Question Number: 13641

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/1/2006

RE: Under 11

Patrick Trombly of Winthrop, MA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 13497

This really seems to be a moving target here...... and the "Law" is not supposed to be a moving target.

The question doesn't relate to contact.

The foul is "impeding the progress" - on the throw-in (or, for that matter, if we have a penalty free kick, the other team forms a 'line,' and I have two of my players stand right behind their 'line' and have the kicker chip it over the 'line'), there's no progress to impede - if the other player has a right to stand in spot X, why doesn't my player have the right to stand in the spot directly behind spot X? That makes no sense that she wouldn't. Once the ball's in play, we can't have MOVING picks - then there's progress that's being impeded.

Likewise, on a steal, or in going for the loose ball, just geometrically, since one player is going to get to the ball first, that player HAS to cross paths with the other player. It's simple physics. I'm not saying run in to her, but rather get on the line between that player and the ball and thereby get to the ball first (or, the defender gets between the offensive player and the ball, thus taking control of it, and turns the ball and boots it upfield, or taps it to a team-mate who boots it upfield) - that's stealing the ball, or getting to it first).

"Impeding the progress" just, as a matter of what those words MEAN, would mean you can't cut in front of the other player and then slow down or stop, thus keeping her from getting to it, while it rolls all the way out of bounds, to your goalie, to a team-mate, etc....

I see this on TV, both US and European leagues, they cut in front of the other player to get position all the time - they even "box out" like in basketball - and the only whistle is if they get too physical. I'm advocating something that is LESS than that. All I'm saying is on a throw-in can she stand in between the defender and where she knows the ball is going to be thrown, and in stealing the ball can you cut in between the player and the ball (in which case, now YOU have the ball)?

Sorry - unless you define "impeding" and "progress" to mean something other than what Webster's says, I just don't agree that these are fouls - they're just smart, frequently used techniques, and we'll be using them this Fall.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

What you have seen on television is not impeding, it's a player preventing an opponent from getting the ball when the ball is within playing distance.Impeding REQUIRES the ball NOT to be within playing distance. You can go to US Soccer's website and download ADvice To Referees on the Laws of the Game. It has what we are instructed to do regarding calling impeding. 2005 Advice says this

12.14 IMPEDING AN OPPONENT
"Impeding the progress of an opponent" means moving on the field so as to obstruct, interfere with, or
block the path of an opponent. Impeding can include crossing directly in front of the opponent or
running between the opponent and the ball so as to form an obstacle with the aim of delaying progress.
There will be many occasions during a game when a player will come between an opponent and the
ball, but in the majority of such instances, this is quite natural and fair. It is often possible for a player
not playing the ball to be in the path of an opponent and still not be guilty of impeding
The offense requires that the ball not be within playing distance , and
physical contact between the player and the opponent is normally absent. If physical contact occurs,
the referee should, depending on the circumstances, consider instead the possibility that a charging
infringement has been committed (direct free kick) or that the opponent has been fairly charged off the
ball (indirect free kick, see Advice 12.22). However, nonviolent physical contact may occur while
impeding the progress of an opponent if, in the opinion of the referee, this contact was an unavoidable
consequence of the impeding (due, for example, to momentum).

12.15 PLAYING DISTANCE
The referee?s judgment of ?playing distance? should be based on the player?s ability to play the ball,
not upon any arbitrary standard.
The 2006 Advice is basically the same
As to the tactics you describe, I would agree that they are legal. I would caution you that if you put players directly behind the opponent's wall, they may be in offside position or easily put into offside position before the kick is taken and not allowed to receive the chip shot you describe. It is correct that a player may stand anywhere on the field and is entitled to that spot. The problem I have with these tactics is you are inviting excessive contact and fouls. On a throw-in, why not just have the player run down the line instead of standing and inviting the opponent to run over her?

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

See Question: 13653