The Weekly Soccer Referee Blog – Volume 16 Issue 15 – Bounce, Bounce, Bounce – More Articles!

The Weekly Soccer Referee Blog

Sharpening Referee Knowledge and Judgment, One Week at a Time

Volume 16, Issue 15 – April 14, 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:

“Come on, that’s a foul.”

Heard from a coach who doesn’t know the rules.  It wasn’t a foul.

Reminder – IHSA Mercy (and other) Rules

I was surprised to get an email from one of my assignors that was a refresher on the IHSA mercy rules.

I wondered for a minute why he’d send something like that – and then realized it’s because people weren’t following them.

So, without any further ado, here are the IHSA Mercy Rules. 

Note: the “mercy rules” are not in the NFHS rule book. They are found in the “2023-24 soccer state association adoptions” published by IHSA.

10: If there is a 7-goal differential at the start of the second half, or any time after the start of the second half, the clock shall be reduced by half of the remaining time.

There are no other acceptable variations.

11: If there is a 9-goal differential at the start of the second half or any time after the start of the second half, the game shall be terminated.

The other changes from last year:

We no longer participate in the handshakes / whatever at the end of the game.  Get your stuff and promptly leave.

For substitutions, players should exit at the mid-field line, and nowhere else.

Please make a note of these, and make sure you are following them.

One final one that is in the NFHS rules: If the leading team substitutes in the last 5 minutes of the second half, the clock is stopped for the substitutions.

You can find the 2023/2024 State Association adoptions here: https://www.ihsa.org/documents/so/2023-24/state-association-adoptions.pdf

Thank God for Frogg Toggs!

The last few days of soccer have been crazy – with snow, rain, and cold temperatures – when those issues didn’t keep us off the field altogether.  I’ve had my Frogg Togg top on, and I’ve been comfortable.

The Frogg Toggs you are looking for are the ones with the elastic sleeve closures, rather than the larger, bulky ones.  I bought a set that was on the small side, and it fits over my Under Armor Cold Gear nicely, with the jersey fitting over it.  If the rain starts to fall, I can lift the hood out from under my referee jersey and secure it over my head with the clasped draw strings.

The one you want is the Frogg Toggs Mens / Womens Ultralight Waterproof Rain Suit.  They come in a variety of colors, including yellow and black.  I use green ones, since they are under my jersey.  So far, I have had these for around 5 years, and they still work great.  The Frogg Toggs feature breathable non-woven fabric, which acts both as a wind barrier and a rain barrier.  The tops and bottoms weigh in together at 12.8 ounces.  So far, I’ve only needed the top – I wear my wind pants which work fine and are black.

If you are looking for something (since IHSA’s mandatory jersey supplier Gerry Davis Sports doesn’t offer a rain jersey for the IHSA t-shirt soccer uniforms), you can pick these up at Farm & Fleet, Amazon or other fine retailers and wear them under your uniform and you’ll do fine. And Stay Dry.

This Week’s Question – Bounce, Bounce, Bounce

On a recent Game between two equally competitive IHSA Teams

The score is very close in this case.  Both teams are valiantly battling for the ball.  Team A has managed to bring the ball down the south touchline, with A14 maintaining control, while player B12 tries to dispossess A14 of the ball.

B12 charges into A14 with her arms held closely to her side, in an upright position, shoulder to shoulder, with one foot on the ground, and within playing distance of the ball.  A14 gets slightly displaced by the charge and continues on.

B12 repeats the same thing on A14, in the same manner.  A14 again gets slightly displaced, but continues on.

B12 then tries one more time to charge A14 and displace her off the ball.  This time, B12 leaves her feet on the charge, and A14 gets knocked down.

You Make the Call:

What is the call?

What is the restart?

Last Week’s Question: – Wait, What?

On a recent Game between two IHSA Teams

The score is lopsided, and Team A is frustrated by that.

You see A22 standing in the Team B Penalty Area, next to Goalkeeper B00.

As A1 is bringing the ball forward, you see A1 pass the ball to A43, who is even with B3 who is the second to last defender.

However, as you look over, you see A22 grab B00 by the arm and hold him, as A43 turns to shoot the ball.

You Make the Call:

What is the Call?

What is the Restart?

What You Said:

Referee 1:

For a player to be offside they must be behind the second to last defender and involved in the play. A22 initially is in an offside position but not involved in the play. Once A22 grabs the keeper they should be called for offside.

Depending on the overall tone of the game, a caution for unsporting may help quiet things down.

Restart is IDFK for B from the spot of the infringement.

Referee 2:

A lot of this is reading comprehension to be honest without looking at a picture.

But I’m assuming the goalkeeper was ahead of the second to last defender and closer to the goal line.

Thus we have an offside infraction here for interfering with an opponent. No goal!

Indirect, free kick, coming out.

You could also possibly argue a direct free kick coming out because you could call Holding on the guilty player as well.

I doubt whether the indirect or direct will make a difference though lol.

The Answer:

A22 is guilty of Holding (and good job seeing that and not being stuck on the ball.)

While this is an offside offense (as clearly, A22 is “actively involved in play”) the Holding penal foul with its Direct Free Kick penalty gets selected.

Play is therefore stopped, and a Direct Free Kick is issued to Team B where the ball was when you stopped to address A22’s misconduct.

I’d also advocate for a brief discussion with A22 to indicate “No more” to assure they understand that this short of behavior is not welcome on the field.

All the laws / rules are uniformly aligned on this one.

This is a free service.  No advertising is solicited; no “donations” are requested.

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