Question Number: 14822

Law 18 - Common Sense 2/11/2007

RE: Select Under 10

Mark K of Westport, CT USA asks...

With regard to the "passback" rule, here is the situation, which shouldn't be surprising for those of you who are familiar with the little ones..

10 minutes into the second half of play. White makes a substitution and I quickly realize that the new field player brought in is directionally challenged - she continues playing the ball in the same direction as she had in the first half.

Predictably enough, she soon wins the ball from one of her blue opponents, turns and heads straight toward her own goal and ignoring (or not hearing) her teammates, coach and parents yelling at her takes a "shot" on goal, which rolls right at her teammate the goalie, who not surprisingly picks it up with her hands.

Following the letter of the law, I whistled and awarded an IFK to blue - after all how else are they going to learn about this infraction?

My question is whether there is any action I could/should have taken once I realized she was confused to prevent this from happening in the first place. After all, it could be argued that she wasn't deliberately passing back to her own goalie in her mind. Suggestions?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hey Mark. I still do U Littles occasionally and they come up with all kinds of things like this. Part of our job as U Little referees is instructional. Even at Select U10 although I treat them differently than Rec U10.. The rule forbidding a teammate deliberately kicking the ball to her keeper was implemented to cut down on time wasting. That's the Spirit behind this Law. I would say this directionally challenged player (love that phrase of yours!), did NOT deliberately kick the ball to her teammate. In fact, since she was trying to score a goal, she was obviously trying NOT to kick it to anybody! I've seen players miskick the ball at higher levels of play and unintentionally kick the ball towards their own goal and have their keeper stop it with his/her hands. I will not whistle this either. It's rare when we can determine intention but in certain instances one can. You acted within the Letter of the Law and that's fine. I'm sure this player won't do this again. I just would have acted differently. Neither of us is "right" or "wrong".

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Have to agree with my colleague here. She wanted to take a shot even though at wrong goal and her intent was not to kick ball to teammate to waste time. I would have layed off my whistle here.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

If the player had no clue which way she was going how could she deliberately kick the ball anyplace? Let the coach handle this one, the referee can just chuckle inwardly...

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

This is a funny momment or a embarassing moment but to award an INDFK could make it a needlessly tragic moment. This is in my opinion a technical misaplication of why the law is in effect. Being directionally challanged was enough of a punishment. Here the letter of law needs to be postmarked not at this address redirect towards the spirit!! Cheers

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

See Question: 14832