Question Number: 20023

Mechanics 9/21/2008

RE: Rec Under 12

Michelle of Truckee, CA USA asks...

A) Main question:
I've been studying the rules to make sure I know when it's appropriate to use my whistle as this wasn't really addressed in training. Here's what I came up with:
at the start & end of each half
at substitution breaks (we do this midway through each half)
to restart after a goal
as I call a foul
to start a penalty kick
any other time that I need to get the player's attention

Please let me know if you agree or what I'm missing.

Secondary questions:
B) When I'm CR and I have qualified ARs is it appropriate to take help from the ARs for calling fouls? For example, my AR saw a trip that I didn't. He raised his flag. I blew my whistle and signalled him onto the field to confer. I agreed with the call and gave the other team a DFK.

C) Also, since safety is a primary concern in our league I tend to either warn or call players who continue to play the ball after having fallen to the ground (in traffic). The call would be dangerous play - dropped ball restart. What do you think about this?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

A) In the back of the Laws of the Game booklet for 2008-09, which you can download from fifa.com, you will find on page 76:
[quote]
The whistle is needed to:
? start play (1st, 2nd half), after a goal
? stop play:
? for a free kick or penalty kick
? if the match is suspended or abandoned
? 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
? 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.
[end quote]
You got most of them.

B) Absolutely neutral AR's can call fouls - and you shouldn't usually need a conference to sort it out. You didn't see it, he did, and he determined it was a foul - end of story. 'AR' stands not only for Assisitant Referee, but also Another Referee.

C) Playing on the ground is unsafe in some situations but perfectly fine in others. I wouldn't make up rules about this - either it is Playing In A Dangerous Manner (indirect free kick restart) or is it not (play continues without a stoppage). Some leagues make a blanket prohibition on playing on the ground for the U-littles, in which case you would be starting with a lot of IFK's.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

My colleague has more than adequately addressed your concerns.
The whistle is a tool and I think you have a good bead on the use of it. The tone of it and the strength and length you blow also carry a weighted message as does your body language and voice inflections.

EYE contact and communication with the AR is critical to match success and again good on you for realizing that AR means another referee not just an assistant. Talk in your pregame and boost their confidence and involvement in the match.

Well I understand the younger players are more likely to be mass huddled in scrums but technically it is not a foul or wrong or even unsafe to play a ball on the ground. There are circumstances where PIADM (playing in a dangerous manner) COULD be present and if so an INDFK is awarded not a drop ball. That said drop balls are for an inadvertent whistle and if you stopped play only to talk to a player with no card or foul then the drop bal is feasible if not desirable.
I think drop ball restarts are more suited to u-8s then u-12 as a preventive measure but I cannot fault you for considering their safety

Cheers