The Weekly Soccer Referee Blog – Volume 16 Issue 6 – Instant PK! – New IYSA Waiver Worse Than Old One!

The Weekly Soccer Referee Blog

Sharpening Referee Knowledge and Judgment, One Week at a Time

Volume 16, Issue 6 – February 11, 2024

Please forward this Blog to your fellow soccer officials or tell them about it.  This is one of the tools we can use to keep sharp during the year.

The purpose of this Blog is so we can all learn from each other’s experience and by doing so, avoid mistakes, make more consistent calls, and do a better job. I don’t have to make any of this up – this is what happens on the pitch.

Quote of the Week:

“That wasn’t a foul – they didn’t mean it.”

From a coach who saw their own player trip an opponent without making contact with the ball.

Where in the rules does it say “no foul if they didn’t mean it?”

IYSA’s NEW Waiver – Worse Than the Old One!

A referee called IYSA’s new waiver to my attention.  If you don’t’ sign it, you can’t work IYSA Games.

They want the usual – if someone attacks you and you get hurt, It’s YOUR Fault – You Pay.  Even if they know that someone is dangerous or a “ticker” and they let him coach, YOUR FAULT.

Then there is the medical clause – they can have people (including a dentist) treat you – AT YOUR COST.

The real kicker is they want the rights to any videos taken of you – they get it all, you get NOTHING.  NADA.  ZIP.

And the kicker: when we sign this we are agreeing that we are signing this “freely and voluntarily without any inducement.” But if we don’t sign, we’ll be “removed from the Program.”

The previous version of this document was looked at by several lawyers who are also referees, and they all said the same thing the last time – sign it, it will never hold up in court.

My plan is to say NOPE to IYSA.  Why should I sign this, when I get plenty of good games that pay better and don’t make me sign away my rights?  IYSA must not need referees.  My suggestion is you follow suit and don’t sign this.  If enough of us stand firm on this, it will get revised to something better.

What do you plan to do?  Lawyers who are also referees – If you want a copy, let me know.

This Week’s Question – Delay, Delay, Delay

During a recent High School soccer game….

With 4 minutes left in the second half, a Direct Free Kick is called for Team A. B10 immediately kicks the ball well-off the field of play.

Immediately after the ball comes back on to the field after the previous foul of delaying the restart, as A22 moves to take the free kick, you see B12 stand directly in front of the kick, 1 foot from the ball.

You Make the Call:

What is the call?

What is the restart?

Last Week’s Question: – Instant PK!

During a recent indoor soccer game….

Play has been lackluster at best, with two weak teams battling it out for the win.  You see 4 of the 6 Team B players in their penalty area, with A22 bringing the ball towards the penalty area.

A22 feints to the right, then kicks a sharp pass to A1, who is lurking just outside the Team B penalty area.  A1 promptly blasts the ball into the arm of B13, who has her arm held close to her body in the penalty area, and whose arm doesn’t move when struck by the ball.

The coach and the A1 are both screaming for a PK.

You Make the Call:

What is the Call?

What is the Restart?

What You Said:

Referee 1:

You got B10 for the first delay. Yellow Card for him.

Now you’ve got B12; another Yellow Card. Maybe they are going to get the whole team.

Anyway, after you get done dealing go with the DFK.

If they get down to seven players, it’s time to pack up and get on the road.

Referee 2:

Easy caution for me. Delaying the restart.

The Answer:

We know they are trained to do this.

They see it in the “Big” leagues like MLS, EPL, etc., and think they can do it.

But the Laws / Rules of the Game say otherwise.

The first delay – how long between the whistle and the kick “well-off” the field?  If it’s more than a few seconds between the whistle and the act, we need to address that at least verbally.  The ball was dead – why kick it away?  Oh yeah, to burn time off the clock.

Then we have the player not respecting the distance and delaying further.  First time, warn, but if this happens at a critical game point with time running down and is just wasting time, stop the clock / add stoppage time and Caution please.

And for those who say “I’m not calling that this early in the season…” or “I’m not calling that at this level” understand you are NOT following what Soccer wants, and you are setting up the next official who is trying to enforce the rules as soccer wants to be barked at by the coaches, so STOP IT!  Just address with issue already!

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Tags: AR, assistant referee, caution, Ejection, FIFA, foul, NCAA, NFHS, NISOA, red card, referee, soccer, soccer ref, Soccer Referee, sports, USSF, Yellow Card