Question Number: 17013

Mechanics 10/1/2007

RE: Recreation Under 14

Steve of Vero Beach, FL USA asks...

Two incidents in a U-13 Co-ed Rec game this weekend left me scratching my head. Attacker is fouled just outside of the PA. I call for a DFK and all of the players from both teams (except defending GK) retreat to positions behind the ball.

Since this is Rec, we are asked by the club to assist in on-field instruction in LOTG - not tactics. I address the players collectively that this is a DFK - not a PK. No one moves, so I direct the ceremonial restart. Attacker misses wide. Goal Kick!

Two minutes later, defense passes back to the GK. GK picks up ball - whistle blows. IDFK to attacking team. Everyone, save defensive GK and 2 attackers, retreats to outside PA. Again I say this is an IDFK - not a PK. Attacker 1 kicks and moves the ball forward. Attacker 2 shoots and GK saves the shot.

As a referee, I felt I gave the proper information to the players as to the nature of the play. I even thought the defense might be trying some wierd offside trap (if A2 had been in front of ball on IDFK, he would have been OS). In this situation, should the CR go into any more detail or just laugh and think "I guess I know what this week's practice will address". Any comments for field management would be appreciated.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

I would probably have gone over to the coaches and explained to them what was happening, what the players could in fact do, and then ask them - "would you like to take a moment to instruct your teams here"?

Maybe that is the wrong way to handle it, but I feel that player education might just be important here, because these kids aren't learning something the right way and it seems not to be their fault.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

This is U13, showing signs of things I might expect 2 or 3 years earlier. Obviously the league/club is not doing enough to educate the players in the Laws of the Game and tactics.

If this happened in the first half, I might ask to speak to the coaches together during the interval and explain what is going on. Or explain it after the game. You don't want to give one team an advantage over the other, just because one team didn't do its homework in finding out how the game is supposed to be played.

A couple weeks ago I did a U12 game, the first time these two teams were playing 8v8. Prior to that, it had been 6v6 in U10. Neither team had a good kickoff technique - they would just blast the ball downfield and hope for someone to recover it if an opponent couldn't control it. So at the end of the first half I asked a striker from each team to join me in the center circle. I showed them their options - that they didn't have to be outside the circle when it was their kick, that one player could kick the ball forward a short distance and then the other could play it back or could take off dribbling, etc. Then I told both of them to go tell their teammates. One player at least did; they didn't do the blast-off kick anymore.

In the youth rec leagues, referees are to be teachers as much as enforcers of the Laws. You just have to be sure that you do it in a fair manner. If one team is correctly prepared, you can't teach their opponents during the game.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

What happens when one team understands the Law and another doesn't? Is the referee bound to stop things and hold school on the side whose coach was incapable of teaching? Is the referee supposed to stay after a match and teach ignorant players the Law.

I think not. The league is at fault here. Players must pay to compete and that payment should also include having the coaches know something about The Game besides "kick the ball that way".

Regards,