The Weekly Soccer Referee Blog – Volume 16 Issue 9 – Harass the Goalkeeper

The Weekly Soccer Referee Blog

Sharpening Referee Knowledge and Judgment, One Week at a Time

Volume 16, Issue 9 – March 3, 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:

“Sometimes, growing as a referee does not mean taking on more challenging games. It can mean taking games that you are comfortable working and focusing on doing better.”

From a summary from a USSF Training Video on referee end of game duties.

MLS Locks Out PRO Union Referees

I’ll leave this to you to read.  This is the union’s side.  Management’s side is hard to find.

I have heard from the past strike that if you cross the line and work these games, you can pretty much kiss any chance that you’ll be picked up later by PRO and MLS goodbye.  Keep that in mind if you are asked – some did cross trying to support and protect the beautiful game the last time this happened, and they got burned.

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240218577863/en/%E2%80%98This-is-a-Foul%E2%80%99-Refs%E2%80%99-Union-Condemns-Lockout-as-PRO-Bars-Major-League-Soccer-Refs-from-Working-Matches?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=linkedin&utm_source=socialnetwork

This Week’s Question – Harass the Goalkeeper

On a recent High school game…

You have two teams on the field who are equally matched pretty much.

You see Goalkeeper A00 collect the ball from a shot by B10, and move to the edge of the penalty area to distribute it.  As A00 moves to distribute the ball you see B16 send up a high kick, trying to get to the ball as Goalkeeper A00 releases it.

You talk with B16 and tell them “No More” clearly.

Ten minutes later, B16 is doing the same thing, getting closer to the goalkeeper for Team A.

You Make the Call:

What is the call?

What is the restart?

Last Week’s Question: – Lost End

During a Rec level soccer game….

This is a U10 game, and some of the players seem pretty new.  You have to explain the need to retreat to the Build Out line for example.

There is a general challenge for the ball in between Team A and Team B in Team B’s end, and Player B45 gets possession.  B45 is so excited that he turns the ball towards his own goal and drills the shot past the Team B goalkeeper.

Team A starts to celebrate.

You Make the Call:

What is the Call?

What is the Restart?

What You Said:

Referee 1:

Goal for team A. Place kick for team B. I am sure his teammates will chastise him for that. Should be quite entertaining.

Referee 2:

Own goal.

This happens in Rec soccer. OOPS.

Goal is good. Restart with a kick off for Team B.

Referee 3:

The Laws of the Game do not state “the other team” when defining scoring. The ball has entered the goal, it’s a goal. The restart is a kick-off FOR THE SCORING team.

Referee 4:

It’s an own goal. Aw, shucks. Restart is KO.

The Answer:

Direct or Indirect free kick?  Nope.

Which means like it or not, this is a good goal.  Start with a kickoff to Team B.

Yes, it was the heat of the moment, and it’s also a very good learning moment for both teams at this level.  Know which goal you are attacking.

If it was an Indirect or Direct free kick, and it went into their own goal, NO GOAL now provided it wasn’t touched by another player.

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Tags: AR, assistant referee, caution, delay the release of the ball by the goalkeeper, dissent, Ejection, FIFA, foul, harass the goalkeeper, NCAA, NFHS, NISOA, push, red card, referee, soccer, soccer ref, Soccer Referee, sports, USSF, Yellow Card