Question Number: 19781

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/20/2008

RE: Select Under 14

Bill Morris of Hilliard, Ohio USA asks...

I also coach high school. The questions: To what extent are attacking players permitted to use their hands and arms to keep a defender behind them while preparing to receive a ball which is being passed to them by teammates? What is the judgment call about the use of hands and arms to contact an opposing player, particularly when receiving a ball, advancing the ball by dribbling, shielding off a defender, etc.?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If you stretch out your arms to prohibit an opponent from going around you, that is impeding the progress of your opponent. Indirect free kick restart.

If in doing so you contact your opponent, it has changed to either pushing or holding. Now the restart is a direct free kick, or a penalty kick if it was done in your own penalty area.

The only fair contact is the so-called fair charge. This is commonly known as 'shoulder-to-shoulder', although that may not be strictly possible with players of different heights. If the charge is from behind, when a player is shielding the ball from another, the charge must not be to the spinal area of the back.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

They are not permitted to use the hands or arms to prevent movement of an opponent.

Regards,