Question Number: 13653

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/4/2006

RE: Under 11

Patrick Trombly of Winthrop / Newton, MA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 13641

1) Thank you for the clarification re: impeding - yes, this will be, other than with throw-ins and penalty kicks, a matter of stealing the ball. Also underscoring this is the definition of screening on page 68 of the rule book notes that the player with control can screen, and once my player steps in to tap the ball away, she'll have, and will by executing a pass be demonstrating, control. After that point I am not suggesting, advocating, or encouraging her to get in the opponent's way.

2) Re: penalty kick, we don't have offsides in our age group. Also, that said, typically the line won't be the closest opponents to the net. The play isn't to the two pick-ers - I'm stuffing the penalty box with midfielders. The pickers are there to get the rebound.

3) Re: throw-in..... You're right - someone should be running up the sideline. She will. And three of her team-mates will be setting a pick. I'm noting here also that when they stand in the "pick" position, at that point the opponent is between my player and the ball, so she's not getting screened from the ball. Now, yes, my players know where the ball's going, but it's our throw-in - I'd be a poor coach if the team didn't know what the play was.

I will inform my players that as a result of their setting picks or cutting in to steal the ball, the other player may end up running into them, and that they should not 'respond' - I'm not expecting significant contact, since the opponent in the "pick" situation won't be running - she'll probably just run around my player, but thereby take up an extra couple of seconds.

Again, thank you for the clarification. It's not about inducing contact - I'm just trying to use a strategy that I can be sure will work - if my defenders can and do execute the cut-tap-and-boot-to-buddy approach, I can leave only 2 people back on D and tell my forwards to "stay at home" so that the defender who boots the ball has someone to boot it to.

I'm glad I can do this without pushing the envelope on screening or impeding.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Patrick. Glad clarification helped. I'm not sure what penalty kick has to do with you guys having no offside. I find it a little strange that at U11 there's no offside. At what age does your association feel kids should learn how to play real soccer? Still not thrilled with your setting of picks at this age group. There's going to be contact. These kids are not that skilled at this age

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

If your player is NOT MOVING she is entitled to the ground on which she stands and may not be pushed off of that spot. If she moves in the direction of the player she is "Picking" she will be guilty of impeding or holding and the referee may intervene on behalf of her opponents. I believe you are teaching the wrong thing here. Teach ball handling skills, in the long run the players will benefit from this. Teaching them to get in the way will ruin them for future coaches.

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

See Question: 13693