Question Number: 25906

Law 1- The Field 1/22/2012

RE: Competive Under 14

Scott of Livermore, CA USA asks...

You show up to ref. a state championship semi-final game for U13G in Northern CA. (this is for some of the best teams in the country) and it is pointed out to you that the field is only 280 feet long. This of course violates the minimum dimension of 300' in Law 1, but also violates the same minimum in the league's own handbook. What do you do? This is not a test question, as it actually occured this weekend.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Scott
If the field is assigned for the game then my advice would be to play the game and report it to the relevant competition authority for the competition.
The referee has to expect that the competition authority has sanctioned previous games on the field and that it has approved the location by its decision to alow the game to be played there. As it is not a safety issue the game can be played.
If the match is protested I assume by the visiting team it is a matter for the competition organisers to decide on.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

I agree with my colleague. Everybody has turned up to play - and considering the nature of the event, some people may have travelled some distance at a fair expense.

Play the match and report it to the authorities - they can decide whether the result stands or not.

It isn't a safety issue, nor is it one that significantly affects your capacity to referee the match (such as, say, if the lines were significantly incomplete).

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

We live in a world of cell phones. When in doubt, call your assignor!
The assignor likely has the cell phone number of the tournament director.

When you cannot speak with someone in authority, then my approach is simple. If it is a safety issue, it must be fixed or we don't play. If it is not a safety issue, we will play and the information will be contained in the match report.

The referee only has two options: play or abandon. The referee cannot order the match played at a different location, a different day, or a different time.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

There is no minimum 100 yards for footballers 16 years and younger. The LOTG allow for modification of the size of the field.

From page 3 of the LOTG:

Modifications
Subject to the agreement of the member association concerned and provided the principles of these Laws are maintained, the Laws may be modified in their application for matches for players of under 16 years of age, for women footballers, for veteran footballers (over 35 years of age) and for players with disabilities.
Any or all of the following modifications are permissible:
? size of the field of play
? size, weight and material of the ball