Question Number: 15765

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 6/12/2007

RE: C1 Under 14

Steve Wilmes of Cottage Grove, MN USA asks...

How do you handle fouls when you have players of vastly different sizes. I have always wondered this seeing players that weigh 50lbs get shouldered off the ball by players weighing 120lbs. It could be in the manner of what with the same size kids would be a legal shoulder.

This can apply elsewhere in shielding, in going up for balls, etc.

In other words should a player be expected to size up each opponent and stay within the careless/reckless/excessive force for that player which may be related to weight, height, fitness and position of the other player. I know this isn't a black and white answer, but please share your thought process.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

We referee to the Laws of the Game. We can't change the Laws of Physics. When a small body and a large body collide, the small body bounces off while the large body remains pretty much where it was. The fact that the little guy comes out worse off on the play doesn't automatically make it a foul committed by the larger guy.

We must still recognize that a larger player can more easily use excessive force than the smaller, simply because of his size. I've also had a larger player complain that it was harder for him to stop. Well, that means the larger player just has to be more careful with his challenges. If he can't stop in time, that's certainly being careless and maybe reckless. That's why I called the foul.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Good answer by Mr. Voshol. I must agree that we as referees need to evaluate if the player played the ball or the player. If 2 players collide into each other and no foul has been committed, then we should call nothing. If the larger player instigated the collide, then it could be a foul on him.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

I want to add this on the physics question of mass, velocity and volume. It is VERY VERY hard for a fair challenge between two players with a large height difference simply because the shoulders will not line up to lean in,.

A tall player PUSHES down and a little player JUMPS up, both are fouls by definition. A small compact player who leaps up in charging or jumping and can knock a larger player down. Large players are not always the benifit of coming out of a collision best just more inclined then second best!

I put a free arm on top of the shoulder of an opponent to push up or pull down again both actions are by definition a foul. There are trivial or doubtful elements as well as accidental bumps where no fault came be laid. You must be aware of when the freight train menality overtakes the big player thinking and when the small dog tha nips about at the ankles is prevailant on the smaller player. All players are responsible for their actions!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

I hate to go the simple route, but I usually do -- so here goes. It's impossible to prevent the first foul, however you can deter players from fouling by awarding their opponents a free kick. When the action you see contravenes Law 12, pull them up. AND do this until they quit fouling. If one player doesn't quit start hanging a little yellow wall paper. It is NO fun getting run over by a tank just the same as it isn't fun getting hacked in the ankles.

Regards,