Referees

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.

An attacker on the Blue team is dribbling the ball from the corner toward the Red goal along the goal line.  Attacker shoots the ball and it bounces toward the goal almost parallel with end line. A spare ball is off field but not a full diameter off the field.  The match ball is traveling along the goal line, and the match ball makes contact with the spare ball but the match ball never goes out of play.  The match ball continues toward the goal, but has perhaps gained a bit of spin from the collision. When the ball gets in front of the goal, it hits a bump and/or the spin redirects the ball into the goal.

What should the referee do?

a)         Goal, match ball never went out of play so point to center circle for restart.

b)         Whistle.  Restart with goal kick for Red since match ball made contact with spare ball that should have been far enough out of play.

c)         Whistle.  Restart with indirect free kick for blue and caution the goalkeeper for allowing spare ball to interfere with match ball. 

d)         Drop Ball restart where the balls made contact.

e)         Drop ball restart where the balls made contact unless contact was with the goal area.  If so, drop ball is at goal area line nearest to point of balls making contact.

The correct answer is (e).  This is an example of outside interference impacting play.  The restart for this is a drop ball restart.  Remember (i) there is not a mandatory number of players who must participate in a drop ball restart and (ii) a goalkeeper may handle a ball from a drop ball restart in his own penalty area.

The ball is kicked by a blue team player and accidentally makes contact with a red team #4’s hand and falls to her feet where she immediately takes advantage of the situation and shoots the ball directly into the blue team’s goal.  What should the referee do?

a)         Whistle, handling on Red #4.  Any unfairly gained advantage should be nullified by the referee.  If the ball did not go directly to the Red#4’s feet, perhaps let it go but since Red #4 did gain an advantage for this, whistle for handling.

b)         Whistle, handling on Red #4 and caution (yellow card) Red #4 for putting the game in disrepute.  As above, any unfairly gained advantage should be nullified by the referee.  Even If the Red #4 did not score a goal, she tried to take an unfair advantage of this situation and should receive a caution.

c)         Award a goal for the red team and restart with a kick-off for the blue team.

d)         Award a goal for the red team and restart with a kick-off for the blue team but caution red #4 before the kick-off.  She gets the goal but this is somewhat balanced by also giving her the yellow card.

Correct answer is c).  When, in the opinion of the referee, the contact of ball and hand is not deliberate, play should be allowed to continue regardless of whether or not the accidental contact of ball and hand resulted in an advantage for either team.

However, does “not deliberate” mean only that the player did not see the ball coming?  Not necessarily.  If a player has her hands up in an ‘un-natural’ position (think of a player facing away from the ball with her hands up like a basketball player guarding an opponent) and the ball makes contact with the player’s hands, this would be considered handling.  From the AYSO website.

Part II.  Can a referee play advantage if a handling violation occurs?  Yes.  Consider a scenario where a red player reaches out and knocks the ball down.  If a blue player immediately plays the ball and this leads to an advantageous situation for the blue team (better for the blue team to have the ball rather than stop play and award a free kick), play advantage.