Referees

Red is awarded a corner kick vs. blue.  Red #1 sets ball in arc and then call to teammate #9 “you take it”.  As #9 approaches, #1 nudges the ball so that it moves from the original spot.

#1 runs toward goal and #9 heads toward ball.  #9 then stops at ball, kicks it once toward the goal and continues to advance toward the ball.  On her second touch, Red #9 shoots ball into goal.

Referee whistles.

What is the restart?

a) Kick-off for blue

b) Indirect free kick for blue

c) Direct free kick for blue

d) b) but with a caution for Red #1 for unsporting behavior

e) Red must retake corner kick.

Answer:

a)  Kick-off for blue because the goal for red counts. 

This is not a double touch because the red player #1 put he ball into play.  USSF and AYSO have determined that this is not unsporting behavior – teammates can speak with to each other with instructions even if those instructions mislead the other team.

See “Corner Kick Tactic” on the USSF – based askasoccerreferree.com web page.  Specifically: http://www.askasoccerreferee.com/?cat=25

See http://www.ayso.org/resources/referee_res/whats_the_correct_answer.aspx#090309 (September 3, 2009) for a slight twist.  In this case, it is the coach calling out the misleading instruction to his teammates.  This is acceptable as well:

The Laws of the Game allow a coach to provide tactical instructions to his players as long as he does it from the designated technical area.

Therefore, in the scenario described in this question, as long as the coach was within his designated technical area, he was not guilty of acting in an irresponsible manner.

Other examples of fair deception are:

•When a player does a "dummy run."

•An attacking player who intentionally positions himself in an offside position but, does not participate in the play and allows a teammate in good position to go after the ball.

And finally – for a penalty kick?  Here, consider that Red has a penalty kick and Red #1 is the designated kicker.  He receives the ball from the referee, and places it on the penalty mark spot.  Upon the referee’s whistle, he casually moves up toward the ball and motions to a teammate – “here, you take it” and he nudges the ball forward.

At this point, what does the referee do?

a) whistle the play dead with a free kick for the opponents

b) nothing

c) Allow play to continue but whistle if a red teammate touches the ball before an opponent touches it

d) whistle the play dead and caution Red #1 with a free kick for the opponents

Again, this is a legitimate (if not a particularly effective) play.  This is simply another version of the corner kick scenario mentioned above (with the added twist of the differences between the penalty kick and corner kick restarts).

A COACH POSED A VERY POLITE QUESTION TO THE REFEREE COUNCIL (paraphrased below), AND WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE INSTRUCTIVE TO SHARE THE DIALOGUE WITH EVERYONE.

COACH: "In the closing minutes of our U16 match on Saturday, our player received a pass, dribbled in and scored, giving us a 1-goal lead in a closely-contested match. Needless to say, we were ecstatic! The referee signalled 'goal' and the ball was placed in the center circle for the kickoff. But before the other team kicked off, the AR spoke to the Referee, who then signalled Indirect Free Kick, 'No Goal- Offisde', and the ball was brought back and the goal taken away. I've been involved in soccer for many years and I've never seen this happen: once the Ref signals 'Goal', it's a goal, isn't it??  Our entire team was disappointed and we all feel like we had a victory taken a way unfairly. Is there anything that can be done about this?"

REF COUNCIL: "Hi [Coach],

I appreciate you bringing this to my attention, and even though there is nothing we can do about the outcome of that match, I do want you to know that we listen to the input from the coaches and use these experiences to further educate the ref corps....

Obviously, I can't comment on the specifics of that decision, because I wasn't there. But I can speak to the Laws of the Game, and it is definitely within the scope of Laws 5 and 6 for the referee to 1) reconsider and change a decision prior to the restart (in this case, the kickoff), and 2) to solicit input from his assistant referees at any time. Whether the AR signalled properly is irrelevant to the Referee's decision (I've called offside on occasions when the AR missed it- the flag is not a required part of the offside call).

Referees subject themselves to criticism when they appear uncertain or don't seem to communicate well, but the most important consideration is to get it right. It appears that in this case, the Ref Crew made the decision they felt was the right one, even knowing they would make someone unhappy.

Everyone strives for the fairest outcome in every match, for both sides. If it makes you feel any better, please consider this: how would you feel if you were on the other side, and after losing the match, the referee told you, "that goal shouldn't have counted because the girl was offside, but the AR didn't raise his flag."?

We'll keep trying to do the best job we can for the players, as I know you do as a coach. Thanks again, [Coach], see you on the field.

{ADDITIONAL INFO: subsequent to this exchange, the Asst Referee who made the call explained: "I didn't raise the flag because, from my vantage point it appeared that the defense would play it, or the ball would go through for a goal kick for the defending team. But the attacker, who was in an offside position, made a tremendous play to catch up with the ball and make a great shot into the goal. The referee had seen the same thing but depended on my signal, which I didn't make. So, I made a mistake, and rather than live with the 'popular', but wrong decision, I spoke with the Referee and we reversed the call". As stated above, always try your best to Get It Right. }

The ball goes into touch off a green player right at mid-field - it is a throw-in for blue at the half-way (center) line.

Blue player #4 takes a few steps back and runs facing the field toward the green goal.  As she approaches the half-way line, she twists her torso and throws the ball toward her own goal, such that her torso and her feet are at almost a 90 degree angle.  The ball was thrown-in with both hands and did start from behind her head and was released over her head.

a)         play, no problems

b)         The direction of the throw was not the same direction as her feet, so it is a improper throw-in and the result is a throw-in for green.

c)         Improper throw-in, but blue retakes the throw

d)         Indirect free kick for green at the location where the ball touches a player or the ground, as this is an example of trickery.

e)         same as d) with the additional action that the blue player #4 is cautioned.

Answer:

The throw in is legal.  The only requirements for the throw-in are

(i)         faces the field of play

(ii)        has part of each foot either on the touch line or on the ground outside the touch line

(iii)       holds the ball with both hands

(iv)       delivers the ball from behind and over his (her) head

(v)        delivers the ball from the point where it left the field of play

Since she threw the ball back toward her keeper, she is clearly facing the field of play.  Her feet, in fact, are also facing the field of play, although at a different direction.

Now, a twist on the twist…

The ball is released as mentioned above but the referee notices that the ball has significant spin.  Any call?

No – the ball must be delivered using both hands and over the head, but there is no requirement that the force exerted by each hand is the same.  Therefore, it is perfectly legal for the ball to have spin.