Question Number: 22185

Law 5 - The Referee 10/7/2009

RE: Rec Under 12

Coach Davis of Sparta, NJ USA asks...

I'm a coach that was just watching a recent GU12 rec game.

A player at the midfield line took a hard ball to the forehead and collapsed, unmoving. No team held particular advantage. The opposing team's coach yelled for his team to take a knee, and they immediately did. The teammates of the injured player also took a knee.

After about five second, the injured player began to move, rolling onto her stomach and grabbing her forehead.

The referee then admonished the coach for interfering, saying only he was allowed to stop play. The referee instructed the players of the coach who yelled to take a knee to only listen for the whistle and not to take a knee when their coaches instructs them to, unless they hear the whistle.

The coach said he was unsure whether the girl had lost consciousness and that he could not tell if the referee had seen the play.

Again, this is girls under 12 rec league soccer.

As a rec coach, I'm certainly strongly biased one way, but would welcome expert opinion.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
A few points here
1. The referee is the only person that can stop play however on a serious injury or potential serious injury, play should be stopped immediately. There is nothing to be gained by allowing play to continue in the circumstances described and in admonishing a coach, whose concern is the welfare of an underage player. The risk here of injury is far too great and the referee would have difficulty in explaining his decision not to stop if something untoward happened to the player such as a swallowed tongue etc.
2. The referee cannot admonish any team for stopping. That is a team decision and if they don't want to play to the whistle that is their prerogative. The referee simply allows play to continue. As Referee Dawson say the accepted way is kicking the ball out of play but on a head injury that's not even a consideration.
3. In underage games I advise referees to stop on all injuries. I would rather deal with a dropped ball restart than deal with an irate parent or coach for not stopping. At this level its recreational so its not a big deal to stop. I have yet to be challenged by anyone about stopping on a injury in an underage game.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

ANY apparent head trauma is a SERIOUS injury until proven unserious. Your description of COLLAPSED AND UNMOVING any sensible referee should be on this like a dog on a bone right now!
Something's require an immediate whistle if it is seen for what it is!

If the coaches and players decide to react to something you as a referee MAY have missed. I suggest not losing any sleep over the affront to your control something's are what they are!

If the player IS injured and you did miss it then the heads up behind the play of the cries of compassion are certainly the best of things to come from the touchline!

I suggest that as a referee you stay focused on the SAFETY of the players! In the case of a head trauma the whistle simply must sound!If there is any hard impact, even if you think the player should be able to shake it off remember they are children and be PROACTIVE!
Are you ok! Can you continue? Good job can you shake it off?
Get a positive response and let those watching now you got it under control, they do not need to do your job.

Usually at age 11 the, lets deceive the referee and fake an injury to waste some time, draw a foul or force a card really has not caught the acting bug as they do at the elite level.
If the injured players appear to not respond quickly, you need to consider stopping the play and dry the tears. If the coaches are yelling and you KNOW the player has responded well and is ok yell it out! She says she is ok, PLAY!

The referee as the authority over the match still needs to recognize the CONCERNS of parents and coaches particularly at the youth level where we stop play for tears rather than a deep fear of a real serious injury!

I encourage referees to roll the eyes only at the overprotective coaches or parents who want play stopped for everything but be AWARE the CONCERN is HEART FELT! While telling players to play to the whistle is correct in principle, if both teams just stop playing and the coaches are responsible then the referee should talk DIRECTLY to the coaches! I very much dislike the taking of a knee especially on cold or rainy days where you need to keep moving not be still in cold conditions and be ready and alert to the restart of play!

I realize that once players start to randomly drop to the ground in an effort to force a stoppage it can make the referee appear as thoughtless or unaware and the referee is now irritated because the player appears to be fine.
I strongly suggest the teams kick the ball out of play rather than STOP playing! It is the traditional or historical way of showing fair play and concern over the player if the referee has not already stopped play!

Not all injury situations are the ball is in neutral territory. If there was an attack and the defenders drop to a knee because a player is down whom the referee feels is fine, does not halt play a goal results and now a big kerfuffle saying how unfair to allow the goal when they ARBITRARILY just stopped playing! The advantage concept for u-12 is certainly possible but not without due consideration for the WELFARE of the child where the serious nature is more of the teary nature.

Adults will often NOT consider a youth referee to have the where all to manage the game properly and assume control when they feel it is appropriate! Many times this could be a huge issue! If in cases like this to gain the referees attention for a child's obvious welfare it is a good thing as opposed to dissenting or creating a nuisance!


Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The coach acted properly. He instructed his players to 'take a knee,' and with older players would have said 'kick it out.' The coach's role is to give positive instruction to the players.

The referee made a poor decision. He was correct that the referee has the power to stop play. But, with this power comes a responsibility to stop play in case of serious injury. The USSF addressed this recently, having admonished a referee at the highest level of US play for not stopping play after a head injury:

'If a player is seriously injured, the referee must stop play regardless of whether the ball is in play or not. . . . Serious injury normally relates to the location of the injury (this varies depending upon the age of the players involved as younger players typically require more immediate attention). Injuries to the head, neck or facial region should be considered serious in nature. The safety of players should be paramount in the referee's consideration.'

I hope the player is ok. Concussions have serious consequences.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The ref is correct, only he can stop the game. But why he did not do so when there was an apparent head injury is a mystery. And why he felt that admonishing the coach and players who were trying to help is another mystery.

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