Question Number: 26213

Law 5 - The Referee 4/21/2012

RE: Travel Under 14

Sharon of Southwick, Ma Usa asks...

Ref just called, I think a penalty, play in advance. We had the ball on offense and we got the ball back on offense. Not sure why or what it meant.1

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Perhaps, 'Play On, Advantage' ?

Law 5 says the referee 'allows play to continue when the team against which an offence has been committed will benefit from such an advantage and penalises the original offence if the anticipated advantage does not ensue at that time'.

When the referee applies Advantage, he has decided that the team will be better off if play doesn't stop. It is a foul, but it is better for the team to keep going. If the advantage does not materialize within a short time, the ref can go back to the original foul.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Sharon
The referee when a foul has been committed has two choices. He either allows play to continue through the use of advantage or he calls the foul with the award of a free kick or a penalty.
Advantage can be very useful to teams as it allows the referee to continue play to the benefit of the team that has been fouled. If that benefit does not accrue within 2/3 seconds play can be brought back to the original foul.
Advantage inside the penalty area is always difficult for the referee as a penalty is many times the 'best' benefit a team can get with 9 out of 10 penalties scored. The difficult one is where a goal is scored, advantage was not played with the award of a penalty and the team miss the penalty kick.