Question Number: 29128

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 1/24/2015

RE: Rec College

Jim morris of Sale, Uk asks...

This question is a follow up to question 28022

Ia a player allowed to assist a teammate to reach a headed ball

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jim
No. That would be deemed unsporting behaviour and after the player is cautioned the restart is an indirect free kick from where the offence took place.
Sometimes in a group of player it is difficult to call that a player has unfairly climbed on the back of a team mate to gain height. There will be certainly no appeal from his team mate when he does that.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Technically no, it is cautionable USB action
you can not say lift a short player up on your shoulder or raise him up with your hands . I have seen a player use a fallen opponent as well as a team mate like a stool to jump off of to get higher while playing but not while refereeing. Not legal but effective if unseen or unnoticed. Plus players often get arms and elbows up onto of a opponent's shoulders to get more lift and deny theirs or hold them down. Cheers

Answer provided by Referee James Sowa

Jim,

In the rugby sense; no. A player can not directly aid a teammate by boosting him to reach a high cross. As Referee McHugh notes, this is unsporting behavior and the guilty player would be shown the yellow card.