Question Number: 14838

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 2/12/2007

RE: rec Adult

alex of richmond hill, on canada asks...

This question is a follow up to question 14828

Despite my preference to move the wall a bit farther than 10 yards from the ball, I find it difficult to convince myself that the 10 yards is a minimum requirement.

Law 13 states that "all opponents are at least 9.15m from the ball". As per this requirement, all opponents must be at a minimum 10 yards from the ball. However, whether the players are 10 yards or 30 yards from the ball is up to them. The players are not infringing any laws as long as they are not less than 10 yards from the ball.

As the referee should be neutral in any game, there seems to be no justification to dictate where the players should be provided they do not infringe the laws.

I can see applying "My 10 yards" argument in many areas but there are places where field markings clearly show the 10 yards distance. For example, it will be difficult to move the wall beyond the penalty mark when the free kick is on the penalty arc.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Alex, the thing is when a player cheats to prevent a quick restart and forces the kicker seek the referee's assistance they get 12-14 yards as "At Least 10" the first time and they hear: next time it will be 20 and the next you guys might just be off the park, you know exactly where 10 is so get there and don't make me force the issue. If they force the issue they know what comes next. It is surprising how fast they retire the proper distance after the second "At Least 10" scenario.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Alex,
Neutrality versus originality to make a point to not caution or not intervene one must set the standard as easily as one can. If I get a balk at 10 because it might be 11 0r 12 then do I caution when 8 or 9 is not 10? If players work to live within the laws there is NO need to force a response to abide by the spirit of the laws. To avoid the use of cards as a management tool application of the laws are very easy to apply as technically every contact before a tackle is by definition a foul, any hesitation at retiring to ten yards is by technical application a cautionable offence.
Do you caution every tardy defender?
Or let me ask instead do you want to caution every tardy defender? What about a wall that creeps forward?
Should I pick one player to caution or caution all of them?

If I use plastic to show my my displeasure at being ignored or set the wall at 15 yards at the next intervention is it possible to get the opposing players away from the restart in a hurry more often with less effort?

In some ways you are correct you can not always force players without creating more conflict then working to avoid continued conflict! What you do as an official is what your character makeup provides you with and be sure you will be tested! Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Alex. You are neutral if you do the same thing to each team. If you move both teams back 12 yards you are still neutral. I agree with Ref Dawson, you can caution a player instead but why do that when making them move back a little extra usually will suffice.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

I agree with my colleagues here. As referees, we are going to have out own unique styles to managing the players and dealing with situations like this. We are raising the element of concern by telling the players next time it will be farther and 99% of the time they comply.