Question Number: 16752

Mechanics 9/17/2007

RE: D-2 Under 18

Gary Storts of Nashville, TN US asks...

I was at a Boys U-17, D-2 league game last night and saw a referee do something I'm not sure is allowed by the LOTG. I'll ask the question and then set up the play.

My question is Do the LOTG allow a referee to send a player off the field for foul, yet not issue a caution for the sendoff

Here's the play:
1) Players have been jawing at each other, so the ref stops play and verbally warns the two players, and then sends them off the field without cards. Simply told the coaches the players needed to come off the field, or he was going to give them a yellow card. No card issued. Play restarted with a drop ball.

2) Player A1 is on a run down the side with Player B2 on his outside shoulder. Player B2 realizing he needs to be on the goal side of the run, hesitates his stride and does a pretty little crossover behind A2 to get to the goal side of A2. A2 never breaks stride during the maneuver, still in possession of the ball, but apparently B2 placed his hand on A's back during the crossover. Ref blows the play dead, even though A2 is still on his run. (which I thought if there was ever a clearer play-on with advantage call, this should have been it A2 is ahead of his defender with the ball with no other defenders in front of him).

Players stop. A1 turns to B2 and is going to give him a chest bump and B2 raises his arm in front of him, bent 90 degrees across his chest as to create a space to prevent A1 from bumping him. Ref perceives the arm movement to be an attempt to strike A1, and calls a 2nd foul. Ref sends B2 off the field, with instructions that the coach keep him off the field for the rest of the game. Again, no cards issued, not for the hand on the back or the attempt to strike, just a send off.

My issue here isn't with the fouls, but with the referee's send off of players without cautions. I didn't realize it was within the ref's authority to send a player off unless he issues the cautions. I think I understand the sentiment - lets not give caution's if the players will settle down.

And before you think that I'm thinking the other team should have gotten the red card, the player who did the pretty little crossover was my son. And yes, I'm glad he didn't get the yellow/red card - but the referee side of me is asking whether or not ref followed the LOTG appropriately.

Is this sort of action by the referee allowable by the LOTG, or is he making up his own variations to the LOTG.

Answer provided by Referee Debbie Hoelscher

"Yes" to your question...but your scenario seems a bit different then the question. Based on your description of this scenario, I too am a little confused as to whether or not the referee was following the LOTG. A referee can't make a team substitute their players just to "calm them down." I can effectively do the same thing, but work within the LOTG by suggesting that they each needed to fix their equipment or something akin to this. Other than this, or something else administrative, such as blood, only the coach can make the decision to pull one of their players from the field. I always admire a coach that recognizes when they should do this. I usually mutter "good sub, coach" under my breath. If a referee wishes to caution or send a player off, they must both caution and show the yellow card or give a send the player off and show the red card. I can't really quibble about the foul choices because the referee was there and it was his opinion that a foul had occurred. But, again, based on your description, I do take issue with his management of misconduct.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Preventative tactics eh? Hmmm? If a drop ball restart is used the referee has stopped play to WARN the players then advised the coach it would be prudent to sub them before further damage and discipline unfold?

A referee can use the drop ball restart for two simultaneous fouls by opposing players. Not often but once in a blue moon is ok to do so!
Coach now would be a good time to substitute these players as they seem intent on getting themselves sent off or cautioned is not without merit. As a man management tool it could occasionally to be put into good effect. I have on rare occassion given a coach a heads up on a simmering player that I feel is about to section 8 or self destruct and a cool down period would be of benefit.
The players being taken off are SUBSTITUTED as opposed to being sent off!

I agree that to use cards indiscriminately to control otherwise controllable situations is not in the best interest of a game. Cards are tools to be used only if that is the needed tool at that moment to send the clear message! Still if they earned a caution and the misconduct deserved it why not caution and show the yellow cards? Certainly if the player has earned to be sent off to not show the red card the referee is derelict in his duties!

If the referee feels that a simple substitution can settle the miscreants down and the coaches are cognizant of this rare opportunity afforded them then perhaps it is a well understood nuance of your man managing skills

I do not think a referee should say do it or I will caution is appropriate if he actually stops play nor is it correct to say keep them off the field or I will red card them. The incidents are worthy of a caution or send off and the referee must rise to the occasion and show the cards to initiate the discipline. In my opinion the referee in your match would likely fail an assessment for the way the misconduct was handled as well as misapplication of the law 12 and failure to act according to the responsibilities in law 5.
Cutting slack and seeking a creative solution to settle youthful exuberance is one thing but to arbitrarily set standards not allowed in law are another
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I think you have a case of a referee making things up as he goes along. The referee does not have the authority to tell a coach to take out a player or players to cool down. He may certainly suggest it but nowhere in the Laws is he given the power to demand it. Also, when a player is sent off he is not shown a yellow card. he is shown the red card and it's not for a cooling off period but for the rest of the game. As to the scenario you describe regarding the 2 opponents, these are the referee's decisions and I'd have to see what happened in order to comment.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Good player management techniques might look like a referee is sending players off instead of carding them for infractions, but it could simply be the coach and the referee agreed this might be a good idea in that situation. The referee cannot make the players leave without showing the requisite cards. Sometimes in tournaments where college coaches are in attendance for the purpose of watching the players play, referees are asked to use more man management than cards, and some referees are better at it than others. However, even the best management techniques are no excuse for refusing to give cards where they are fully warranted and expected by the teams. The referee who fails to note the difference will be in serious trouble.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Many referees will ask a coach if a player needs to spend a little time on the bench to have a drink and a rub with a cool towel so he may simmer down. Usually coaches would rather have this than a booking. It is an effective management tool when used well in advance of the need to caution or send-off a player.

When a lesser skilled referee tries this he usually uses it instead of discipline and this is not good for The Game as a whole. It teaches players to do as they will, without penalty. Used correctly it is a good thing, especially at the recreational level. Farther up the ladder players should already know how to behave and control themselves. Here hanging colorful wallpaper is better suited to quelling tempers.

Regards,