Question Number: 22528

Law 18 - Common Sense 11/16/2009

RE: Rec Under 11

David George of Raynham, MA USA asks...

Beginning of a game team A wins a coin flip and elects a side to defend rather than start with the ball. Teams have to move to another field at halftime - who gets to pick end to defend?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Coach George
There is no correct answer to this question as it is not covered under the Laws. The team that wins the toss at kick off decides which goal it will attack in the first half of the match. That team takes the kick off to start the 2nd half.
As Referee Wickham states there are a number of possible options here and I would favour a coin toss to decide on any possible decisions such as choice of field, choice of ends. The 2nd half kick off can remain the same.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

In a match under the laws of the game, the winner of the coin toss has to choose which goal to attack and the other team must kick off. There is no choice of ball or side as exists under high school rules.

The laws weren't written with the notion that teams would move to another field between halves. A high level match would be rescheduled, but for recreational levels, playing is always preferred to not playing.

In such cases, the referees must do what is fair. There is no correct answer. Some referees might decide which alignment is most like the first field (sun/wind/slope); some might do a new coin flip just to decide who gets which side (the winner of the first coin toss must kick off the second half), and some might ask the team that lost the original coin toss to choose the side for the second half.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Wow interesting question! I tend to believe if this was any game of significance at an elite level it would likely be replayed as the laws do not allow for a mid match venue switch! The equality idea of 1/2 the pitch conditions, wind, water, sun, slope, whatever cannot likely be duplicated!

That said if there was a scheduling conflict or some political muscle flexing as to who has more control and we just want to have a match I suppose I allow the team that lost the first coin flip to pick the half they wish to defend! Report the circumstances and let the league decide on the result. I have switched venues prior to a match given unplayable circumstances i.e. move from a grass field to a dirt field but never switched mid game!

Cheers