Question Number: 17390

League Specific 10/19/2007

RE: Competitive Under 13

Garren of San Antonio, Tx US asks...

This question is a follow up to question 17350

If there are always 3 refs in a game, & only one happens to show up - does the visiting team have the right to refuse to play? In some cases I know that is true, but am having difficulty in finding a concise answer to my question. If the home team were to come to our fields we would supply the necessary number of refs (3). It seems unfair.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

The visiting team can do whatever it likes. Whether or not there will be consequences for a decision not to play is up to the league's competition authority. I'd say most leagues have a significant "no show" penalty (which is effectively what's happened in your question). Though, the sanction could be worse if the referee reports that the team was there and refused to field a team.

Perhaps the league will let the team off the hook due to a lack of referees, but that is up to them - so I would check with the league itself before making a decision that could cost you points, money, or even post season elegability (if you have a post season).

Remember a match can be officiated by 1 referee under the FIFA laws of the game.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Sinceyou are from South Texas, I can answer with a degree of understanding and information, Garren. For many years here, the youth associations have had rules in place requiring a referee and two assistants on every match, in conformity with the USSF requirements. Sometimes, due to a chronic shortage of referees, it just isn't possible. In some areas, that meant the visiting team could pack up, go home and reschedule the game at their own field, with no penalty. That has changed somewhat in recent years. The WDDOA (Western District Division One Assoc.) implemented a rule a couple of years ago (at my urging) which allowed games to go forward without a full crew if absolutely necessary. The referee assignors use only the best referees in the area and most of them can credibly do a first quality game alone if necessary. It saves so much time and money and almost never makes a true difference in the outcome of the game. I believe this has become pretty standard across much of South Texas. So, there may not be a concise answer to your question. The referee association has tried to help in every way we can, but sometimes politics trump sense and sometimes competing interests just can't find good common ground.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The Referee Administrative Handbook lists the diagonal system of control as "how its done". After that it tells us how to work if one or two referees are absent or not scheduled. It talks about club linesmen and using unregistered referees. If your league has something more stringent that what the Admin Handbook states then you go with that.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

Oh yeah... The leagues up here in Western NY that I roam around in have a provision that even if NO referee shows up the match is to be played anyway - so long as an uncertified referee can be agreed upon by both sides.