Question Number: 12611

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 4/21/2006

RE: rec Under 17

Mike of seattle, wa usa asks...

This question is a follow up to question 12553

If red and blue are both going for a 50/50 ball, and blue pulls up and stops, while red player continues to attempt to play the ball, jumps for a header and makes contact with a now stationary blue after heading the ball, is red out of control, or is blue impeding? Thanks.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Mike impeding does not involve contact, what the blue is doing is holding. Red's loosing control is a direct result of blue's stopping in front of him, something he has no control of. If he attempts to avoid the collision he has guilty of just that, attempting to avoid collision and that is not foul play.

This is really one of those things a referee must see develop in front of him, he needs to see the eyes and facial expressions of both players. By seeing those he can make some judgement regarding what each was attempting to do. If blue is stopping because he overran the ball nothing is wrong. Another thing to consider is when tackling for the ball making contact with an opponent before the ball is foul play.

Regards,