Question Number: 25558

Law 5 - The Referee 10/5/2011

RE: Intermediate Under 12

Phil of Tarzana, CA United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 25548

I had a similar situation, but slightly different. I called a foul & signaled in the correct direction (& even announced the team color). However, one of the girls from from the wrong team ran & kicked the ball & everyone took off down the field.

I blew the whistle to stop play & get the ball back to the other team. After I placed the ball back, the coach of the fouled team yelled to one of his players, 'Take the kick'. She did...& scored a goal.

The coach from the other team complained that I should have restarted with a whistle, but I allowed the goal. (AYSO has an 'anti slaughter' rule & his team was winning 4-0 at the time, which probably improperly influenced my decision).

After thinking about this, I later approached this coach & told him that I should have allowed his team to get back into position (although it wouldn't have changed the result, as the kick was over everyone's head).

How should I have handled this? Although I hadn't misled the teams, they were obviously confused, & we're dealing with 9 & 10 year olds.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Phil
The coach here saw an opportunity not created by good play but through an error on behalf of its opponents for his team to have a 'cheap' shot at scoring a goal which came off.
At younger age groups the referee has to act sometimes as an educator. In this case you did nothing wrong yet it would have helped had you simply held up the game, dealt with the confusion and then when the players were ready restarted with or without the whistle.
You might also look at your mechanics here. You say that you placed the ball back presumably after you asked for it. The team in possession probably did not know what was going on and your action of looking for and placing the ball gave a help to the kicking team. That makes it almost ceremonial due to the involvement of the referee. If you had stopped play and announced that it was a " Red free kick" doing nothing else I'm not sure that Reds would not have reacted as quickly as their opponents failed to react, had they had to do it themselves. Even young players when they see an opponent with the ball or going to get the ball will react.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Phil. When dealing with kids this young and there is confusion, I find it best to make the kick ceremonial. This gives you a chance to explain what happened and why it was wrong. then, in fairness to both teams, you can explain to everyone what will now take place, let both teams set up and tell everyone to wait for your whistle.