 29 and 30 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
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July 8, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
A U-16 boys game is being played at the National Games in Florida on field 125. At the seventh minute of the second half, an alligator comes out of the water canal and stares at the kids playing the game.
Answer:
Normally, we don't anticipate out of the ordinary challenges in tournaments; however, the Polo Grounds in Wellington have several water canals and lakes which serve as alligator habitats. The alligators normally stay in the water but it is possible for them to come out and look around. In this scenario safety becomes critical. Not only are the kids not used to seeing alligators at tournaments but they also may react dangerously to the presence of alligators. We strongly recommend that the referee immediately get everyone, kids and adults away from the alligator, in the direction of the closest building, notify the tournament officials so they can have the professional animal handlers come by and manage the situation. Alligators at a tournament are a good example of how referees should always expect the unexpected.
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July 1, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
Red player #8 takes a corner kick and as he kicks the ball he also accidentally kicks the corner flag, which comes off the ground and off the field of play. The ball goes into the blue team's penalty area where red player #11 heads it into the goal for a goal.
Answer:
We mentioned that decisions have to embrace the spirit of the game and this scenario definitely qualifies for this concept. If in the opinion of the referee the flag coming off the ground does not interfere with play or does not become dangerous to any player, then he/she can consider allowing play to continue and replace the flag later. Therefore in this case, the referee should allow the goal to stand, have the flag repositioned and restart with a kick-off for the blue team.
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June 24, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
Red player #11 is dribbling the ball just inside the blue team's penalty area. Blue player #2 tries to take the ball away by slide tackling from behind but he misses and does not make contact with the ball or the opponent.
Answer:
There was no foul committed so the referee should let the game continue. However, if the referee feels that blue player #2 attempted the slide tackle in a dangerous manner, he/she should consider providing a verbal warning such as, "Be careful next time. Thank you." Referees should help players be aware of unacceptable play and influence them into changing their behavior.
(See page 32 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
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June 18, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
Blue player #7 commits a tactical foul and breaks up an attack by red player #9. When the foul is committed the ball goes to red player #11 who controls the ball and continues the attack close to the blue team's penalty area. The referee decides to apply advantage and allow play to continue. A minute later, the ball leaves the field of play for a throw-in by the red team. Red #9 quickly gathers the ball and takes the throw-in.
Answer:
The referee has the power to take disciplinary action against players guilty of offences that demand caution and/or sending-off. And he/she is not obligated to take this action immediately when advantage is applied, but must do so at the next stoppage of play. In this scenario the referee should caution blue player #7 for unsportsmanlike behavior (tactical foul). Therefore the referee should quickly blow the whistle harder than normal to get the players attention as the red team has released the ball into the field of play. The referee should then ask the red team to wait for the signal to perform the throw-in, explain to blue player #7 that he is getting cautioned for the tactical foul committed a minute earlier, show him the yellow card and signal to the red team to restart the game with the throw-in. It is important for the referee and assistant referees to stay alert, to remember who needs to be cautioned/sent off when advantage is applied and act on the next stoppage of play.
(See pages 21, 34 and 66 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
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June 10, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
The ball is in play when blue player #3 punches red player #10 just outside of the center circle. The referee stops play and sends off blue player #3 for violent conduct. The referee then makes eye contact with the lead assistant referee who gives him a thumbs-up signal. He proceeds to restart the game with a direct free kick for the red team. Ten minutes and several restarts later when the first half ends, the other assistant referee notifies the referee that player #10 punched blue player #3 first which caused the retaliation by blue player #3.
Answer:
The referee has the duty to control the match in cooperation with the assistant referees; therefore, he/she may caution and/or send off a player as soon as he/she learns from an assistant referee the pertinent facts that would justify a disciplinary action.
The caution and/or send off must be given at the time of the misconduct or no later than the next stoppage of play. If the referee fails to do this then he/she cannot later caution and/or send off the player for the related misconduct except in two rare specific circumstances: First, the player may be cautioned or sent off even after the subsequent restart if an assistant referee signaled for misconduct and maintained the signal but the referee did not see it until after the play was restarted. Second, a player may be sent off at any time prior to the end of the game if the player was cautioned a second time without being sent off. Neither of these circumstances occurred in the situation presented. Therefore, in this case the referee cannot send off player #10. However, the referee should notify red player #10 that he/she knows what happened and ask #10 to avoid committing misconduct.
It is recommended that the referee make eye contact with both assistant referees and quickly get input before making critical decisions. If the referee does not check with one or both assistant referees, and they have critical input, it is okay for them to get the referee's attention and provide the input. The referee makes final decisions, but it helps to have as much input as possible especially in critical situations.
(See page 21 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game and sections 5.13 and 12.26 in the 2009-10 USSF Advice to Referees).
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June 3, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
It starts raining before the first half of the game ends and it continues through the halftime. The referee calls both teams to start the second half and the blue team's coach tells the referee that his team will not play because it is raining heavily.
Answer:
The referee may abandon the match if a team leaves the field of play before the completion of the game. An abandoned match is replayed unless the competition rules provide otherwise. For example, some competition rules state that if a halftime is completed then the game is considered completed and the results, including score and player disciplinary actions, stand. The referee does not have the authority to decide what the score is or who has won the game. The referee has the responsibility to include in his/her report the details of what caused the match to be abandoned. Referees should try to the best of their ability to help both teams complete the game. Effective communication is the key and with this in mind, we recommend the following:
- Be sure it is safe to continue the game and check with the assistant referees. It is okay to gather input from the coaches and others for consideration in making the decision. When in doubt, give the benefit of the doubt to safety.
- If the decision is not to continue, let both teams know why and report it.
- If the decision is to continue, let both teams know why it is safe.
- Let the coaches and players know that you will closely monitor conditions and if it becomes unsafe to continue playing, you will suspend and/or abandon the game.
- If a team decides not to continue after you ask them, let them know that you will report their decision and that the match will be reported as abandoned.
(See page 26 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game and page 26 in the 2009-10 USSF Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game).
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May 27, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
The referee is managing kicks from the penalty mark to determine a winner. During the third kick from the mark, the referee decides that the kick taken by red player #8 needs to be retaken because the goalkeeper moved forward before the ball was kicked and player #8 kicked the ball over the crossbar. Red player #8 decides not to retake the kick and instead red player #12 comes up to the ball and gets ready to take the kick.
Answer:
The Laws of the Game and the International F.A. Board decisions apply when kicks from the penalty mark are being executed for the purpose of determining a winner. Each kick must be taken by a different player and all eligible players must take a kick before any player can take a kick again. If the red player #12 has not yet taken a kick then he can do the retake of the third kick. If red player #12 took one of the first two kicks then he must wait until all of his eligible teammates take a kick.
(See page 51 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game and page 83 in the 2009-10 USSF Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game).
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May 20, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
In a U-16 girls game, the coach of the blue team instructs player #11 to switch places with the goalkeeper who is wearing #8 under a penny. Without notifying the referee, the goalkeeper removes her penny and gloves and gives them to player #11. While the exchange of equipment is happening, the red team generates an attack and takes a shot on goal. As the ball is heading towards the blue team's goal there are two defending blue players standing in their own penalty area, #8 and #11 who is now holding the penny. These players did not intend to deceive the referee or the opponents; they simply did not complete the equipment exchange. Player #8 who was the original goalkeeper stops the shot and collects the ball with her hands.
Answer:
Per Law 3, any of the other players within the same team and on the field of play may exchange places with the goalkeeper, provided that the referee is informed before the change is made and the change is made during a stoppage in the game. These two requirements were not met in the scenario presented so the goalkeeper and player were exchanging places illegally. In addition, both players should be cautioned for unsporting behavior (UB) for changing places without the referee's permission.
However within the spirit of the game and definitely in all youth games, the referee should always consider other factors including technical skill and knowledge of the game when making decisions. If, in the opinion of the referee, the players did not understand the proper procedure for goalkeeper changes and there was no intention to deceive, then the offense may be considered trifling. In this case the referee should stop the game to allow the new goalkeeper to properly get the equipment on, verbally warn (teach) the players and restart the game with a dropped ball allowing the new goalkeeper to get control of the ball.
However, if in the opinion of the referee the players are knowledgeable about the game then the referee's decision should be more in line with the letter of the Law. In an intended goalkeeper exchange, performed legally or illegally, the player who has possession of the goalkeeper shirt (penny in this case) is the goalkeeper and therefore is authorized to handle the ball within her own penalty area. In this case, #11 has the goalkeeper penny so she is the goalkeeper.
If the player who collects the ball is no longer the goalkeeper, #8 in this case, she is guilty of deliberately handling the ball in her own penalty area. In this case the referee should stop the play, caution the new goalkeeper for UB, send off #8 who committed the handling offense if it denied an obvious goal scoring opportunity, or caution her for UB if there was no obvious goal scoring opportunity, and restart the game with a penalty kick for the red team.
If the player who collects the ball is the new goalkeeper and she is properly uniformed, the referee should wait until the next time the ball is out of play, caution both players for UB and restart the game per the reason the ball went out of play.
If the new goalkeeper collects the ball but she is not properly uniformed (as in this case where she is simply holding the penny), the referee should stop the game, allow the new goalkeeper to properly get the equipment on, caution both players for UB and restart with an indirect free kick for the red team at the point where the offense occurred.
When in doubt about the intention and knowledge of the players, remember that in youth games there are a lot of opportunities for teaching moments which bring good results in player behavior and development.
(See pages 16 and 115 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game and pages 15, 34 and 56 in the Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game.)
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May 13, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
The referee awards a corner kick to the red team. The red team takes the corner kick and the ball bounces off red player #4's shoulder, landing at the feet of red player #8 who is in an offside position. Red player #8 controls the ball and scores.
Answer:
Right at the taking of the corner kick, a red team player cannot be in an offside position as they are all considered to be in line with, or behind the ball. However, once the ball bounces off red player #4, the referee team needs to start a new evaluation of potential offside, sometimes known as "taking a new snapshot." At the moment that the ball is touched by red player #4, his teammate #8 is in an offside position because he is now nearest to his opponent's goal line by being positioned ahead of both the ball and the second to last opponent. When red player #8 who is in an offside position plays the ball, which was last touched by a teammate, he participates by interfering with play. Therefore, the referee should call offside and restart play with an indirect free kick for the blue team.
(See page 31 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
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May 6, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
In a U-14 boys game, the referee awards an indirect free kick to the blue team outside their penalty area. Blue defender #3 kicks the ball to his goalkeeper so he can send a long pass towards their teammates. The goalkeeper kicks the ball incorrectly and sends it into his own goal.
Answer:
From the taking of an indirect free kick, a goal can be scored only if the ball subsequently touches another player before it enters the goal. In this case the ball was put into play (first touch) by blue player #3 and then touched by the blue team goalkeeper before entering the goal. The indirect free kick restart ended when the goalkeeper touched the ball, so the goal is valid. The referee should restart the game with a kickoff for the blue team.
(See page 36 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
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April 29, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
In a U-16 girls game, red player #9 is dribbling the ball towards the opponent's goal when blue player #6 pulls her shirt just outside the penalty area. Blue #6 continues to pull her shirt as red player #9 keeps dribbling the ball inside the blue team's penalty area. Red player #9 ends up falling inside the penalty area because of the shirt pulling by blue player #6.There were two other blue team players between their goalkeeper and red player #9.
Answer:
Blue player #6 committed a holding foul by pulling the opponent's shirt. The foul, which started outside the penalty area, is extended into the penalty area because the blue player kept pulling the shirt of the red player. Therefore the blue player #6 is guilty of committing a holding foul inside her penalty area and the referee should award a penalty kick to the red team. In addition, if in the opinion of the referee the blue player #6 committed a tactical foul by preventing the red player from taking up an advantageous position, then he/she should show the yellow card to blue player #6 and caution her for unsporting behavior.
(See pages 32, 34, 110 and 115 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
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April 22, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
The referee awards a direct free kick to the red team just outside the penalty area. There was no quick restart, so the referee, who is managing the situation, indicates to the blue team where the 10 yards distance from the ball is so they can set up their defensive wall. As soon as the blue team players line up, they start jumping up and down in the wall.
Answer:
Players who are within the wall and ready to defend against a free kick restart often jump in order to extend their area of coverage. This action is acceptable as the blue players are not committing any infringements by jumping up and down within the wall. The referee should allow the jumping unless the defending players do it in a manner to be considered unacceptable. Examples of unacceptable behavior include jumping forward and back and therefore failing to respect the required distance for restarting play, or doing any jumping act, such as a handstand, to act in a manner which shows a lack of respect for the game. If the referee considers that a player within the wall is guilty of unsporting behavior, he should caution the player. Children who are under 10 years of age should not be formally cautioned or sent off unless there are exceptional circumstances.
(See pages 34 and 115 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
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April 15, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
The referee ends a U-10 girls game by mistake, three minutes before time had fully expired. As the players are leaving the field, the assistant referees let the referee know that he stopped the game early.
Answer:
The referee enforces the Laws of the Game, including Law 7 which requires the teams to play two equal periods per the organization's rules. Therefore in this case, the referee should call the teams back onto the field to play the remaining three minutes. If the ball was already out of play when the referee ended the game, play should resume with the restart appropriate to the reason the ball went out of play. If the referee stopped play to end the game, play should resume with a dropped ball where the ball was when the game was incorrectly stopped. This is unless play was stopped inside the goal area, in which case the ball should be dropped on the goal area line parallel to the goal line, at the point nearest to where the ball was located when play was stopped. In cases where the referee incorrectly stops the first period early, first half or first overtime, and the second period has restarted, the referee may not compensate for the timekeeping error by modifying the play time of the second period. In this case, the referee needs to report the error in the referee report. It is very important for the referee team to keep track of time and the referee should check with both assistant referees before ending each period.
(See pages 21, 26, 65 and 96 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
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April 8, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
In a U-19 boys game with monitored (free) substitution, before restarting the game with a corner kick for the red team, the referee allows blue player #9 to leave the field of play after his coach requests a substitution. The referee does not see that no substitute comes in to replace blue #9 and allows the game to be restarted. Play continues and as the players go by the bench area, blue player #9 sticks his foot into the field of play and trips a red player.
Answer:
For the substitution of blue player #9 to be completed, a substitute needs to enter the field of play, at which point the substitute becomes a player and blue #9 becomes a substituted player. Since no substitute entered the game, blue #9 is still an active player. Therefore blue #9 is guilty of tripping the opponent on the field of play. The referee should stop play and restart the game with a direct free kick for the red team. If in the opinion of the referee, blue #9 reentered the field of play without his/her permission, then he should show the yellow card to blue #9 and caution him. In addition, if in the opinion of the referee blue #9 committed the tripping foul in a reckless manner, then he should be shown the yellow card, cautioned for unsporting behavior and, since this would be the second caution, shown the red card and sent off for receiving a second caution. Note that while the Laws definitely give the referee the ability to caution twice in this case and thereby send off blue #9, it is up to the referee to make the final decision as to whether each case of misconduct really deserves a caution, and whether a send-off is the best choice to preserve match control and protect the spirit of the game. This incident demonstrates the importance for referees to make sure that the substitution process is completed before restarting the game. At a minimum, referees should always know where the players are and what they are doing.
(See pages 16, 32, 34, 35, 61 and 115 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
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April 1, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
In a U-16 girls game, blue #5 commits a pushing foul in the seventh minute which the referee penalizes with a direct free kick for the red team. In the ninth minute, the same player commits a kicking foul and the referee awards a direct free kick to the red team after having a brief but firm talk with blue player #5. Then in the 10th minute, blue #5 kicks a red player just outside the penalty area.
Answer:
Blue player #5 is guilty of persistent infringement (PI) because she repeatedly committed fouls. The referee did well in warning blue #5 after the second foul, but she chose not to change her behavior. Therefore when blue #5 commits the third foul, the referee should stop play, show the yellow card to blue #5, caution her for PI and restart the game with a direct free kick for the red team. PI is a sure source of frustration for all players, primarily for the ones receiving the fouls, but also for the teammates of the players committing the fouls as the game is constantly stopped. In addition, frustration on the field of play tends to spill over to the sidelines adding unnecessary challenges for the referee team.
All fouls, including those in which advantage has been applied, should be tracked throughout the game to identify and manage PI. The referee can do this mentally or record the fouls in the record book and the assistant referees can help with this task. There is no specific number of offenses which constitutes PI so the referee should judge and determine possible PI in the context of effective game management. In youth games PI is most commonly associated with individual players when they keep committing careless fouls. However, teams with a higher level of negative gamesmanship sometimes use a team PI tactic, where different players take turns fouling the same opponent, in order to slow down or stop a player who is playing effectively against them. In a series of team fouls for PI, once the referee decides that this tactic is being used, the referee may caution the most recent player committing the foul even if that player previously has not committed any other foul. Referees need to be aware of PI and deal with it in every game.
(See pages 32, 34 and 117 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game and page 57 in the USSF Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game 2010.)
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March 25, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
A penalty kick is awarded to the red team. Red player #10 takes the kick and the ball is going towards the goal. Just before the ball crosses the goal line between the goal posts and under the crossbar, blue team defender #3, who ran into the penalty area after the ball was kicked, pushes a red player to the ground.
Answer:
At the penalty kick the ball is in play when it is kicked forward. The pushing offense happened when the ball is in play and just before a goal is potentially scored. Since there is a good chance that a goal can be scored, the referee should consider applying advantage to the red team and wait a few seconds to see if the ball goes into the net, and then should award the goal. After applying advantage, if the goal is not scored, then the referee may whistle for the pushing foul committed by blue player #3 and restart the game with a penalty kick for the red team. If the referee considers that blue player #3 is guilty of unsporting behavior, because in her/his opinion he was not challenging for the ball when he pushed the opponent, she/he may show the yellow card and caution him.
(See pages 32, 34 and 115 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
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March 18, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
In a U-8 boys game the blue team goalkeeper for the first half becomes field player #6 for the second half. Early in the second half, when the ball is played to him, he forgets that he is no longer the goalkeeper and picks up the ball inside his own penalty area.
Answer:
Cooperation between coaches and referees is essential in maintaining an environment conducive to learning for the players. The lessons young players learn from the referees will long endure after win/loss records are forgotten. In this case, since the players are younger, the referee could use this situation to teach players the first time it happens. Here is a recommendation for how to use this scenario as a teaching moment:
- Blow the whistle in a gentle manner.
- In a friendly manner, explain to player #6 not to pick up the ball.
- Explain the reason to players/captains and if needed, the coaches.
- Explain that if it happens again, handling will be called.
- Use a dropped ball to restart the game.
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March 11, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
In a U-19 boys game, blue player #3 controlled the ball inside the penalty area and deliberately kicked it to his goalkeeper, hoping that he would kick it away to a teammate. The goalkeeper deliberately handled the ball which was passed to him by blue player #3 inside the goal area. Therefore, the referee correctly blew the whistle and raised his arm to signal for an indirect free kick for the red team. Immediately the goalkeeper dropped the ball, and red player #9 placed the ball inside the goal area on a spot close to where the goalkeeper handled the ball, and before the referee could do anything, he passed it to red player #10 who kicked it over the goal line and wide of the goal.
Answer:
Per Law 12, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team when the goalkeeper, inside his own penalty area, touches the ball after it has been deliberately kicked to him by a teammate. Per Law 13, when an indirect free kick is awarded to the attacking team inside the opponent's goal area, it must be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred.
In this situation, the restart was performed inside the goal area so the game was not restarted correctly. The referee should briefly explain the "how" and the "need" to correctly restart the game. Regardless of the outcome of the incorrect restart, the game should be restarted with an indirect free kick for the red team from the correct position of the ball per Law 13. Referees should always be ready to quickly manage all game situations, especially those with the potential for confusion.
Recommendations for avoiding the problem presented in this situation:
- Referee should be close to play.
- Whistle for the foul.
- Quickly and clearly, verbalizing if needed, point to the spot on the goal area line where the ball should be placed for the restart.
- Make sure that the ball is properly positioned.
- Read the possible intent for a quick restart and allow it to happen.
- If needed, follow the steps for a ceremonial restart in order to ensure that the restart is done correctly.
(See pages 33, 37 and 112 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game, and page 70 in the USSF Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game 2009-10 edition.)
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March 4, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
As the referee is following play, he trips and ends up with his face to the ground. While the referee is down, red player #10 kicks the ball towards the blue team's goal. The ball hits the cross bar, lands completely past the goal line outside of the field of play and between the two goalposts, and then it rebounds back onto the field of play. The assistant referee sees the entire action and believes a goal has been scored. The referee gets up but does not know a goal has been scored.
Answer:
Per Law 5, if a referee is temporarily incapacitated for any reason, play may continue under the supervision of the assistant referee until the ball next goes out of play. And per Law 6, the assistant referee should indicate when the whole of the ball leaves the field of play. Since in the opinion of the assistant referee, the whole of the ball passed over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, a goal was scored. In this case because the referee did not see the goal scored, the assistant referee should provide help and indicate the goal by raising the flag above his head until the referee stops play, then immediately lowering the flag and running toward the halfway line, making eye contact with the referee to visually confirm that the ball went across the goal line.
(See pages 25, 27, 30, 65 and 83 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
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February 25, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
Early in the second half of a U-16 girls game, red #11 scores a goal and the game is restarted with a kick-off for the blue team. One minute before the game ends, with the score 1-0 in favor of the red team, red #11 commits a pushing foul inside the center circle. Just before the blue team restarts the game with a direct free kick, the assistant referee notifies the referee that red #11 was in an offside position when she received the ball from a teammate and scored the goal.
Answer:
Per Law 5 - The referee cannot change the decision on the goal scored by red #11 because play was restarted with a kick-off for the blue team. Therefore, the information provided by the assistant referee no longer has bearing on the previous decision. So the referee should allow the goal to stand and restart with a direct free kick for the blue team for the pushing foul. Every now and then, the referee team does not communicate in a timely and/or effective manner. In this case the assistant referee seemed to understand the offside concept but did not notify (signal with the flag) the referee when red #11 interfered with play just before scoring the goal. There could be various reasons why the assistant referee did not communicate with the referee when needed so there are a lot of related topics to review and discuss.
Fun, valuable training sessions which deal with teamwork and communications are available through your Region, so please participate in the next referee training session near you. For now, here are a couple of recommendations to improve referee teamwork.
- In the pregame discussion, make sure that both assistant referees know that they need to assist the referee and feel comfortable and encouraged to assist the referee including signaling offside, fouls and misconducts.
- Briefly review the offside key concepts during the pregame.
- Throughout the game make good eye contact with the assistant referees, especially after key incidents and/or actions such as a goal. This will help the referee determine, with assistance from the assistant referees, if a decision needs to be changed before restarting the game.
- Acknowledge all signals/input/action taken provided by the assistant referees as it will help them feel as part of the team.
- At halftime and after the game, thank the assistant referees and ask them to continue providing good and timely assistance.
(See page 22, 31, 32 and 100 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
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February 18, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
In a U-14 boys game, red player #6 is ready to take a throw-in. He throws the ball to his coach saying "this ball is no good. Give me another one." The coach grabs another ball and hands it to red #6 who then takes the throw-in with the new ball.
Answer:
Law 2 - The Ball, states that the ball may not be changed during the match without the authority of the referee. Furthermore, Law 5 - The Referee, states that it is the duty of the referee to ensure that the ball to be used meets the requirements of Law 2. Therefore, the game cannot be permitted to continue until the referee has accepted the replacement ball. In this scenario, the referee should stop play, inspect the ball, and if it complies with the requirements of Law 2, then have the throw-in retaken.
When available, additional balls may be placed around the field of play for use during a match provided the referee pre-approves them and their use remains under the control of the referee. Usually the additional balls are placed just outside the field near the goal or given to ball-kids who provide them to players when the ball leaves the field of play.
Recommendation: When the game has just one approved ball, as soon as you hear the player requesting a new ball, get involved in managing the situation. Manage the ball replacement quickly to avoid time wasting and have the game restarted as soon as possible to avoid frustration.
(See page 13, 21 and 58 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
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February 11, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
With two minutes to go in a U-19 boys game, the red player #9 scores a goal to make the score 2-1 in favor of the blue team. The blue team goalkeeper picks up the ball and starts exiting the net area when red #9 tries to grab the ball forcefully from the blue keeper. As both players struggle for the ball, red #9 pushes the blue goalkeeper, inside the blue team's penalty area, takes the ball and sprints towards the center circle.
Answer:
The referee should show the yellow card to red #9 and caution him for unsporting behavior - pushing the blue goalkeeper. Since the red team scored, the referee should restart the game with a kick-off for the blue team. The referee team must have an awareness of potential problems throughout the game so they can take preventive action and keep players under control. In this scenario, the referee should be thinking that if the red team scores, they will want to restart the game quickly so they will have a chance to score again. At the same time, the blue team could decide to waste time as there are only two minutes left in the game. This could generate frustration and crate additional problems between players from both teams.
The referee should do the following as soon as the goal is scored:
- Stay very close to the goal keeper and other players.
- Ask the red team players to go to their half of the field.
- Ask the blue team to quickly bring the ball to the halfway line.
- If needed, take the ball and bring it up to the halfway line.
- Get the game restarted as quickly as possible.
This process will help the referee project a sense of urgency to get the game restarted which will help keep the red team under control.
(See page 10, 27 and 34 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
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February 4, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
In a U-10 boys game, the blue team is awarded a goal kick. A blue team defender places the ball on the goal line with part of it outside the field of play and part of it inside the goal area. The blue player kicks the ball towards a teammate who is standing near the corner flag. The ball rolls down the goal line, leaving the penalty area and then, completely goes out of the field of play over the goal line just before reaching the teammate.
Answer:
The ball is properly placed for a goal kick to be taken if part of it is on any point within the goal area. And the ball is in play when it is kicked directly out of the penalty area. In this case both of the conditions stated above were present so the ball was properly placed for the restart and correctly put in play. After the ball was in play, it left the field of play over the goal line, last touched by a defending, blue player. Therefore, the referee should restart with a corner kick for the red team.
(See page 46, 48 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
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January 28, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
In a U-19 girls game, red player #10 is ready to take a penalty kick during regulation time. After the referee signals, but before the penalty kick is taken, the blue goalkeeper moves to her left without stepping off the goal line. While the goalkeeper is moving, the red player kicks the ball and the goalkeeper deflects it over the crossbar.
Answer:
At the taking of a penalty kick, or kicks from the penalty mark, goalkeepers must remain on the goal line facing the kicker, but may move laterally along the goal line between the goalposts until the ball is kicked. Therefore, in this scenario, the goalkeeper made a good save and the referee should restart the game with a corner kick for the red team. If the goalkeeper moves forward off the goal line before the ball is kicked and the shot does not score, the penalty kick must be retaken.
(See page 19, section Penalty Kick - Goalkeeper Movement, in the AYSO Guidance for Referees and Coaches - 2009, and page 73, section 14.4 Goalkeeper Movement in the USSF Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game - 2009-10.)
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January 21, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
In a U-14 game, with the ball out of play, red player #5 is seen to be complaining to the referee about something. Red player #5 grows more animated while the referee tries to speak with him. The player is then heard using offensive language. The referee then reaches into his shirt pocket, pulls out his book and shows the player a card. The red team coach sees that the card is yellow but is surprised when the player leaves the field and the referee whistles for the restart. The coach challenges the referee and tells him that players are not sent off for a yellow card (caution). Several players complain to the referee and ask him why he is sending the player off when he only showed him a yellow card. The referee then realizes that he pulled both cards out, one in front of the other.
Answer:
It is the referee's decision that takes precedence, not the color of the card that is displayed. A player, substitute or substituted player should be sent off if he is guilty of using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures. So in this case, red player #5 should be sent off because, in the judgment of the referee, the language used was offensive. However, confusion remains because the referee accidentally showed both cards at the same time.
Recommendation: The referee should quickly explain that he pulled both cards by accident and mistakenly showed the yellow card, explain the reason for the send off to red player #5, show him the red card again so it is clear to all, ask him to leave the field of play, and then restart the game as appropriate to the reason the ball was out of play. A good technique to avoid pulling out both cards is to keep the red card in one of the back pockets on the shorts and the yellow card in one of the front pockets of the shirt.
(See pages 35 and 120 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
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January 14, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
In a U-14 game, with the ball out of play, red player #5 is seen to be complaining to the referee about something. Red player #5 grows more animated while the referee tries to speak with him. The player is then heard using offensive language. The referee then reaches into his shirt pocket, pulls out his book and shows the player a card. The red team coach sees that the card is yellow but is surprised when the player leaves the field and the referee whistles for the restart. The coach challenges the referee and tells him that players are not sent off for a yellow card (caution). Several players complain to the referee and ask him why he is sending the player off when he only showed him a yellow card. The referee then realizes that he pulled both cards out, one in front of the other.
Answer:
It is the referee's decision that takes precedence, not the color of the card that is displayed. A player, substitute or substituted player should be sent off if he is guilty of using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures. So in this case, red player #5 should be sent off because, in the judgment of the referee, the language used was offensive. However, confusion remains because the referee accidentally showed both cards at the same time.
Recommendation: The referee should quickly explain that he pulled both cards by accident and mistakenly showed the yellow card, explain the reason for the send off to red player #5, show him the red card again so it is clear to all, ask him to leave the field of play, and then restart with an indirect free kick for the opposing team from the position where the offense occurred. A good technique to avoid pulling out both cards is to keep the red card in one of the back pockets on the shorts and the yellow card in one of the front pockets of the shirt.
(See pages 35 and 120 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
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January 6, 2010
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
Red player #8 is ready to put the ball back into play with a throw in. Her teammate, red player #12, is standing inside the penalty area with just the blue team goalkeeper between her and the opponent's goal line. Red player #8 sees this and makes the throw-in in her teammate's direction. The ball deflects off a defending blue player and goes to red player #12 who controls it and scores.
Answer:
There is no offside offence if a player receives the ball directly from a throw-in. In this scenario, although the ball deflected off the defender, it is still considered to have gone directly to red player #12 from a throw-in. Therefore, the goal is good and the referee should restart the game with a kick off for the blue team. However, if the ball had instead deflected off a red teammate to red player #12, then the referee should consider a probable offside offense by red player #12.
(See pages 27, 31 and 59 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
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December 17, 2009
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
During the stoppage of play in a U-16 game with monitored substitution in place, the referee is informed that the blue team wants to substitute players. Four blue players leave the field and, following the referee's signal, three blue substitutes enter the field. The referee restarts the game without realizing that the blue team is short one player. The coach notices that one-too-many players left the field so, with play under way, he asks blue player #5, who was one of the players that exited the field, to go back into the game. Blue player #5 goes into the game without interfering with play and the assistant referee is the only official who is aware of this situation.
A few minutes later, blue player #5 scores a goal. Before the game is restarted, the assistant referee calls the referee to let him know that blue #5 had entered the field without permission during the substitution.
Answer:
When the referee allowed the substitutions to take place, he provided permission for the blue players, including player #5, to leave the field. Under the Laws of the Game, blue player #5 remained a player because no substitute entered the field to replace him, even though he was off the field of play for some time. When blue player #5 ran onto the field, technically speaking, he re-entered the field of play without the referee's permission, which is considered a cautionable offense under Law 12. However, since the team was playing short one player and because the player quickly got back into the game without interfering with play, this action can be considered a trifling infringement and therefore it can be ignored by the referee. The goal scored by blue player #5 counts and therefore the game should be restarted with a kick-off for the red team.
Recommendation: The referee and assistant referee should manage the substitutions in order to ensure that the proper process is used. When multiple players are requesting substitutions the assistant referee can identify and count the players before signaling for a substitution to the referee. Then the assistant referee and the referee if needed, can identify and count the players that are leaving the game and make sure that the correct number of players gets substituted.
(See pages 16, 17 and 59 in the 2009/2010 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
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December 10, 2009
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
While the ball is in play but not within playing distance of both players, blue player #3 impedes the progress of red player #10, slowing him down and stopping him from getting to the ball. The referee blows the whistle and signals for an indirect free kick for the red team. As the referee is indicating the direction of the restart, red player #10 pushes blue player #3 in a non-violent manner.
Answer:
The referee should quickly, with a sense of urgency, get close to both players and get their attention. This will help avoid further retaliation from both players. Then the referee should show the yellow card to red player #10 for unsporting behavior, pushing the opponent in a non-violent manner. It is recommended for the referee to have a brief talk with both players to ensure they will change their behavior. And finally, the referee should restart the game with the indirect free kick for the red team because of the infringement committed by blue player #3, impeding the progress of an opponent.
(See pages 33, 34 and 114 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
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December 3, 2009
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
Red player #11 fell inside the penalty area as he was dribbling the ball and blue player #2 was defending him. The referee blew the whistle and awarded a penalty kick to the red team because, in his opinion, blue player #2 tripped red player #11. The boy who fell got up and told the referee that he was not touched by the defender, but had actually tripped on his own as he tried to kick the ball.
Answer:
The referee may not change a decision after the game has been restarted. However, in this scenario, the game had not yet been restarted (the penalty kick had not been taken). Therefore, the referee may change his decision and correctly restart with a dropped ball at the place where the ball was when play was stopped. If play was stopped inside the goal area, then the referee should drop the ball on the goal area line parallel to and six yards from the goal line at the point nearest to where the ball was located when play was stopped.
Two key things to remember: -
1. It is acceptable to make referee decisions based on players honesty.
-
2. If the referee has not restarted play, any decision made prior to the restart may be changed, no matter what the infringement.
(See pages 28 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
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November 19, 2009
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
Red player #9 dribbles the ball into the penalty area as blue defender #4 is running side by side with him. The red player kicks the ball away from the goal and towards the goal line. Before the ball leaves the field of play, blue player #4 pushes red player #9 who falls down.
Answer:
Referees must evaluate situations and consider possible foul and/or misconduct actions. If the referee believes that blue player #4 pushed red player #9 in a manner considered to be careless, reckless or using excessive force, then a direct free kick foul has occurred. In this case, red player #9 was fouled while in the blue team's penalty area so the referee should stop the game, and signal with the arm pointing to the penalty mark to indicate that a penalty kick has been awarded. Since the ball had been kicked away before the foul occurred there was no denial of a goal scoring opportunity.
However if the players are U-12 or older, and if the referee considers that the foul occurred in a reckless manner or with the use of excessive force, then the foul also constitutes misconduct. If the foul is judged to be reckless (e.g. complete disregard for the safety of the opponent), the referee should show the yellow card to blue player #4 and caution him for unsporting behavior. If the foul is judged to have been committed using excessive force (e.g. far exceeding the necessary force and in danger of injuring the opponent), the referee should show the red card to and send off blue player #4 for serious foul play. If the players are U-10 or younger, the referee should mentor blue player #4 with verbal admonishment.
(See pages 10, 32, 34, 35, 40, 109, 118 and 124 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game, pages 15 - Direct Free Kick Fouls and 19 - The Penalty Kick in the AYSO Guidance for Referees and Coaches 2009 edition.)
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November 12, 2009
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
In a U-19 boys game, the referee stops play for a holding offense committed by blue team player #3 in the middle of the field. The red team requests a substitution, and the referee motions the substitute, red player #12, to enter the field. The substitute enters the field. Then red player #7, who was identified to be substituted and who has not yet left the field of play, strikes an opponent.
Answer:
Referees need to follow the proper substitution procedure as it helps avoid problems. In this scenario, the referee did not follow the proper substitution procedure as red player #12 was allowed to enter the field of play before red player #7 had left. However, the substitution was completed because red player #12 received permission from the referee and entered the field of play, becoming a player of record. Therefore, red player #7 is considered a substituted player from the moment the referee authorized the substitution and red player #12 entered the field.
The referee must show the red card to red player #7 and send him off for violent conduct. Since red player #7 was a substituted player when he committed the violent conduct, the red team does not have to play with one less player. The game should be restarted with the direct free kick in favor of the red team per the holding offense committed by the blue team.
Recommendations: The referee should have an awareness of potential player frustration. Players who are asked to be substituted may project frustration triggered by an opponent's provocation and/or a sense of "I'm not happy to be substituted so let me do something about it!" It is recommended for the referee to focus on the player to be substituted, and if needed, accompany him to his bench so that he will not get involved in misconduct.
The assistant referees can help manage the substitution process, so discuss the role of each official during the pregame discussion. In this scenario, the assistant referee on the side of the team requesting the substitution could have held the new player from entering the field of play until red player #7 had left the field.
(See pages 16, 25, 32, 59 and 77 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
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November 5, 2009
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
Red player #11, who is in an offside position, turns her back towards the opponent's goal and makes no attempt to play the ball as the ball rolls past her after being passed by a teammate. Blue defender #3 runs past red player #11, gets possession of the ball a few yards past the offside player, and turns up field dribbling it. Red player #11 immediately challenges the blue player and tries to tackle the ball away.
Answer:
The red player #11 who is in an offside position may become onside if the blue opponent plays (meaning possessed and controlled, not simply deflected) or gains possession of the ball.
In this scenario the referee should judge and determine if blue player #3 gained control of the ball. Since the blue player got possession of the ball, turned up field and dribbled the ball, she had control of the ball. Therefore red player #11 is now back onside and may challenge for the ball. The referee should allow play to continue.
(See pages 31 and 100 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game; pages 40 and 44 in the USSF Advice to the Referees on the Laws of the Game, 2009-10 edition.)
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October 29, 2009
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
Blue player #7 commits three separate fouls and is cautioned by the referee for persistent infringement. Two minutes later, the referee stops the game because the same player commits a foul which was his second consecutive foul after being cautioned.
Answer:
Persistent infringement occurs when a player repeatedly commits fouls or certain other infringements. There is no specific number of infringements which constitutes "persistent infringement." The referee should judge and determine persistent infringement in the context of effective game management. The blue team player was cautioned for persistent infringement yet committed two more fouls. In this case, the referee should first show the blue player the yellow card, caution him again for persistent infringement, and then show him the red card and send him off for receiving a second caution in the same game. Restart the game as appropriate for the foul that was committed.
Referees should expect a caution to generate desirable results for player and/or game management.
Recommendation: When the referee gives the first caution, a clear and firm verbal warning should be given to the player to help them modify their behavior. The referee should check for understanding by asking the player if she understands the problem and explaining the consequences of continuing with the unacceptable behavior.
(See pages 34, 35, and 117 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game and pages 55 and 57 in the USSF Advice to the Referees on the Laws of the Game, 2009-10 edition.)
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October 22, 2009
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
In a U-12 game, the goalkeeper caught the ball from a shot and controlled it in her hands. While running towards the edge of the penalty area, she accidentally dropped the ball. She picked up the ball while still inside the penalty area. Then she proceeded to kick the ball away to her teammates.
Answer:
The keeper committed an offense by touching the ball again with her hands after she had released it from her possession and before it was touched by another player. However, the goalkeeper accidentally released the ball; therefore, this action can be considered a trifling infringement. The referee can call the offense but if in the opinion of the referee the offense is trifling, then the referee should not call it. Soccer is a fast-paced game that should flow with a minimum of interruptions. Referees have and should use their authority and flexibility to determine whether or not to stop play.
(See pages 33 and 112 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game, page 5 in the AYSO Guidance for Referees and Coaches - 2009 Edition.)
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October 15, 2009
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
A red team attacker with clear possession of the ball has penetrated the blue team's defense and is on a breakaway attack in the blue team's half of the field when the referee notices that a blue player is lying on the ground.
Answer:
This decision must be made quickly and with due consideration to the age level of the players. Younger players seldom simulate injury to affect the outcome of the game and referees must take this into consideration when making the decision. Even if the players are older, the referee must put the welfare of the player first when deciding what to do.
The referee must quickly determine whether the player on the ground is injured, assess the potential level of the injury and take action as appropriate.
Play should be stopped immediately if:
- In the opinion of the referee, the player is seriously injured.
- The referee has doubt as to the level of the injury, in which case the player should be considered to be seriously injured.
With older players, if the referee decides that the injury is minor then play should be allowed to continue until either the ball goes out of play or the referee can stop play without affecting the outcome of the match.
If instead the referee does stop play immediately for an injury that was not caused by a foul, the game should be restarted with a dropped ball where the ball was when play was stopped.
If the referee determines that a foul occurred, the game should be restarted in accordance with the foul, and if appropriate, disciplinary action should be taken (e.g. caution, send-off).
(See pages 21, 67, and 68 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
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October 8, 2009
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
Red team player #9 falls to the ground after being held by blue team player #4 in the middle of the field. The player rolls around grabbing his/her ankle while screaming at the referee that the opponent should be cautioned. The referee decides that the player is faking the injury.
Answer:
The referee should stop the game and depending on the player's age, show the yellow card to red team player #9 for attempting to deceive the referee by feigning injury (simulation), which is an unsporting behavior offense. If the player is under 12 years of age, the referee should avoid using cards, and instead deliver a short but firm verbal admonishment to player #9. Regardless of the age, the referee should then restart the game with a direct free kick in favor of the red team as blue team player #4 committed a holding offense.
(See pages 32, 34, 110 and 115 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game, and pages 29-30 in the AYSO Basic Soccer Rules publication.)
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October 1, 2009
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
Red team attacker #12 dribbles the ball into the penalty area with an obvious goal scoring opportunity as he faces the goalkeeper from the blue team. Just before he takes a shot on goal, blue team defender #3 catches up with the attacker and takes him down by tackling him with excessive force, causing the attacker to lose control of the ball inside the penalty area.
Answer:
Blue defender #3 committed two sending-off offenses, one is serious foul play (SFP) for using excessive force against the opponent, and the other one is denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity (DOGSO) to an opponent moving towards the blue team's goal by an offense punishable by a free kick or penalty kick. SFP is the more serious offense of the two; therefore, the referee should stop the game, show the red card to the blue player #3 for SFP and restart it with a penalty kick for the red team. In addition, the referee must report SFP as the reason for the send-off of blue player #3.
(See pages 32, 35, 109, 118 and 122 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
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September 24, 2009
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
A direct free kick (DFK) is awarded to the red team just outside their penalty area. The red team player #7, who is not the goalkeeper, takes the DFK and miss-kicks the ball, sending it in the direction of his own goal. The red team player #7 realizes that the ball is headed for his own net and runs to the ball in an attempt to stop it before it enters the goal. While inside his penalty area, red team player #7 dives and deflects the ball with his hand over the goal line, preventing it from going into his goal.
Answer:
The red team player #7 did not deny an obvious goal scoring opportunity as a team cannot score a goal, from a DFK into its own goal. If the ball would have gone into the goal, without anybody touching it, a corner kick would have been awarded to the opposing team. However, the red team player #7 who originally takes the DFK, deliberately handles the ball inside his penalty area before it touched another player. In this case, the player who handled the ball is not the goalkeeper; therefore, the referee should stop the game and restart it with a penalty kick for the opposing team. If the red team's goalkeeper would have taken the original DFK and then handled the ball inside his own penalty area, before it was touched by another player, an indirect free kick would have been awarded to the opposing team to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred. In addition, depending on the age of the players, the referee may decide that the red team player #7 is guilty of unsporting behavior and therefore caution the player.
(See pages 35-39 in the 2009/2010 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game).
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September 17, 2009
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
An attacking red team player, who is adjusting his shirt, grabs the bottom of it with both hands as the ball is played to him. He "catches" the ball with the bottom of his shirt (as a basket), without touching the ball with his hands, then he releases the ball from the shirt to his feet and kicks it into the goal?
Answer:
The bottom of his shirt became an extension of the hands as the red team player was holding it with his hands and made a "basket." Therefore, the red team player is guilty of handling the ball. The referee should stop the game and restart it with a direct free kick for the blue team from the place where the offense occurred. In this case, if the infraction (handling the ball deliberately) occurred inside the blue team's penalty area, then all opponents must be at least 10 yards from the ball and remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in play, which requires for it to be kicked directly out of the penalty area.
In addition, depending on the age of the players and if, in the opinion of the referee, the red team player intentionally used the "basket," that is deliberately handled the ball, to prevent an opponent from gaining possession, then before restarting the game the referee should caution the red team player for unsporting behavior.
(See pages 32, 37 and 111 in the 2009/2010 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
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September 10, 2009
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
A red team player takes a corner kick and the ball is going into the upper corner of the goal. Just before the ball is about to go into the goal, a blue team defender standing by the goal post, grabs the post, pulls himself higher and heads the ball away into the field of play to a teammate heading up the field?
Answer:
Per Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct: The blue team player denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO) by committing an offense punishable by a free kick (indirect free kick in this case). Therefore, the referee should stop the game, show the red card to the blue team player, send him off for DOGSO, and restart the game with an indirect free kick for grabbing and using the goal post to pull himself up and reach the ball (this offense is one of those "other offences not previously mentioned in Law 12 for which play is stopped to caution or send off a player"). The indirect free kick should be in favor of the red team, on the goal area line parallel to the goal line, at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred.
(See pages 33, 35, 37, 110, 111, and 122 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
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September 3, 2009
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
A penalty kick is awarded to the red team. A red player takes the kick and the ball is going towards the goal. Just before the ball crosses the goal line between the goal posts and under the crossbar, a teammate of the red player, who ran into the penalty area after the ball was kicked, trips a blue player?
Answer:
At the taking of the penalty kick, once the ball is kicked forward, the ball is in play. In the situation described, the tripping offence occurs before the goal is scored. Even though there was a great chance for a goal to be scored, in this case there is no advantage to consider as the player committing the tripping foul is a teammate of the attacker taking the penalty kick.
It may also be that this player is also guilty of unsporting behavior if, in the opinion of the referee, he was not challenging for the ball when he tripped the opponent.
Depending on the age of players, in situations where players are guilty of fouls or misconduct away from the ball, the referee must be very aware of possible escalation of frustration and/or physical retaliation. Therefore, if in his opinion, the player needs to be cautioned for unsporting behavior, the referee should stop the game, and consider if he needs to project a sense of urgency and show the yellow card immediately. In either case the proper restart is a direct free kick in favor of the blue team.
(See pages 32, 34, 35, 118 and 119 in the 2009-10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
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August 27, 2009
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
With about one minute left to play in the game, a direct free kick is awarded to the red team. One of the blue team defenders picks up the ball and, although he is carrying it generally toward the location of the restart, he resists having the ball taken from him by a player on the red team.
Answer:
Once the direct free kick is indicated by the referee, the red team has the right to take the kick immediately. The blue team player has the obligation to leave the ball alone or pick it up and give it to the red team.
The blue team player carrying the ball is guilty of delaying the restart of the game because his actions could be denying the red team its right to a quick restart.
In addition, by resisting to give the ball to the red team immediately, the blue team player may cause the red team player (and others) to get frustrated.
A frustrated red team player may take physical action against the player with the ball and you may end up with several players involved in a "group-hug" (melee where several players may shout, push, etc.).
To avoid the potential player frustration and possible melee, quickly approach the blue team player with the ball, verbalize to the blue team player, "Give me the ball. Thank you," show the yellow card to the blue team player carrying the ball, caution him for delaying the restart of play, and restart the game with the direct free kick in favor of the red team.
(See pages 34 and 117 in the 2009/10 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
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August 20, 2009
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
An attacking player, Blue #11, with an obvious goal scoring opportunity, advances with the ball into the opponent's penalty area.
A defensive player, White #3, throws one of his shoes at the ball, deflecting the ball wide of the goal.
Answer:
In this case, the shoe is considered an extension of the player's hand; therefore, White #3 has deliberately handled the ball inside the penalty area.
Show the red card to White #3 for denying the opposing team an obvious goal scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball and send him off.
Restart the game with a penalty kick against the white team for the handball offense.
(See pages 32, 35 and 111 in the 2009/2010 AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
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August 13, 2009
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
While recording the information for green player #5 after cautioning and showing him the yellow card for a reckless challenge, the referee decides the player is dissenting his decision.
Answer:
Show the yellow card to green player #5 for dissenting, and then show the red card to the player before sending him off for committing a second cautionable offense.
Restart the game with the direct free kick against the green team for the reckless challenge.
(See page 34 in current AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
Good Refereeing:
During the process of cautioning, the referee must try to calm down the player in order to help her avoid a quick, emotional, second caution which results in a send off.
The referee should talk to the player, checking for understanding of the committed misconduct.
Examples of things to say after explaining the reason for the caution:
"We need you to be safe. OK? Thank you."
"Are we good? Thank you."
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August 6, 2009
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
The referee blows the whistle for a foul against Team A.
Then the coach of Team A steps on the field of play and continues to protest the call?
Answer:
Inform the coach that this behavior is unacceptable and will have to be reported.
Ask him to return to the designated coaching area.
Report the coach's action to the proper tournament authority by documenting the incident in the game report.
Do not restart the game until the coach has returned to his designated coaching area.
Restart the game with the free kick against Team A for the original foul.
(See page 52 in current AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
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July 30, 2009
What should the referee do, and how is play restarted if...
Blue #12 commits a cautionable offense but the referee applies advantage allowing play to continue.
A minute later, the ball leaves the field for a throw in by the red team.
Red #9 quickly gathers the ball, and, seeing a possible goal scoring opportunity, appears eager to perform the throw in.
Answer:
The caution must be issued at the next stoppage of game.
The referee should delay the throw-in, issue the caution to Blue #12 and display the yellow card and then allow the throw-in restart to occur.
(See the last item on pages 21 and 66 in the AYSO edition of the Laws of the Game.)
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July 23, 2009
What should the Referee do, and how is play restarted if...
There is contact at mid-field between two opponents.
The referee stops play for a foul and signals for a direct free kick.
The referee immediately realizes he has signaled in the wrong direction.
The ball has NOT been put back into play.
Answer: The referee should stop the taking of the kick, announce to players nearby that he's made a mistake, signal in the correct direction and restart with a direct free kick. In keeping with the spirit of the game, the referee might choose to delay the taking of the kick briefly to allow the defending team to recover, which they likely would have done had he signaled correctly in the first place. (See 5.14 of USSF Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game.)
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