Question Number: 21307

League Specific 5/8/2009

RE: rec Under 15

george of vicksburg, ms usa asks...

State tournament Kohls cup. TD decides games must go to a PK because of weather. Center ref talks to TD on phone gets instructions. Each teams kicks 10 times (yea that is right) or a total of 20 kicks. Team A is ahead during the first five kicks, Team B wins during the next 5. However, the previous bracket was determined by the first 5 kicks, therefore team A protests and the ref ruling is over ruled by the TD and Team A is awarded the win for the bracket. What gives.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

In tournaments, the tournament committee (director) has the final say in what can or cannot be done. While they should follow the written tournament rules, sometimes a situation comes up that is not covered, and whatever the committee/director decides is the way it is.

If you have a complaint, lodge it with your state youth association, and ask them to deal with the tournament director and to come up with tighter rules - especially since this apparently was a state sponsored tournament. I would at least ask for my protest fee back, if one was paid.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

What gives is a Tournament Director not following the Laws Of The Game. When this happens all hell can break loose. One would think that the TD would know the tournament's own rules and abide by them but often they do whatever they think is expedient. Kohls Cup should have state guidelines so I would check with your state youth soccer association

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

What land are we playing in? OZ?
The tournament should have SPECIFIC guidelines of what to do if a match cannot be completed, if a protest is lodged or an outcome is required. In emergency situations if there are no protocols to follow then those made up on the spur of the moment are likely too irritate 50% of those involved in an OUTCOME!
If there was a SHOOT out the first 5 kicks by each team DO decide if one team is ahead at that time. I do not understand the other 5 kicks? It is a shot for shot sudden death when one team makes and the other misses the match is decided
This sounds as if the state or regional governing body needs a letter outlining the grievances and an investigation into what was decided, how and by whom?
Cheers