Question Number: 14727

League Specific 1/23/2007

RE: High School JV Under 17

David of Tallahassee, , FL USA asks...

I have 2 questions... If a player does 4 backflips going down the field after making a goal is this grounds for a YC for excessive celebration? Keep in mind that that the NFHS rules which govern high school soccer want a YC for anyone taking off a shirt after celebrating a goal for excessive celebration.

#2 - The field conditions are horrible for another high school JV game (16 year olds). There are spots where the water is inches deep and mud covers the field. It rained so hard and the mud is so bad that there are not any lines that are visible. The sideline is marked with cones. With 2 mins left to play in the game, the GK made a save and is moving to punt the ball. There are no visual indication of where the top of the penalty box is. She nears what the official judges to be the top of the box. Shouldn't he use preventative officiating and let her know where the top of the box is at, rather than standing there, waiting for her to cross a line when she has no clue as to the location of that line?

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

1. Only if referee considers it unsporting. Also, if it delays the restart, then it would be cautionable. 2. This field is not suitable for a match and that game should have been abandoned. Either that or they should have found another field. Also, if the markings are not visible (especially something as important as the penalty area), the referee should never have started the game.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

1. If the referee uses his card 4 back flips is grounds for a booking. If he puts up with it fine. But why do it in the first place? If he wants to do back flips transfer him to the floor exercise team.

2. Playing a match on a park that looks like a swamp is at the discretion of the match referee. Train to play in those conditions and life is much easier. If the match is played without markings the referee shouldn't get all pissy about where players are and what they are doing where ever they wind up. He established the field condition by playing the match, he shouldn't punish players for not knowing where they are.

Regards,