The Weekly Soccer Referee Blog – Volume 16 Issue 5 – Delay, Delay, Delay

The Weekly Soccer Referee Blog

Sharpening Referee Knowledge and Judgment, One Week at a Time

Volume 16, Issue 5 – February 4, 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:

“You haven’t blown your whistle once.”

From a parent who noticed on a 2 ref system that a referee hadn’t blown their whistle in a very clean game.

That their team was losing.  Go figure.

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: – Smash and Crash

During a recent High School tournament soccer game….

You have two teams which are evenly matched.  There are some passes to foot, but a lot of passes to space.

It’s the second half, and the fatigue on the teams is showing, but the home team has stronger legs and is making several runs on the goal.

You see B14 and B20 standing close to each other in the Team A Penalty area, looking for a pass in, when A11 runs between B14 and B20 from behind and then crashes to the ground writhing in pain.

The Team A Coach is screaming for a foul.

You Make the Call:

What is the Call?

What is the Restart?

What You Said:

Referee 1:

What did you see? Charging in by A11? Elbowing by B14 or B20? You call what you see, not what the coach or the experts see. That’s why you have a badge.

Referee 2:

Was there a foul, or was it simulation?

If a foul- DFK coming out of the area for team A. But the description of the incident does not seem to indicate a foul was committed.

If simulation- Yellow Card for the offender, A11. Restart would be an IDFK for team B at the spot of the foul.  

Referee 3:

Who contacted whom? From the description it sounds like A11 initiated contact with B14 and B20. If play has already stopped, delay the restart. If play continues, allow it for a few moments but stop play as soon as it doesn’t compromise a promising attack.

If A11 is still in pain, have bench personnel attend to the injury. From the description, you could possibly caution A11 for simulating an injury, but I would give them a stern warning and see what happens.

The Answer:

What did you see?

B14 and B20 standing together, looking for a pass incoming.

A11 running into them from behind, then crashing to the ground.

Could B14 and B20 see A11?  No.

Could B14 and B20 “play” A11 on A11’s disastrous run in?  No.

So no foul here for B14 and B20, and neither of them fell down.  Call the coach onto the field to address A11.

Restart with a Direct Free Kick to Team B at the point of A11’s unwarranted charge.

This play bothered me.  I asked the AD for the game video, and he sent me a link.  I played this back (and a few other plays where I thought a player was simulating trying to draw a PK) several times and was happy with my calls – I could see what was going on, and all of them were big nothings.

If you have the opportunity to look at yourself in a game tape, take it.  Reflection on our performance is one of the best things we can do to learn and get better.

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

The Weekly Soccer Referee Blog – Volume 11 Issue 32 – May I Delay Your Free Kick Please?

The Weekly Soccer Referee Blog

Sharpening Referee Knowledge and Judgment, One Week at a Time

Volume 11, Issue 32 – August 18, 2019

Forward this to a Fellow Soccer Ref!

Please feel free to forward this Blog to your fellow soccer officials or tell them about it.

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 looked like a red card to me.

From a college coach on a scrimmage game.  The referee said “I’m sure you saw it that way, but from my angle the cleats were down, which is why I went with a Caution.”  The coach said “Oh, okay.”

This Week’s Question – May I Delay Your Free Kick Please

On a recreational soccer game…

You have two rec teams mixing it up, with one or two players who get it, and a number who appear to be there for the fun.

You see a foul and call it on Team A – I nice trip at mid-field with no advantage present due to the level of play.  After you trot to the general area to supervise the kick, you see 8 players from Team A run up and basically stand in front of the ball within 1 yard as B4 tries to get the game back in play.  B4 clearly looks frustrated.

You Make the Call:

What is the call?

What is the restart?

Last Week’s Question – Charge!

On a recreational soccer game…

You have two rec teams with mixed talent – there are a few players on each team with some talent, and some larger players for their age in the mix.

You see B14 bringing the ball up the east touchline, when A22 (who is big for his age) runs straight into the side of B14, literally causing B14 to fly off the field into the spectators.

A22 then collects the ball and starts heading towards the Team B goal.

You Make the Call:

What is the Call?

What is the Restart?

What You Said:

Referee 1:

If in your opinion it was a legal charge meeting all Aspects then keep playing. If not, then call the foul.

Referee 2:

This is an easy one. No play for the ball, A22 played B14 physically to win the ball. Minimum caution to A22 (into spectators!) depending on the intensity of the foul could be a sendoff. I’d want to know the age group before a sendoff, providing no injury, as perhaps if younger A22 needs some instruction as rec coaches are not the best for sure. Been there done that. May be open to: “But it was shoulder to shoulder!”. I’ve always loved that defensive remark. “Yeah, but you broke his clavicle while never playing for the ball.” Geez.

DFK at the spot of the miscreant’s (A22) smack into B14.

Referee 3:

If choice of the descriptive words is accurate, then this is more than mere large wins vs. small: “…fly off the field…”

Excessive force – DFK for B team at point of contact by A22 against B14.

We as officials should note however that not all contacts between big/small players where small player falls is a foul… with all being equal, size matters: called physics.

We should not punish the larger player for the contact unless it was an instance of excessive force.

Referee 4:

Fair charge is shoulder-to- shoulder, one foot on the ground, and without excessive force.

Certainly excessive force her, hence a DFK foul for charging.

Reckless (YC) or attempt to injure (RC) in the opinion of…

The Answer:

This is an illegal charge – one could rationalize that the player was within playing distance, but A22 makes no effort to go for the ball until after B14 is laying on the ground.

The elements of a fair charge are listed and are remarkably similar for all the Laws / Rules.

“An allowable fair charge is where players make shoulder-to-shoulder contact in an upright position, within playing distance of the ball, have at least one foot on the ground and their arms held close to their body.”

So, what is missing?  I’d argue “at least one foot on the ground” since A22 runs straight into B14 and causes them to fly off the field.

At least reckless, possibly excessive force.  Issue the card as appropriate, based on what you saw.

The restart is a Direct Free Kick to Team B at the point of contact.