Question Number: 25147

Law 5 - The Referee 6/28/2011

RE: Mixed Rec Adult

Jamie Laning of Huntsville, ON Canada asks...

Hi,

Thanks in advance for all your great work.

I had a situation a few nights ago where a player was convinced a call was in order while I thought it was incidental (50/50) contact. The IFAB belief that 'everyone knows' is a problem for me coming from a basketball background and having most of my soccer experience come from watching my kids. There are things I'm just not sure of, when more experienced players challenge me.

So, here's my view of what happened: scramble in front of the net, the ball pops high, near the corner of the goal area (Left of the keeper). An attacker sees the ball from about 15 feet away and starts onto it, fast. He's moving towards the goal line. There is a defender very close (step and a half) to where the ball will come down, who does not appear to know where it is. He is facing the goal line (back to the oncoming attacker). He is just to the left of the attacker's path to the ball. As the ball comes down, the defender steps towards it (forward and right) and 'BOOM'. The two collide. My call: Defender was playing the ball and at the speed things were unfolding, I didn't expect him to check backwards nor could he have known that the opponent was there. The attacker had no time to react to the defender, so I didn't expect him to be able to avoid him.

The gist of the dissent was that the defender did not make contact with the ball, before the collision occurred. I understand that concept when you see the attacker, but don't see that it applies here.

In basketball, players run backwards all the time and are not responsible if there is contact with someone they did not see, regardless of severity.

Your feedback is greatly appreciated.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Referees who are experienced listen for different things from players than referees who are new.

New referees tend to listen for validation and acknowledgement. Most lack confidence in their calls, and they hear dissent as lack of respect. They begin to doubt what they remember from the referee class or what they read in the advice to referees. If they are thinking about a past decision, they likely will lose focus for the next decision. Errors multiply, and the new referee becomes more tentative. This results in more dissent.

Experienced referees know -absolutely know - - they will kick some calls. They also know that most players and coaches are clueless on the Laws of Game (every contact with the arm is NOT a 'handball'; 'I got the ball' does not immunize a reckless charge, kick, trip or tackle). Players and coaches also try to 'game' the referee to gain the next close call. Experienced referees have heard thousands of comments and learn that most are directed at the jersey - not the person. The ones that sting are the ones that confirm they blew a call. They can acknowledge poor positioning, and use the comments to redouble their focus to get the next decision better - - by running harder, by getting a better position.

Experienced referees listen to players, however, to gauge how the players are reacting to what is going on. Every game is different, and the referee uses her ears as well as her eyes to gauge the temperature of the players. Are the players laughing and joking - - are they willing to tolerate lots of handchecks and shirt pulls - - are they skilled and fast? are they unskilled and reckless. The information is used to tighten the match (calling more fouls), or to let it flow (ignoring trifling infringements) because the players are enjoying the game. They don't want want silence from the players - - they want to hear how the players are doing. To get that, they accept that the players want to tell them how the referee is doing.

Contact happens in soccer; sometimes very rough contact. It is part of the game and becomes a foul when someone acts carelessly. Yet, rough contact still hurts.
Sometimes, the next words out of the mouth of a player who has just been injured is less than rational and more than emotional. A momentary expression of frustration may not be dissent and empathy may be better medicine. The experienced ear recognizes dissent as a challenge to match control.

It is part of the cycle of becoming a referee. While you lack playing experience, you learn by doing more matches, and watching lots of higher levels of soccer and good referees in your area. Find a mentor to discuss match situations. Join a referee association.
And, consider playing. The game is fun.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jamie
I would make one point which I think is important. Principles in law do not translate well between sports. So while a player can run backwards in basketball and make contact with opponents without penalty the same does not apply to soccer. Having said that is it not the case in basketball that if a player attempts to play an opponent from a position where he has no reasonable chance to perform without making contact with his opponent, the responsibility is on the player in this position.
In soccer to run backwards with no effort to play the ball but rather to place oneself in a position which 'makes contact' with an opponent is an offence as it is careless. The contact as well does not have to be deliberate as accidental contact can also be seen as careless in certain contexts. The most obvious example is where a player when challenging for a high ball jumps at the opponent with no idea where the ball is. That is deemed to be careless. The same challenge while looking at and playing the ball would not be a foul. Similarly just backing into an opponent without knowing where the ball is or where the opponents are can also be deemed careless and a foul. The player should not make movements without at first being able to make a legitimate challenge for the ball and also ensuring the position of opponents. To give an example. Lets say that a ball was played over the head of a defender and he back peddles frantically to win the ball. The target of the cross Attacker A is about to the head the ball towards goal when the backpeddling defender crashes into him knocking him to the ground. That is a foul. He can argue that he did not see Attacker A or that he was trying to play the ball but it does not take away from the fact that he has charged the attacker in a careless manner.