Question Number: 21961

Law 16 - Goal Kick 9/13/2009

RE: Grade 7 Adult

Paul Davidson of Albuquerque, NM USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 21911

Following up the question of no offside from a goal kick, I had the scenario in a game today and would appreciate some advice from the panel on how to deal with the defensive team.

Situation: long ball to an attacker 10 yards closer to defenders goal than any defender. Defenders start yelling 'Offsides offsides.' The AR being about 1 year into ref'ing gets a bit flustered and pops up the flag.

I yell out, 'There is no offside on a goal kick,' I wave the AR down and pursue the breaking attacker. The defenders are going ballistic and the keeper really makes only a minor effort to stop the attack. Result, goal scored and restart with a KO.

Of course, as the play was happening, the attacking was more than willing to lend a hand to the ref team by screaming about no offside on a goal kick.

The defenders are claiming that they stopped playing when they saw the AR's flag and therefore I must whistle the offside infraction.

I told them:
1. As a defender, you really should be aware that there is no offside offense when an attacker receives the ball directly from a goal kick.

2. Players should always play to the whistle. That's a fundamental of the game. There was no whistle, you should have kept playing.

3. Players should be aware that it is the Referee who controls the game and not the AR, who is here to assist. See 2.

The AR immediately knew he had made a mistake and was very apologetic.

Fortunately, both teams were reasonable and after the initial emotional outburts, things settled down and the game finished with no other problems (from the Referee's perspective at least.)

Can the panel add any advice as to how to deal with this situation in the middle of the play and after wards during the setup of the Kick Off? Any other statements that could be used to calm the defenders down ?

Thank you for your help.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

I think your method of dealing with the situation as it was happening was appropriate - you waved down an inappropriate flag by your assistant while loudly and clearly stating why, well done.

Your justifications are correct - I would tell them that the flag is only to tell you (the ref) that he thinks play needs to be stopped, but the decision is yours and yours alone. Play the whistle is a simple instruction that everybody understands.

From your query it sounds like you handled these issues well.

It could've easily ended up as a situation with a few cards given out - normally when I have to award a controversial (well, it isn't even controversial as it didn't even come close to breaking the laws) goal such as this I generally prefer to run back into position for the kick off rather than hang around the goal - doing so just invites dissent.

However, you need to make sure that you're not abandoning your assistant, particularly when it's an inexperienced assistant who may not be able to handle dissent after a decision such as this - and you also need to make sure you're not turning your back on the players around the goalmouth.

It depends on the situation though - it sounds like you thought the players would respond well to a brief explanation, and it seems to have been the best way to approach your particular incident.

By your query it doesn't sound that there were any major dramas after the incident, so I would say that you handled the situation very well.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

I think you did an amazing job! The AR miscue with the flag, you correctly waved it off, allowed some emotonal venting, offered a brief concise explanation, counted the goal and got play restarted with a kick off . Heck I wish my controversial moments were handled as well. Well done mate!
Just be sure in the pregame to talk a bit with the ARs about offside and get a real feel for how well they understand it! Be sure to protect your AR from those who might blame him unfairly. I always tell both teams my ARs are off limits to any abuse and add PLAY the whistle and have a Great Game in EVERY player coin toss or coach introduction as I finish !
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

These players have never seen an AR's flag denied before? They have to get out more.

I suspect they're really only looking for an excuse to justify their lack of defense. Your simple explanation was far more than they deserve. Get the game restarted, and tell them you'll discuss it [calmly and nicely] after the game.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

You acted appropriately. These are adults and have never heard 'play to the whistle'?