Question Number: 20861

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 2/17/2009

RE: AYSO Under 15

David Story of Santa Monica, CA United States asks...

Law 12 Fouls and Misconduct: Delayed Restart

Boys U10 Playoff Game. Blue Team is leading by a goal late in 2nd half. Black Team kicks ball over touchline, Blue Team obviously stalls, delaying the restart. I warn the team not to stall (but don't show Yellow Card; we don't show cards at U10 level in my region). A few seconds later, same situation, Blue Team does it again, obviously delaying the restart on a throw-in. This time, I whistle for Misconduct/ Delayed Restart (but again, don't show card), and award IFK to Black Team. I warn coach not to do that again. A minute later, ball goes over the goal line, with a Goal Kick to Blue Team. Blue Team AGAIN quite obviously delays restart as the coach tells Player 1 to take the kick, then says no, Player 2 you take the kick, then says no, Player 3, you take the kick. All the time, I'm saying, 'Blue Team, put the ball in play.' When Player 3 dawdles, I whistle for Misconduct/ Delayed Restart (yet again, don't show card), and award IFK to Black Team. Black Team takes IFK, and two kicks later scores. Game goes into overtime period, Black Team scores again, wins.

Blue Team wants to lynch me for awarding IFK on Delayed Restart.

Question: did I do the right thing? Should I have just added time to end of game to nullify the stalling? (NB: There was, however, pressure to end game on time as a full slate of playoff games was scheduled on the field that day and since the playoff games couldn't end in a time, we had to leave room for OT and kicks from the penalty mark if necessary.)

Also, since I didn't actually issue cards, was it wrong to change the two Blue Team restarts (Throw-in and GK) to IFK restarts for Black Team?

There's no doubt in my mind that Blue Team was intentionally delaying restarts and that it was not fair to Black Team's chances to compete in the game. It was clearly against the spirit of the game.

Thanks for your input...

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Sorry David but you just got worked by a coach, an U-10 coach at that. Add time, add time, add time -- even though the slate is full of matches. Add time, OR refuse the match in the first place...

As to taking a restart away from one side and giving it to the other side, unless addressed in the tournament instructions you can't do that because play is restarted by what the Law requires, not what the referee thinks up to make things sort of look right.

This is prime example of why leagues should not interfere with the Law regarding discipline issues. In the event little Johnnie is cautioned for delaying the restart of play and he does it again that problem goes away rather quickly. Little Johnnie learns when the referee says get things moving he speaks with more authority than the coach. The coach learns too, perhaps not as much but there is learning.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Can't say I blame them for wanting to lynch you. Where do you get the right to award an IFK to the opponents of the team delaying the restart of play? Unless there is some bizarre tournament rule allowing this you have clearly misapplied the Laws and made this game protestable. You only award an IFK if you STOP the game for misconduct. You cannot change the restart. What you can do is caution the players. Unfortunately, those you work for don't allow you to do this. What you can and should do is not only add time but TELL the coach you are doing so. Also, unless the League also refuses to let you dismiss a coach, you would be within Law to tell the coach he is acting in an irresponsible manner and you will expel him from the game if he persisits.

Answer provided by Referee Nathan Lacy

In my opinion, and even though this is a U10 match for pete's sake, the tactics of the blue team were the result of coaching and the coach him/herself actually got involved in dynamic play in delaying the restart as you clearly described in the one case with the 3 different players being told to take a kick. Unfortunately, the tools afforded you in 'regular' matches were removed from your hands here; i.e. the ability to book players. As mentioned above, adding time is probably your single best recourse. Changing the method by which play is restarted is beyond your scope of authority as a referee and, unfortunately, the coach successfully 'worked you' as was mentioned above. By taking the action you did you unfortunately made yourself the issue rather than the tactics of the team in question. In cases such as this wherein I see the coach as the issue (i.e. the tactics being employed are under the specific direction of the coach and/or the coach his/her self takes part in the tactics) I choose to take disciplinary measures against the coach and his/her tactics. Again, this was mentioned above. In games such as this where you hands are tied significantly by the local organization's rules we must dig deep within our 'bag of tricks' to find ways to appropriately enforce the LOTG. I think it would be a reasonable approach to admonish the coach for the tactics being employed by his/her team and to inform the coach that if those tactics persist that he/she as the coach will be dismissed from the field of play. I think this is a much more defensible rationale than moving outside our scope of authority as referees and also clearly keeps the focus of attention where it should be - on the coach and his/her team and their unbecoming conduct which serves only to bring the game into disrepute. Finally, adding time after the coach's dismissal leaves the affected team in the quandry of having to deal with tactically regrouping without the benefit of the coach's direction. Just deserts in my book. Hopefully some food for thought. All the best,

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If you are told you can't caution players, then they will play you. Their coach will assist them in playing you. Can you dismiss the coach for his illegal interference, or are you denied that tool as well? (Some tournaments restrict advancement to/in playoffs for dismissals - something you can remind the coach when you're warning him to desist.)

But, if they've taken one tool away from you, you can't make up your own rules to compensate. There is nothing in the Laws that allows you to change a restart just because they're taking too long to restart.

If the tournament's almighty schedule is so important that they take the tool of adding time away from you, then that's obviously the way the tournament committee wants the game played that day. You can do nothing except make a report saying that despite your cajolling Blue continued to waste time that by their rules you were not allowed to add back. If you hear nothing from that report, you might seriously consider not returning to ref for them.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

You were wrong to change the restarts, that is inexcusable.

The coach of the winning team's actions were also wrong, but more than that they were the stuff of losers. At the U10 level coaches should be teaching skills, tactics, the laws, and sportsmanship. In this case, he was teaching gamesmanship. To deal with him for the next time something like this happens, suspend the game. Go directly over to the coach and tell him that you know what he is up to.

You could say, 'Coach, it has become clear to me that you are instructing your players to delay the restart of the game to waste time unfairly. This behavior cheats both teams out of valuable playing time and it teaches poor sportsmanship. I have been adding up the lost time and I will ensure that it is played in full. I will continue to add time for any further time wasting.'

If the problem were to persist, you could toss a little weight around. Say, 'Coach, apparently I was not clear about the time wasting before. If it continues I will hold you responsible and I may have to take additional action all the way up to and including your dismissal.'

Then, if he still doesn't get the message, eject him. That behavior is BS.

Still, that does not excuse your actions. Always go with the laws or no matter what you do or else everyone else can have you for lunch. It sounds like you know the laws, but you chose to break them due to some stupid exception about carding 10 year olds. Exhaust your other options before you try to invent solutions. If it has to go down that path, consider termination instead.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

It is a pain to accept matches where field availability and schedules are so tight that pressure is applied or inventive bylaws made up to not add time.

If a tactical ploy was to use the substitution procedure to delay or use up time a referee STILL has discretionary powers to caution for usb if the procedures are NOT followed and those players who drag their feet by not hustling on or off to your satisfaction should be cautioned and carded. Again this league bylaw sanctioned non use of cards to me serves no useful purpose, if the misconduct is truly there the cards should tell that story

Unless more obtuse bylaws allow for changes in law you cannot award different restarts for delay, only punish the misconduct itself and then get the restart for why play was stopped underway
.
Quite often in tournament play the tournament has spotters at the field to relay information back to the HQ on the matches. Coaches who engage in acts of silliness or non sporting behavior should be sanctioned and such conduct should be stated as not acceptable in the tournament guidelines!

Cheers