You Make the Call

You Make the Call #32

A Green attacking player (#10) is in an offside position. The diagram is provided to help visualize the situation (and because we now have the ability to include figures and pictures here) but the absence of other players and the exact positioning of the players involved does not change the answer.  Consider which call to make given the following scenarios:

A Green teammate (#11) passes the ball toward Green #10. 

1.         The ball strikes and deflects from an Orange defender (#4) and Green #10 collects the ball and dribbles toward the Orange goal. 

a)         Offside

b)         No Call

2.    The Orange defender (#4) attempts to play the ball but misses completely.  Green #10 collects the ball and dribbles toward the Orange goal.

a)         Offside

b)         No Call

3.  The Orange defender (#4) attempts to play the ball but manages only to make contact and the ball moves away from Orange #4  (Orange #4 mishits, shanks, misjudges, etc.).  Green #10 collects the ball and dribbles toward the Orange goal. 

a)         Offside

b)         No Call

4.  The Orange defender (#4) attempts to play the ball and manages to stop the ball.  Next, he directs it back toward the Orange GK.  Green #10 collects the ball and dribbles toward the Orange goal.

a)         Offside

b)         No Call

c)         Indirect free kick for the attacking team for a “pass-back” to the goalkeeper.

Answer:

Law #11 doesn’t comprehensively describe how a player can get back into an onside position when the player was in an offside position.  However, the ATR (Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game) does describe this. 

11.14 Becoming “Onside”

A player who is in an offside position at the moment a ball is played by a teammate can become “onside” in only four ways:

1.         The player is not nearer to the opposing goal than the ball when it is next played by a teammate.

2.         The position of the opponents change so the player is no longer in an offside position when the ball is next played by a teammate.

3.         An opponent intentionally plays or gains possession of the ball.

4.         The ball goes out of play.

The key point for all of these, other than the obvious case (4), is that someone other than the player in the offside position has to play the ball; the player cannot put him- or herself “onside”.

The key point for our example is #3 – an opponent intentionally plays or gains possession of the ball.  “Intentionally plays” does not mean “intends to play” or “makes an attempt to play”.  The USSF (which AYSO follows in these cases) includes a question and answer web page to clarify these things and there it is stated that “It IS NOT correct to assume that any touch by a defender effectively changes the possession, because Law 11 clearly requires the ball to be controlled by the defender before a new phase of play can be said to have begun (and offside positions re-evaluated). It IS correct to say that the referee must make the judgment as to whether the opponent established full control over the ball and thus relieved the player in the offside position from being called offside. (August 2003)”

and elsewhere as

“the attacker in an offside position must refrain from becoming involved in active play from the moment his teammate touches or plays the ball until a defender plays the ball (gains clear possession and control)”(October 2005).

Therefore, the concept of control is an important one and should be used to answer the questions. 

Here goes:

1.         a) Offside.  No control (and not even an attempt by the defender to play the ball).

2.         a) Offside. No possession or control.

3.         a) Offside. No “clear possession and control” on a mis-hit or shank.

4.         b) No Call.  Here the defender stopped the ball and directs it back to the goalkeeper, therefore the defender gained control of the ball and played it to the goalkeeper.  Once the defender gains possession, the attacker would no longer be offside if the ball were played to him from the defender.

A Red attacking player (#10) is in his attacking half of the field and there are two Blue defenders at the half-way line.  Only the Blue goalkeeper is between Red #10 and the Blue goal.  A Red teammate in Red’s defensive half controls the ball and kicks it forward, but not with enough power to get the ball past the half-way line.  Red #10 comes into the defensive half and plays the ball.  You, as the center referee, do which of the following to address this event:

a)         nothing, the attacking player may legally play the ball.

b)         stop play, restart with an indirect free kick for Blue.

c)         stop play, restart with an indirect free kick for Blue.  Caution Red #10 for unsporting behavior (trickery).

d)         nothing unless you hear in your earpiece that the 4^th official has seen unsporting behavior on another Red player.  If so, stop play, send-off the guilty party and later make certain that said player receives the tournament MVP award.

The answer is (b).  In this instance, Red #10 was in an offside position when the ball touches or is played by a teammate.

The key here is "at the moment the ball touches or is played...".  For example, if the attacker in question is in his attacking half of the field and is behind the second to last defender at the moment the ball touches or is played by a teammate, he is in an offside position.  If he is the next to touch the ball (and, more generally,  if nothing else happens to rest the offside position), he is offside, even though he may have back tracked to his defensive half of the field.

A player is in an offside position if:

            he is nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent

A player is not in an offside position if:

• he is in his own half of the field of play or

• he is level with the second last opponent or

• he is level with the last two opponents

so one might look at this and come to the conclusion that there can not be an offside infraction if the attacker gets the ball in the defending half of the field.  By that logic, one would not be offside if the ball was kicked in front of him (even though he was in attacking half and behind second-to-last defender  since by the time he played the ball, he was behind it.  What is important is the “snapshot” of the situation when the ball touches or is played by a teammate.  At that instant of contact, is #10 player in an offside position?  Yes, and that's what matters.

A corner kick is taken by player #1 on the Red team.  The ball is kicked directly into the goal post and rebounds into the field of play where Red player #1 touches the ball. What is the call?

a)         If the ball hit the outside of the post, part of the ball has crossed the goal line.  A goal kick is awarded to the Blue team. 

b)         Do nothing; the posts are in play.

c)         Stop play, restart with an indirect free kick to Blue.  Caution Red #1 for unsporting behavior (trickery).

d)         Stop play and restart with an indirect free kick to Blue but do not administer a caution.

The answer is (d).  In this instance, the fact that the ball did not touch any other player after the corner kick was taken results in a “double touch” by Red player #1.  The restart is an IFK (Law 17) at the location of the second touch (which may be far away from the corner).

            An interesting related question:  Are there any circumstances in which it is a violation if a GK picks up a ball in his own penalty area that is NOT kicked or thrown-in to him by a teammate?

            YES, if the GK runs down the field and takes the corner kick and the ball comes into his own penalty area without touching anyone else (perhaps the ball rebounds off the goal post all the way to his penalty area or he simply kicks the ball back toward his own penalty area, no one else touches it, and he races back and picks it up in his penalty area).  IFK to the opponents where he picked it up (unless in his own goal area, etc.).  This particular unlikely instance is indeed described in Law 17.  Note that another case where this is a violation is the somewhat more likely case that the GK kicks the ball upfield, the ball hits the referee and bounces back into the penalty area where the GK picks it up (stay out of the way!). 

In a U14 match, the ball goes into touch for a throw-in to the Orange team.  While the ball is being retrieved, you notice that a Green player’s shoelaces are untied.  As CR, you decide that the flapping long laces need to be tied.  What is the call?

a)         Do nothing; at U14 the player is responsible for her own safety while at younger ages it is better to step in.

b)         Give Orange an IFK where you observed the untied laces because this person could be considered to be playing in a dangerous manner.

c)         Have the player leave the field to tie her shoe laces.

d)         Delay the Orange throw-in while you allow the Green player to tie her shoelaces on the field.

The answer is (c).  Your judgment that a player has unsafe equipment requires that the player leave the field to repair (or exchange) the equipment.  The player may return, with your permission, when the problem has been fixed, when the ball is next out of play.  The match should not be intentionally delayed to allow the player to correct an equipment problem.  Nonetheless, if you decide that the equipment needs to be corrected – at any level – follow the proper procedure.  Also, b) is not correct because the ball is not in play so there can be no dangerous play.

            If the referee notices the problem while the ball is in play, the referee can advise the player to correct the problem. If the problem is corrected before the next stoppage, there is no need for the player to leave the field.

In a U14 match, the ball goes into touch for a throw-in to the Orange team.  While the ball is being retrieved, you notice that a Green player’s shoelaces are untied.  As CR, you decide that the flapping long laces need to be tied.  What is the call?

a)         Do nothing; at U14 the player is responsible for her own safety while at younger ages it is better to step in.

b)         Give Orange an IFK where you observed the untied laces because this person could be considered to be playing in a dangerous manner.

c)         Have the player leave the field to tie her shoe laces.

d)         Delay the Orange throw-in while you allow the Green player to tie her shoelaces on the field.

The answer is (c).  Your judgment that a player has unsafe equipment requires that the player leave the field to repair (or exchange) the equipment.  The player may return, with your permission, when the problem has been fixed, when the ball is next out of play.  The match should not be intentionally delayed to allow the player to correct an equipment problem.  Nonetheless, if you decide that the equipment needs to be corrected – at any level – follow the proper procedure.  Also, b) is not correct because the ball is not in play so there can be no dangerous play.

            If the referee notices the problem while the ball is in play, the referee can advise the player to correct the problem. If the problem is corrected before the next stoppage, there is no need for the player to leave the field.

Itís playoff time.† Prior to a match, in addition to the normal procedure, inform the coaches that the players on the field at the end of regulation (and any overtime period) may participate in the tie-breaking kicks from the penalty mark (KFTPM) procedure.†

As it happens, the Alpha-bites and the Number Crunchers have battled to a tie during regulation time.†

The KFTPM procedure is a modified form of the penalty kicks, so the procedure is very similar to the ìYou Make the Call #27î.† If there is a special goal area set up for the procedure, please use that facility.† Otherwise, use the field on which you played.† The CR decides which goal will be used for the procedure (though the powers-that-be may provide some very helpful advice about the choice of goal).†

Once a goal is chosen, please keep the area as free from distractions as possible.† It is recommended to keep all spectators no closer to the goal than the extension of the penalty area (18 yd) line.

To start, hold a coin toss between the captains.† The Alpha-bites win the coin toss and choose whether to go first or second.† They choose to have the Number Crunchers go first.

Please move all eligible participants (the ones on the field after the end of the match) to the center line except for the goalkeepers.† Have one assistant referee stationed at the center line for player management and the other lined up at the intersection of the goal line and the penalty area as for a PK.† No one else is to be on the field of play.

Call for the first Number Cruncher player.† #1 comes to the penalty area.† The Alpha-bites G is their goalkeeper who moves from behind the goal line AR to the goal.† As CR, record that #1 is taking the kick for the NCs (the player management AR should also record this information).† Hand the ball to #1 to put on the penalty kick spot.† Tell #1 to wait for you to signal before kicking.† Make certain that your goal line AR is ready.† Ask G, the keeper, if he is ready.† After an affirmative response, signal (a clear, short blast of the whistle is effective here) for the kick to proceed.† Unlike a PK in regular match conditions, there is no opportunity for the kicker to play the ball after the PK is taken.

When is the kick completed?† If the ball crosses the goal line (in the goal or outside of the goal), if the ballís motion stops, or if the keeper controls the ball, the kick is completed.† As a reminder, note that continuous forward motion of the ball is not a necessary condition.† For example, the ball is kicked, hits the cross-bar and deflects back toward the field of play but hits the goalkeeper or the ground and caroms into the goal.† This is a goal even though there was movement of the ball away from (briefly) the goal.

After this attempt is completed, the ball is returned to the CR.† The CR calls the first Alpha-Bite player and ìAî comes into the penalty area.† The NC GK (#7) moves to the goal and the Alpha-bites GK stands behind the goal line AR.† The above procedure is repeated.

The teams alternate through their first five kickers (1,2,3,4, and 5 for the Number Crunchers, and A,B,C,D, and E for the Alpha-bites).† A winner is declared if one team gains an insurmountable lead.† In other words, if the first three kickers for the Number Crunchers score and the first three kickers for the Alpha-bites do not score, the match has been decided because the remaining two kickers for the Alpha-bites will not be able to make up a three goal deficit.

If the scored is tied after the first five kickers from each team have taken their kicks, the kicks continue in a one-vs-one fashion (referred as ìsudden deathî but remember that a player from each team has an opportunity in each of these rounds).† NC #6 kicks and scores.† A-b ìFî misses.† The match is over; the Number Crunchers have won.†

If the one-vs-one procedure for the remaining eligible players does not decide the winner, the players who have already kicked will take a second round of kicks continuing with the one-vs-one process (and a third, etc as necessary).† Given the limited number of kickers in a U10 match, it would not be surprising for the kickers to be ìrecycledî.† The process continues until a winner is decided.†

The match has ended in a tie and the winner will be decided by kicks from the mark.† What is the proper call in the following situations?

I.††††††††† After all the eligible players have kicked and the match is still tied, the eligible players start again.† In the initial round for the orange team, #1 kicked first.† In this round, #2 sets up as the first kicker.† As the center referee, you allow the kick to proceed and a goal is scored.† The assistant referee then informs you that the players have kicked out of order.† What is the next step?

a)†††††††† Retract the goal and bring #1 in to kick

b)†††††††† Retract the goal, caution player #2 (though you may want to skip this step for a U10 match) and allow player #1 to kick

c)†††††††† Retract the goal, caution player #2 (though you may want to skip this step for a U10 match) and proceed with a kick from the next white player; orange has lost its opportunity to score in this round.

d)†††††††† Record the goal and continue with the next player on the white team.

The answer is (d).† Once all of the players on a team have kicked, the next ìroundî can be conducted in any order.† The only constraint is that all players must kick in a given ìroundî before a player may kick again.†

II.†††††††† A player removes his shinguards while waiting for his opportunity to participate in the KFTPM.† Is this player allowed to participate in the KFTPM under these conditions?

a)†††††††† yes, the actual match is over and the KFTM is only a procedure to determine a winner (like a coin toss, which si how these matches used to be decided).† Therefore, the player is no longer putting himself in danger as there are no defenders in this situation.

b)†††††††† no, unless otherwise stated, the relevant Laws of the Game apply when KFTPM are being taken.

The answer is (b) and this is taken directly from the LOTG book.† The players are to stay in uniform for the KFTPM.

III.†††††† Towards the end of the match, a player from the orange team is injured.† There are no substitutes for orange and the match ends tied.† The injured playerís injury precludes him from participating in the KFTPM.†

(a)††††††† white has all of its players available, so when it is the injured orange playerís turn to kick, orange forfeits the opportunity.

(b)††††††† Each teamís players kick so that, if the match is tied after the round in which the last orange player has kicked, the next round includes an orange player who has already kicked and the remaining white player.

(c)††††††† The white teamís eligible player pool is reduced by one player to match the number of eligible orange players.

The answer is (c), the white team ìreduces to equateî to match the eligible number of players on the orange team.

IV.†††††† Similar situation as III but in this case, the injured player can participate in the KFTPM.† For example, the injured player received a bloody nose so had to come off.† The match ended before the player returned but the bloody nose was treated by the time the KFTPM started.

(a)††††††† Since the injured player was not substituted, the player is eligible for the KFTPM.

(b)††††††† Since the injured player was not on the field at the end of the match, the player cannot participate in the KFTPM procedure.

The correct answer is (a); since the injured player was not substituted, that player is still considered to have participated in that period and is therefore eligible to participate in the KFTPM.†

V.††††††† The orange goalkeeper stops a kick with his face and is incapacitated.† What are the options for the orange team?

(a)††††††† There are several other eligible players on orange.† One of these must replace the goalkeeper.

(b)††††††† The orange team can replace the goalkeeper with a player who was not playing in the final period.

(c) †††††† The white team also must remove its goalkeeper from the sequence in a ìreduce to equateî process.†

The correct answer here is (b).† FIFA rules note that a substitute for the GK can be introduced provided that the maximum number of substitutes has not been used.† For those matches, three substitutes can be introduced during the match.† In AYSO, there is no such limitation on substitutes, so the GK may be replaced by a substitute.† Also, one can change goalkeepers during the PKs (even if there is not an injury) with one of the other eligible players.

A defender sticks up a hand and strikes a ball in the penalty area.† You decide this is handling and you signal for a handling infraction.†

You:

a)      whistle and point to the location of the foul.† Itís a direct free kick.

b)      whistle and point to the penalty spot.† Itís a penalty kick.

The correct answer here is b).† It is best to get the ball and hold it for the time being rather than allow the team taking the kick to get possession of the ball.

Which of the following are you to do prior to the kick?

c)†† Insure that the AR is in position

d)†† make certain that the penalty area and the arc at the top of the penalty area is clear of all players except the attacking team kicker and the defending goal keeper

e)      hand the kicker the ball for the kicker to place the ball on the spot and instruct the kicker to wait for your whistle

f)††† instruct the goal keeper that she must stand on the goal line prior to the kick

g)      be certain that all other players are behind an imaginary line that extends from sideline to sideline parallel to the goal line through the penalty spot.

All of the above are acceptable with the possible exception for f).† This is something of a subtle point but it goes to the issue of the extent to which a referee should ìcoachî the players.† If you tell the player that she must stand on the line, she may forget (especially at lower levels) that she can move along the line and even jump up and down prior to the kick or the keeper may stay stuck on the line even as the kick is taken because ìthe referee told me to stay hereî.† The keeper cannot, however, stand in the goal and rush out, perhaps in an attempt to time her charge with that of the attacker.† The other points are all important.

The order of points is that e) should be the last one prior to your signal.

c)      The AR should be standing on the goal line to determine two things:

i.         Whether the ball has completely passed the goal line or not

ii.       Whether the goal keeper has encroached on the kick; i.e., leaving the goal line prior to the kick

In the pregame, the CR should instruct the AR where to stand (at the intersection of the goal line and the edge of the penalty area or perhaps at the flag) as well as to provide a discreet signal if the GK has encroached.† Note that if the ARs are on the touchlines to the left of the goalkeeper (which is standard for our region), the AR should stay on that side of the field. Two options ñ there is no set rule here ñ include initially holding the flag in the right hand (away from the field) and switching to the left hand (with flag still pointing downward) or stepping onto the field of play with one foot if a GK encroachment is observed.† This allows the CR to take that information into consideration without drawing attention to the signal.

d)      field players may not encroach.† A list of encroachments and restarts in included below.† The referee should whistle if encroachment occurs.

e)      The CR must signal for the PK to take place.† A good blast of the whistle, with a prior check of the goalkeeper is a reasonable sequence here.

g)†† prior to the kick, all players must be further from the goal line than the ball.

Encroachment†† Result†† ††††††††††† Restart

GK off line PK Goal†††††††††††††††† KO (goal stands)

††††††††††††††††††††††† GK blocks†††††† Retake PK

††††††††††††††††††††††† PK mishit†††††††† Goal kick*

* if the encroachment could be truly considered trifling / inconsequential to the mishit, allow play to continue with goal kick (assuming ball went over the goal line).† Otherwise, retake PK.

Attacker†††††††††† Goal†††††††††††††††† Retake PK

††††††††††††††††††††††† Shot blocked††† IFK for defenders

Defender††††††††† Goal†††††††††††††††† KO (goal stands)

††††††††††††††††††††††† Shot blocked††† Retake PK

Both teams*†††† Goal†††† ††††††††††† Retake

††††††††††††††††††††††† Shot blocked††† Retake

††††††††††††††††††††††† PK mishit†††††††† Retake

*At lower levels, it may be appropriate to allow play to continue if the encroachment by both players could be considered trifling / inconsequential, although the proper procedure should be explained.

It is toward the end of the second half (less than two minutes) of a spirited match, but the score is 5-1 in favor of the White team. You, the Center Referee, whistle for a foul against a White player near the Orange touchline. As the Orange team sets up for the free kick, the Orange team coach asks to substitute an ìinjuredî player and has the substitute ready at the halfway line. The ìinjuredî player is within several yards of the touchline when the foul is whistled, walks toward the touchline with the intent to come out of the match, and bends over with his hands on his knees. As the center referee, you perceive that he was not limping excessively and does not appear any worse for wear than a half dozen other players.

Do you:

(a) allow a substitution to occur?

The main point here is to consider if there were any conditions where you would not allow the substitution to take place. First, consider how well you are qualified to determine the extent of an injury. Some injuries are obvious, some are not. For example, even if a player is not obviously or excessively limping, you, as CR may not know that player suffered a broken ankle during a tournament match a few months earlier and that player may feel that something is wrong and deservedly wants to come out.

Keep in mind that substituting an injured player may be an opportunity for manipulation of the match. The injured playerís team may benefit from the disruption of play or may feel that they can take some time off the clock with the exchange. This is more subtle and requires the Center Referee to understand the game conditions. In the case above, it is the losing team that wants the substitution and the score is such that there is no likelihood that substituting this player will impact the game significantly. Also in this case, the ìinjuredî player is already near the sideline and the exchange will not take an excessive amount of time.

If a substitute was not immediately available, then (b) would be acceptable. However, there is no reason to choose (c). As CR, it is your duty to recognize the game situation to help insure that the game is safe. With the conditions noted above, there is no reason to suspect any sort of manipulation on the part of the Orange player or coach so there is no reason to state that ìheís not hurtî.

This is a good time to review substitution procedures. In our region (and this is typical for most other regions), there are different substitution patterns that depend on the age group. We will concentrate on the U10-U14 age groups (weíll call Younger), which follow one set of rules, and the U16-U19 age groups (Older), which follow a different procedure. First, however, note that the answer (c) is the same for both age groups.

For the Younger group, substitutions are allowed at the start of the second half, at approximately the halfway point of the first half and the second half, and for injuries. The ëhalfway pointí substitutions (also called quarter-breaks, etc.) are made when a stoppage (goal, goal kick, corner kick, free kick, throw-in, penalty kick, drop ball, injury, etc.) occurs at about that time. The referee signals for substitutes and the assistant referees (ARs) note on the team cards which players have been substituted. A goalkeeper change is common at this point and the ARs should note this as well. The purpose of this bookkeeping is to insure the ìEî in BEPOG ñ everyone plays ñ and there are requirements for the number of quarters played as well as the number of quarters a goalkeeper can play. Keep these breaks short but it may be helpful to keep in mind a couple of things: (i) this is a good time for players to get a well-deserved drink and (ii) some players who are not substituted switch positions and it may be helpful for all involved that the coach be given a bit of time to set up properly. [Any U10 coach knows that half of the team has not previously played in a match with referees, has not played 7-a-side soccer, and that there are a few players whose interest in a specific position has a competing interest in how sticky oneís fingers become after eating orange segments].

A substitution can also be made for an injury at any time. The injured player ñ the one who started the ëquarterî ñ is the one who gets credit for playing that quarter (this applies to the Younger players). However, the substitute must finish that quarter. The team may also elect not to substitute the injured player. In that case, once the injured player has recovered, that player may rejoin play (this applies to both Younger and Older players).

The substitution procedure for the Older players (U16-U19):

Kick-offs and goal kicks: substitutions for both teams.

Throw-ins: substitution opportunity for team taking throw-in. If this team substitutes, the other team may also substitute.

Corner kick: only team taking corner kick may substitute.

Injury: only injured player may be substituted

Caution: At the request of the coach, the cautioned player may be substituted.

Free kicks no substitutions (with the exception of the caution note above).

Water, water, waterÖ. Itís 98 ?F for the mid-day matches and the players clearly desire a drink.

When can a player get a drink? (water, electrolyte solution, etc.)

(a) only at the breaks half-way between the first half and second half (i.e., t the quarter breaks) and at half-time.

(b) whenever and wherever they need

(c) at the sideline or goal line as long as the drink is not tossed onto the field

The answer is (c). The USSF has a useful note

(http://www.ussoccer.com/referees/content.sps?iType=4169&icustompageid=6687)

ìAvailability of Water During a Matchî.

The key points are that:

(i) Players may drink water during play or at a stoppage but only by going to a touch line or goal line.

(ii) While drinking water, players may not leave the field nor may they carry water containers onto the field. The players should stand at the touch line or goal line while drinking water.

(iii) Water containers may not be held in readiness where they will interfere with the movement of the assistant referees.

(iv) Under no circumstances may water containers of any sort (regardless of material, size, or construction) be thrown onto the field or to players even during stoppages of play.

Blue kicks off. The blue player kicks off with a kick that goes deep into the red zone and into the red goal. No one else touches the ball before it goes into the red goal.

Call:

(a) Goal kick for red

(b) Goal and kick-off for red

(c) Corner kick for blue

(b) A kick off does not have to touch another player before it goes into the opposition goal. Blue player (#1) who initiates the kick, however, may not touch the ball again until another player. One can score a goal directly from a kick-off (the odds of this increase significantly in the SCV when those November Santa Ana winds blow).

It's a new season and you'll likely be refereeing a few games each weekend day with perhaps watching a few more games as a spectator. As an assistant referee, each of us knows that it is important to track the second-to-last (StL) defender or follow the ball towards the goal if the ball is behind the StL defender. At the end of a long day however, it's easy to get distracted and lose a few steps or simply decide that it's acceptable to trail a play since we 'know' what is going to happen.

As a reminder to keep us on our toes, here are a few images from an English Premier League Match between Manchester United (MU) and Tottenham Hotspur (TH). A TH player near midfield boots the ball towards the MU goal. The MU keeper reaches to catch the ball but doesn't get to it before the ball passes the end line. However, neither the AR nor the CR was in position to see the ball cross the line. No goal was awarded as the MU keeper reached and tossed the ball back into the field-of-play.

CR view. It's difficult to tell from this position. From the photo, it isn't clear, but the GK's feet are in the field of play.	Sideline view. This view from a press photographer clearly shows the ball over the line.

Just a reminder to stay on your toes – these things happen to the highest level referees…

And make certain those lines are painted straight. Wouldn't want to deal with the situation below.

Inspections_II:

Earrings. Perhaps you have come across this situation:

ìBut ref ñ my childís ears were recently pierced and the ears will close up if the earrings are removed.î ìThey are not hoops, just studs.î ìBut the tape I have covering my earrings will protect me andÖî etc. etc. etc.

These moments are usually played out during the inspection just prior to the match. You are ready to get the match started. What is a referee to do? The advice here is to simply state that ìearrings are considered to be jewelry and jewelry is not allowed according to the Laws of the Gameî.

It probably is not a good idea to attempt to use logic at this point. First, consider the state of the parent / player. Second, consider the law itself. It does not indicate why jewelry is not permitted (does it?), so it is probably not something that should be discussed on the field in lieu of getting on with the match. Third, there are lots of related arguments: ìI see professional players wear jewelryî; ìA player wearing glasses (braces) who gets hit in the face (mouth) is likely to have more damage done than a player with an earring who gets hit in the earlobeî; ìI wore them last week and that referee said it was o.k.î; ìYou let my friend wear her bracelet when she put tape over it (medical bracelet)î. The list goes on Ö

In fact, the player does not need to remove the jewelry. A choice can be made. Either wear the jewelry and sit on the sidelines, or remove it and play.

If the player / parent insists on the issue, have them head over to the referee tent so that you can get on with the match.

Inspections:

You know the drill (there will be a basic refresher ìadvice to the refereeî column at the start of the season with an inspections checklist). But every so often, you get a question and perhaps it makes you thinkÖ

The yellow ìLivestrongî rubber bracelets are very popular. They are relatively new and you may see a player wearing one at the inspection. Are these allowed?

Here in the good olí USA, they are NOT allowed. They are considered jewelry here and are therefore not allowed under Law 4.

A second issue that comes up during the inspection concerns the ìruleî of players keeping their shirts tucked in. Where does it state this in the LOTG?

Well, it doesnít state anything about it there, but (from the www.corshamref.net website)Ö (USSF) ATR - 4.1 states that 'The referee shall ensure that each player wears his uniform and equipment properly. Players' jerseys must remain tucked inside their shorts, socks must remain pulled up, and each player must wear shinguards under the socks....'

The USSF first started pushing for tucked in shirts in the mid-1980s. The reason was not, however, in order to cut down on shirt-pulling or for any other match related reason. Many amateur teams in the US at that time were going through what could be described as a grunge phase. It was very common for players to wear sloppy, mismatched uniforms. Shirts hung out, ragged bandanas and headbands were popular, etc. Soccer is still considered a second-class sport in the US, and in the 1980s it was a third-class sport. The USSF expressed concern the game would get a bad (worse?) reputation due to the appearance of many teams. Consequently, USSF began an effort to get players more neatly attired. The first step was decreeing shirts were to be tucked in.

The ATR (Advice to referees) that USSF publishes, includes explicit information about this ñ yes, shirts must be tucked in and while they may assist the CR in observing ìshirt-pullingî that is not the reason for the ATR section.

And what about keeping the shin guards covered?

This is explicitly covered in Law 4:

Shinguards

are covered entirely by the stockings

are made of a suitable material (rubber, plastic, or similar substances)

provide a reasonable degree of protection

As the AYSO season moves into Tournament play, the referee may see different styles of play, different tactics, and even some different 'interpretations' of the Laws.

The following scenario came up last year in Bakersfield and it serves as an interesting 'You Make the Call'...

Orange is on offense, blue is on defense. An orange player kicks the ball into the blue penalty area. A blue defender stops the ball in the penalty area by placing her foot on top of the ball. The blue goalkeeper picks up the ball and quickly punts it up field. Is there a call to make here?

a) no call, let play continue
b) blow whistle, indicate direct kick for orange
c) blow whistle, indicate indirect kick for orange

This call goes to Law 12, where the following is included:

An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper, inside his own penalty area, commits any of the following offences:

• takes more than six seconds while controlling the ball with his hands, before releasing it from his possession
• touches the ball again with his hands after it has been released from his possession and has not touched any other player
• touches the ball with his hands after it has been deliberately kicked to him by a team-mate
• touches the ball with his hands after he has received it directly from a throw-in taken by a team-mate

The third bullet applies here. If a defender stops the ball by placing her foot on the ball, that is considered a controlled 'kick'. Also note that the pass does not have to be 'backward'. A ball kicked forward - away from the blue goal - or in this instance, stopping the ball with the foot for the goalkeeper to pick up, is included.

The answer is (c) blow whistle, indicate indirect kick for orange.

Also check You Make The Call #10 and #16 for other comments on the issue.

Answer: According to FIFA laws, since the keeper has handled the ball outside the penalty area, he/she has become a regular player, so the penalty is a direct free kick just outside the penalty area where the ball was first "deliberately handled". However, remember the SPIRIT of the law! Early in the season in a U10 match, it is better to warn the keeper shortly after the kick that they should kick the ball well before they get to the line. Let's have fun out there!