The Weekly Soccer Referee Blog – Volume 16 Issue 13 – Check, Check, ACK!

The Weekly Soccer Referee Blog

Sharpening Referee Knowledge and Judgment, One Week at a Time

Volume 16, Issue 13 – March 31, 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:

“We have history with this team – they foul us a lot.”

From a coach to an AR, who related the intelligence through the comms to the referee team.  Nope, the other team just had better players and better endurance.

Thoughts on Last Week’s “10 missed calls” Quote of the Week”

Referee 1: If you were the referee that this coach made the comment to about the 10 missed calls, I give you credit for such self-control.

Had that been me, I think I would have found a reason to go straight red. Any coach who thinks he can be that disrespectful to an official needs to be taught a lesson.

If that comment isn’t sending a message to players and spectators that it’s OK to be disrespectful and verbally abusive to game officials, then I don’t know what is. I’d have to think quite a bit about it but I’d do my best to come up with a reason to go straight red.

At some point in time, we officials need to send a message to coaches that there is a ceiling to what they can say or do without suffering the consequences of their actions. Otherwise, they will continue to act like jerks!

OK…I’ll get down off my soapbox. Nuff said.

This Week’s Question – Check, Check, Ack!

On a recent Game between two IHSA Teams

The game is progressing well, with the score a bit uneven, but not heading towards mercy.

You see B14 who is a significant playmaker making a play on the ball.  As you see B14 move, you catch a sparkle in the area of her ear.

Looking harder at her next turn as she moves the ball forward, you see an ear ring.

You Make the Call:

What is the call?

What is the restart?

Last Week’s Question: – Oh Please!

On a Senior Night Game between two IHSA Teams

You have issued a Direct Free Kick to Team A at the east end of the Penalty Area after A4 was fouled.  You have previously warned Team B about providing 10 yards, which is pretty easy since this is a dual football/soccer pitch.

As you set the ball with Team A ready to take the kick, you see B11 run in and stand around 3 yards off the ball.  You ask him to move, and he doesn’t.

You Make the Call:

What is the Call?

What is the Restart?

What You Said:

Referee 1:

Pretty easy caution to me for delaying the restart of play. Then get on with the original restart.

Referee 2:

Blow whistle, hold up kick, caution the guilty player. Mark the 10 yards. And restart. Too easy.

Referee 3:

Oh please!

The warning has been given.  You have asked him to move and he doesn’t, that’s a yellow for Persistent Infringement.  

If he still does not move, a second yellow, then a red for Failure to Respect Distance and 2CT.  Restart – As originally called, DFK.

Referee 4:

This is senior night, so this is a varsity game. The players know what they’re doing by now and all the tricks.

When the ball is set on the ground for team A, I’m immediately aware they might want a quick kick before team B’s defense is in position.

If team A takes a quick kick that isn’t interfered with by B11, call advantage and let play continue. If Team A stalls and waits, call a delay of game (IFK) and caution B11.

Shouldn’t even ask him to move back. Whether he is carded or eventually backs up the strategy worked. Team B had more time before a kick was taken.

The only time I would explain to a player that they need to back up is to the freshman or JV2 level where its obvious the players don’t know the rules.

Referee 5:

Stop the restart by blowing your whistle. Show a caution for Delay of game. Probably warn loudly that this behavior will not be tolerated.

No change to the restart.

The Answer:

Why do they do this?  Oh yeah, (NOTE TO FIFA), because they do this in EPL, MLS, etc., and get away with it without a sanction in most cases.  Yes, the referee steps them back after they have a merry chat, and the goalkeeper directs his defensive line….all of which is not required to be allowed to happen.

The rules in this case say otherwise, and oddly enough, They All Agree!  This is delaying the restart, pure and simple.  For those who say “I won’t caution this due to X or Y” all you are doing is wrecking the game.

The Quick Restart is part of the excitement of the game.  If an opponent goes out of their way to BLOCK a quick restart, you have to Caution them, since they eliminated one of the more exciting elements of the game.

And every time you don’t Caution them, you send them a signal that what they just did is JUST FINE.

In this case, Caution B11 for their efforts.  The restart stays as it was originally – nothing changes the Restart.  B11 goes off until the next substitution opportunity, and a replacement may be brought in if the team desires or they can play short, and the other team may substitute due to the stoppage.

Please, let’s all work together and stop this silliness!

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