Question Number: 26821

League Specific 9/24/2012

RE: Select/High School High School

Parent of Middle, TN US asks...

This question is a follow up to question 26770

The original question stated one ref blew the whistle for the foul, than another ref came in and gave a red, DOGSO. So I'm assuming this was some sort of dual system. My question is, in this sort of system, when one ref calls a foul, but does not give a card, how can the other ref call it differently? Having observed this in multiple games, it often seems the ref who changes the call was 80 yards away at the other end of the field. Seems to make for bad juju in the game. Thank you.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
In the situation describe one referee blew for the end of the game whereas the other referee called a foul. As stated in the answer it depends on the restart as to whether the game ends with the foul or not.
As regards the system it is generally accepted that the lead ref will make the call that is the ref nearest to the play

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The original question stated that the 'center ref' gave the card. That seems to indicate that it was a 3-whistle system, and it was noted as a high school game so that is possible. In some of those systems, the 'center' is considered to be in charge (as if it was the diagonal system of control with assistant referees) and it would be the 'center's' responsibility to administer the cards.