Question Number: 24731

Law 5 - The Referee 3/25/2011

RE: Under 17

Dave of DM, IA U.S. asks...

This question is a follow up to question 24723

An adult match.
One team cannot field 7 players.
Team A forfeits but everyone of course still wants to play so they divide players up and have a friendly.
Ref crew leaves, and some of the players start grumbling about how if they get paid for showing up, why can't they stay and ref our scrimmage match. I can understand their reason for leaving because they wouldn't have the same power to caution and dismiss players, and I would be concerned about liability if something bad happened.
What do you do as a ref in this situation?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

My association instructs all referees to leave. Our insurance does not cover what becomes a scrimmage. My experience is that when the officials leave, the players play for fun.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Dave
The advice is to leave. The scrimmage game is not covered by insurance not to mention the fact that even scrimmage games can cause problems for the referee.
The only way that the referee can stay if the teams arrange for the scrimmage game to be authorised by the competition authority which is unlikely.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

You leave. No question about it. Every time refereeing scrimmages had been addressed by the USSF the advice has been a resounding do NOT referee such an event. You likely will not be covered by insurance and you are leaving yourself wide open for a lawsuit if anything happens. Leave and collect your pay.