Question Number: 17398

Mechanics 10/20/2007

RE: Rec Other

Chris Riffenburg of Redford, MI USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 17311

Is there a specific rule or procedure the referee has to follow when it comes time to start play. In my experience's the referee has told the kids to wait for his whistle when it comes time to start play again. I've seen this quite a bit even on t.v. with adult professional games that the defending team takes the time to set up a wall, then the referee blows his whistle. Is this to start play again? Is it at the referee's discretion to blow the whistle or not to start play again? Just curios because I've seen it both ways. Can you tell me exactly the only/correct way that play is to be started after the referee blows his whistle to stop play?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Chris,
The whistle is a COMMUNICATION tool and we are advised to use it to indicate certain things in certain situations or conditions for the benefit of the players and the control of a match. In some ways it is like dispensing non stop advise to your kids they listen but as you repeat and say too much too often they tend to not consider it as important or respond to your attempts.

ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS
AND GUIDELINES FOR REFEREES
Use of whistle
The whistle is needed to:
? start play (1st, 2nd half), after a goal
? stop play
? for a free kick or penalty kick
? if match is suspended or terminated
? when a period of play has ended due to the expiration of time
? restart play at
? free kicks when the wall is ordered back the appropriate distance
? penalty kicks
? restart play after it has been stopped due to
? the issue of a yellow or red card for misconduct
? injury
? substitution
The whistle is NOT needed
? to stop play for:
? a goal kick, corner kick or throw-in
? a goal
? to restart play from
? a free kick, goal kick, corner kick, throw-in
A whistle which is used too frequently unnecessarily will have less
impact when it is needed. When a discretionary whistle is needed to
start play, the referee should clearly announce to the players that the restart may not occur until after that signal.

As you can imply from the advice the whistle is used to gain the attention when it MUST be or to solve uncertainty. In clear cut situations like a ball cleared out into touch that was kicked by an opponent, his team, the other team, the referee, both coaches, all the fans know exactly what the restart is and where it will be taken from and who gets it.

I bulge the old onion skin with the ball after a breakaway jubilation high fives by one team the other team dejected slowly trying to pick the ball out of the goal. The AR running to get back to kick off position. Referee noting time and who scored. Fans cheering or wailing in frustration. Everyone knows what just happened a whistle is simply not needed. But take that same situation. The AR has a flag raised the goal scorer was offside now a resounding whistle is used to say Whoa Nellie it is NOT a goal but an INDFK out!

On a ball contested along the touchline by two opposing players battling hard and the ball squeaks barely outside into touch. Unnoticed they keep battling I see the AR flag pop for the ball left the field I hit he whistle so they stop battling and prevent possible fouls or misconducts as they were both very active.

I see a foul of a reckless or excessive nature and the results of that player being hurt and or retaliation actions are very good.
I need to command the field with my presence and a screaming whistle to deflect the build up of anger and retribution. That whistle roars, "I GOT THIS. BACK OFF NOW !"

A good referee and his ARs /4th armed with integrity and a whistle, appropriate body language, strong presence, decent attitude, firm but fair and a bit of a humor in his character dictates the flow of a match by instilling, giving and receiving respect!

When we need a ceremonial restart, we look at the kicker, we get eye contact, we say wait for the whistle point at it if you have too, that ball stays right there at that spot point again if you must, but we get a response then we deal with the situation as required. Cards shown, set the wall, calm everyone, allow the substitution, injury check whatever the case may be.
Remember the optimal word in free kick is free so the opposition must withdraw and a good referee will ensure they are ahem, reminded if he notices they have forgotten!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Remember the whistle is the referee's personality on the field. By its sound it shows the referee's level of concern, the severity of what is happened. It says STOP when play is running and START when play is stopped. Use your whistle wisely because if used too much players will stop hearing it.

Regards,

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 17458

See Question: 17461