Question Number: 13388

Law 18 - Common Sense 7/21/2006

RE: Competive Adult

Peter Schirmaier of Beaumont, Alberta Canada asks...

Does a player have to call his name when going up for a header (ie:Peter's ball) or will a "MY BALL" surfice.

I questioned a Referee at a recent game regarding this interpetation of the rule.
His answer was that a player does not have to call his name!!! "MY BALL" is okay.
In all my years of playing football at very high competive level it was my understanding that a player must call his name and a MY BALL was a foul with a loss of possesion,if a continuation of this persists it would lead to a caution.
Would like some clarification on this rule.

Regards, Peter Schirmaier

Answer provided by Referee Debbie Hoelscher

Nowhere in the LOTG is there a foul for calling out for a ball. There is no way, under the LOTG to lose possession of the ball as a foul for this. If the referee does choose to stop play in this case, it is to sanction a player engaging in unsporting behavior by cautioning and showing the guilty player the yellow card. The restart must be an IFK because he stopped play to give a caution -- not by calling a foul.

As a player, I used to call for the ball as "I go." When I did this, I never once thought about trying to trick my opponent from getting to the ball. I was focused on trying to communicate to my teammate. In the US, we hear coaches and parents alike cry out "Talk!" when a group of teammates all go for the ball. As the referee, this conduct needs to be assessed case by case based on what was happening at the time. Did the referee believe that the shout out for the ball was intended to trick the opponent? (Unsporting behavior). Or was it meant as a communication to one's teammate. If the referee is paying attention, the distinction between the two is an easy thing to figure out.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Peter,
It is not WHAT is said it is why and how it is said.
The" My ball!" or" I got it!" myth is perpetuated as a MUST be called form of verbal impeding. In fact free speech is alive and well and the use of the terms MY, MINE , I got it, Let it go! etc... used are NOT and NEVER has been illegal.

In fact there is no foul called verbal impeding if there is MISCONDUCT it is in the why and how the words are spoken as a form of USB!.

In fact using your own name COULD be and in one case was USB. I had a young 13 year old who cupped his hands like a mega phone around his mouth and SCREAMED into the ear of an opponent "JOHN'S BALLLLL!" this was no different than if the player had screamed MY ball or I got it or ARRRHHHGGGG in the same fashion or tone. The act was USB because of it's unfair effect on the opposing player. I have had players yell or scream to distract or intimidate opposing players and I have stopped play to show a yellow card and caution the culprit for the USB with an INDFK restart.

AS a COACH I prefer the name as it distinguishes team mates from each other and can prevent unnecessary collisions. As a referee I encourage the use of a name but would ONLY punish a MINE or I GOT IT if it unfairly affected an opponent, as USB not communicate that in fact he does have it or wants to play the ball which is perfectly acceptable to me and I would hope to all referees as normal.

There is an important distinction in a teammate surrounded by teammates who calls out, even if he screams MINE as a communication to teammates. This could never be mistaken for USB if there are no opponent's also challenging.

If a referee wanted to stop play and solely communicate hey guys please use your names as there is some confusion arising from yelling out mine or I got it! the proper restart is a dropball for a whistle stoppage where no foul or misconduct occurs ,just you wanting to settle things as many players maybe under a similar impression as you WERE, not now I hope and are grumbling over the non call of a no call!

HOWEVER if you do feel as a referee that the opponent was being unfairly affected and you do stop play for that reason it is in fact a cautionable offence and an INDFK from that point

I have asked coaches to add the team colour to instructions at youth matches. I have had coaches screaming LET it GO Do Not touch it for a ball leaving into touch and affect the young opponent's as much as his own team from continuing to play. In truth law 18 common sense should prevail but as often is the case common sense is not all that common !
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

On my matches talk but do not try putting an opponent off using your voice. I can tell the difference when two opponents try for the same ball in the same space and there is foul play and when there is not. There is no need for them to "warn" the other off. Conversely, when team mates try for the same ball in the same space there can be nothing in their voices that will cause me to stop play, short of insulting or abusive or offensive language.

Talk all you want and when the referee asks you to stop, read cautions you, don't do it again. That is just a field condition that match.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Where did you get this from? Never heard such a thing. Players can simply play the ball and do not have to call for the ball. Under no circumstance should a player be cautioned for what you described.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 22621