Referee Tent (and Q&A)
Haitian Tournament lead by LSSC Ref
Andrew Ironside, a past District level referee with the LSSC, describes his experiences in Haiti. Please read his > Letter <
2010 Referee Registration Closed
Referee and Linesperson registration for 2010 is closed. I had roughly 160 people signup for 2010 - this is about 60 too many! Thanks for your interest, however, of the new people that signed up I would anticipate only 20-25 being selected. I will be confirming my squad for 2010 by April 1st.
Thanx! The Head Referee.
Questions and Answers (from the Head Referee)
Our referee awarded a penalty kick against us - no issue there. When the kick was taken, it hit the post, came back to the kicker and he shot the ball into the goal. The referee allowed the goal. Isn't this a double touch and shouldn't the goal be disallowed?
That is correct. In this situation the goal should have been disallowed and the defending team would receive an indirect free kick restart at the point the kicker made second touch. All restarts, except a dropped ball, do not allow the kicker/thrower to touch the ball again until the ball has been touched by another player. If it touches a post, crossbar or referee and the kicker touches it again - it is a double touch. In this particular game, the referee realized his mistake after play had been restarted - unfortunately, the goal cannot be reversed once the referee starts play.
A referee on the mini-field did not allow our team to substitute on a goal kick. The LSSC Laws of the Game state that substitution is allowed on ANY goal kick?
That is correct. Coaches should have a copy of this document in their coaches package and by all means, talk to the referee when its convenient and show it to them - I'd rather have the mistakes corrected when they occur (please handle it tactfully though). Referees are responsible for knowing this material - its their job. Thank you for informing me of this.
On kickoffs, do we have to kick the ball to the other team, or can the centre pass it to one of our forwards and try to gain the advantage?
The Procedure for a kickoff requires the defending team to remain outside of the centre circle and the attacking team is required to kick the ball forward. Typically, you will see the attacking team, tap the ball forward, the second forward will receive the ball (within a few feet) and then kick the ball back to a teammate to maintain possession. This gives the forwards time to move upfield to receive a pass. The intent is to maintain possession, as you stated. The other strategy is to get a strong kicker to launch it straight at the goal and hope to catch the goalie napping and get a goal - but this may only work on the small field and I've only ever seen it work once.
I can't speak for how the players are instructed - that's the coaches call.
What is the procedure for an indirect restart?
All fouls on the small field are restarted with indirect kicks except penalty kicks. On the big field, this depends on the infraction. Indirect kicks are signaled by the referee by raising their arm straight in the air; direct kicks, the referee signals direction of the kick. An incorrect signal by the referee does not alter the type of restart. For an indirect kick to be properly taken, the team taking the kick must touch the ball twice before they can score. First touch requires the ball to be kicked and the ball must move (inches is fine). The key here is that ball cannot return to its starting position after first touch. You may see light taps or tiny kicks on the ball as the first touch and then the second touch being the shot on net. Any touch is sufficient, but the ball MUST move laterally on first touch. Remember, once the ball is first touched - then the attackers can charge the ball - they don't have to wait for the second touch.
My U08B team played their seventh game this week and it was the first time the referee called the "passback" offence even though "passing back" has been a regular (and uncalled) occurrence up until now.
Before explaining why this happened, it is important for everyone else that I explain what a "passback" is. In FIFA law 12, the passback is a term applied to the infraction in which the goalkeeper handles the ball after it has been deliberately kicked back to him/her by a teammate. For U08B, there are several factors that may explain why a referee may elect to call this infraction or not. Firstly, in U08, all referees are first year referees and knowledge of the more obscure FIFA laws takes a while to learn. At the beginning of the season, I would love to have all the referees knowing everything - but in reality, they are beginners as well and in time they will learn all the laws - similar to Tyke and Micro eventually learning all the playing skills. Secondly, the referee has in their power to decide whether the passback is deliberate or not. At the U08 level, most kicks back to the goalie are not deliberate - but having a 12 year old referee decide intent is tough. Lastly, some U08 games are getting 2nd year referees (luck of the draw) and these referees have more experience in the rules and understand how and when to make the call. You may also get referees that have played the goalkeeper position for several years and understand the nuances of a passback. Keep in mind, a passback must be a deliberate KICK to the teammate's goalkeeper - if the ball was headed, chested or kneed to the goalkeeper, the goalkeeper may pick it up. After the infraction is called, the restart is an indirect kick (two-touch) for the attacking team at the point where the goalkeeper picked up the ball. At the U08 level, this is within 10 yards of the goal line and thus the defending team can make a wall on the goal line. Also - passback can only be called if the gaolkeeper commits the offense in the penalty area (big box). If the goalkeeper is outside the penalty area and subsequently handles the ball - that is a normal hand ball foul.
If a defender (not the goalkeeper) commits a hand ball offense in the defender's penalty area from a shot by an attacker and the ball still enters the net for a goal, does the goal count or is a penalty kick awarded?
The goal counts since the hand ball did not alter advantage in the play. If the referee blew the whistle before the ball entered the net, the goal would not count and a penalty kick would be awarded. For me, I play the "wait and see and count to three" - even if advantage is lost, wait and see if it ensues again - in this case it did in the form of a goal. On the big field, the goal would count and the defender would receive a red card regardless of circumstance (Law 12, red card offence #4) and thus would be ejected from the game.
My Daughter has moved to the big field this year. With it, comes offside. I have heard several interpretations of this rule but still remain unclear. I hope you can help.
As a previous coach, I understand the challenges of teaching offside to 11/12 year olds. I typically build the players up over a series of practices until they have it figured out. Essentially, a player in an offside position that interferes with play will be flagged for the offside offence. What does all that mean?
Offside Position: If an attacker in the defender's half stands closer to the defender's goal line than the ball or the second last defender - that person is in an offside position.
Second Last Defender: This is counted by the Assistant Referee (Linesperson) by starting at the defender's goal line and moving towards the halfway line - they count the number of defenders and then position themselves at the second defender closest to the goal line. The goalkeeper is included in this count. Once the linesperson reaches the halfway line and still hasn't counted 2 defenders, he/she stops because the attackers cannot be offside in their own half. Once the linesperson takes up position, any attackers to his/her right are then in an offside position. This position constantly moves based on defender position and the ball - which is why the linesperson is constantly moving as their primary responsibility is to maintain that offside line.
Offside Offence: If a teammate of an offside player kicks or touches the ball - at that moment offside is assessed. The linesperson will mark anyone in an offside position and remember the offenders until one of three events occur:
Interferes with Play: If the offside player plays or makes an attempt to play the ball they will be flagged offside.
Interferes with an Opponent: If the offside player obstructs or engages an opponent that is attempting to get involved with play, they will be flagged offside. A perfect example is an offside player screening the goalkeeper.
Gains an advantage: If the offside player is deemed to benefit from his/her position, they are flagged offside. Benefiting takes the form of receiving a deflection off of a defender, post, crossbar or corner flag.
Offside does not exist during Goal Kicks, Corner Kicks, Throw Ins and if the attackers are in their own half. Offside is nullified if the defenders gain uncontested control of the ball or an onside attacker takes control thus allowing the offside attacker to return to an onside position.
An attacker who was clearly offside, intercepted a deliberate passback to the goalkeeper. Why is this not offside?
Even though the attacker was in an offside position, he/she cannot be penalized until his/her teammate kicks or touches the ball. Since a defender was last to control the ball, the attacker is not committing an offside offense. In this case, play on! I heard about this game and understand that the linesperson flagged offside but the referee overruled the linesperson - the referee made the right call and has the power to overrule any signal from the linespeople.
Why can't I substitute my goalkeeper during play in a game?
Every coach has within their coaches bag one goalkeeper pinnie. To substitute a goalie during play would require removing the pinnie and gloves and anything else the team has to outfit their keeper and then outfit the new person taking their place - this takes time. FIFA also states that a goalkeeper can only be substituted during a stoppage in the match - not a stoppage in play. A stoppage in the match is identified as any time the referee stops their watch. In house league, this ONLY occurs at half time and thus we only allow goalkeeper substitutions at half time. If the goalkeeper gets injured during play, he/she may be replaced. This rule will not be changed until we receive a motion from coaches that the coach bag be outfitted with two pinnies. This is an added expense for the club and until the motion is made and accepted, the rule stands.
Please explain the Hand Ball offence.
I have received many questions about hand ball and tried to explain the nuances of the offence. This question is placed here to aid all of you that have asked. The offence of hand ball, for which a referee stops play, ONLY occurs if the ball is handled deliberately. As soon as a soccer law requires a deliberate act (or intent), the discretion of the referee becomes the deciding factor. Discretion is better termed "in the opinion of the referee". Their opinion will likely differ from at least 50% of the people at the field. Referees use certain guidelines to determine intent: Hand plays ball = offence; Ball plays hand = no offence; Ball plays hand but the hand was in a controlled position (faceing the ball, attacking play) and the hand could have been moved in time = offence; Ball plays hand but the hand was in a defensive position = no offence; Ball plays hand but the player was turned from play = no offence. Hand, in this definition, includes from the shoulder down, but not the top of the shoulder. Blatant use of the hand to prevent an attack is a yellow card. Blatant use of the hand to prevent a goal or goal scoring opportunity is a red card. The referee faces MANY decisions when calling a hand ball. Advantage rule can also nullify the hand ball offence - if no advantage was gained by using the hand - play on. A player that gains an advantage by having the ball hit their hand is only commiting the offence if the hand or arm motion was deliberate - most feel that advantage gained is deliberate - but not always! I look at arm motion, posture (defensive or aggressive), advantage and effect - I decide deliberateness based on those factors. The hand ball offence is not black and white - most events where the hand touches the ball is NOT an offence - the referee decides.
My Daugther broke her wrist on the Kickoff Weekend - can she still play with a cast?
FIFA and the CSA (Canadian Soccer Association) state that a player must not wear anything that is dangerous to him/herself or any other player. The CSA further states that only soft or light casts are acceptable provided they are padded with bubble wrap (NOT foam). The LSSC will allow forearm casts provided they are bubble wrapped (larger bubbles preferred); the wrap seam is taped and then the whole cast and wrap is bagged and taped. Compound wrist fractures where the majority of the hand is casted or the thumb is immobilized are not allowed. Fiberglass casts should be worn instead of plaster, but plaster can be worn PROVIDED the cast is eventually replaced with fiberglass. It is strongly recommended that you contact the Head Referee - send an email with a picture of the arm/cast. Casts that include the elbow, are not allowed. The club will also require a Doctor's note indicating that the player may participate in sports. Finally, if the player cannot control the additional momentum that a casted arm is subjected to and thus poses a safety threat, the player will be asked to leave the field.