Question Number: 29860

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/26/2015

RE: Select; Competitive High School

David Frankson of Oregon, WI USA asks...

Question: Whether a player on the field has a right to establish a position on the field for which interference with such is considered, or not considered, a foul. I reviewed Questions 13932, 14453, 14493, 19010, and 19030 resulting from my search on your site and would like some additional clarification. I ref select and competitive teams both high school and club, typically in the U16-U19 age range. I have 3 scenarios that I would like you to weigh in on--thanks in advance for your input!

Scenario #1: Attacking player receives the ball about the 30 yard line. Only 1 defender (the second to last) and the goalie stand between him and the goal. The defender is standing on the 18 in the most direct path for the attacker at the 30 yard line and the goal. The defender does not move in this scenario at any time during the scenario. The attacker, 10 or so yards away from the defender, chooses the most direct path to the goal and does not make any attempt to avoid the defender. The attacker, rather than going left or right around the defender, completely knocks down the defender while dribbling the ball towards the goal, then shoots the ball towards the goal.
Question #1: Does the defender have the right to establish a position on the field whereby an opponent running into him would be guilty of a foul?

Scenario #2: The GK punts the ball from inside his 18 in a high arc to the approximate area of midfield. Attacking player 'A' positions himself at his own 45 yard line facing the GK who punted and based on the arc of the ball, 'A' is in a perfect position to initiate contact with the punted ball. Defender 'B' is at midfield, facing the GK who punted, about 5 yards in front of 'A', sees that the ball will be slightly over his head and begins to back up in order to play the ball. Just prior to the time that the ball would reach a player on the field, player 'B' backs into 'A' and knocks 'A' down, preventing 'A' from playing the ball. 'B' did not know that 'A' was there.
Question #2: Does 'A', in attempting to play the ball, have the right to establish a position on the field whereby an opponent running into him would be guilty of a foul?

Scenario #3: Corner kick by Team 'A'. Player 'A-1' for Team 'A' is positioned in such a way that it is absolutely clear, after the kick is initiated, that 'A-1' will be the recipient of the corner kick (without being touched by any other player) about the 12 yard area in front of the goal, and if the ball is handled properly by 'A-1', a shot or header on goal will be the result. A player for Team 'B' ('B-1') is positioned at the 12 yard area, but 1.5 yards from 'A-1' towards the corner kick from team 'A'. 'B-1' sees that the ball is going over his head and he won't be able to play it, so 'B-1' immediately runs to his right, not looking where he is going, and flattens 'A-1' (because he is looking up for ball, not looking at who is in his way). 'A-1', the most logical recipient for the ball, and who had established a stationary position about the 12 yard line in front of the goal, and was in position to play the ball, was laying on the ground and never got a touch on the ball. As a result of the collision, 'B-1' never got a touch on the ball either.
Question #3: Does 'A-1', in attempting to play the ball, have the right to establish a position on the field whereby an opponent running into him would be guilty of a foul?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi David
It is a general principle underlying the Law that players are not permitted to *play* the opponent rather than the ball. Having said that all players have a right to their position on the field of play. Being in the way of an opponent is not the same as moving into the way of an opponent.
Scenario #1
This is a foul to the defending team. The attacker has charged an opponent who has done nothing other than remain in the position he was in.
In reality though it rarely happens like that. The defender will rarely remain static in these situations and will probably be the initiator of the movement with the attacker trying to avoid. I have only once in the past number of years recall a foul where the attacker knowing that he had pushed the ball too far past an opponent then ran straight into the opponent. I awarded a direct free kick against the attacker for charging in a careless manner. Other times I have simply allowed play to continue when the attacker has ran into a static opponent and then looks for a foul
Scenario #2
Again players will move to adjust to the ball. When players do not move to play the ball they run the high risk of a holding / obstruction foul that is simply positioning themselves in a way that prevents the opponent from getting to or playing the ball. That will also look like a clear foul all day long as the defender will be seen not to play the ball but rather crash into the moving forward. In a recent game this very scenario happened and I immediately awarded a foul against the defender. He complained that all he did was stand his ground yet he was also making no attempt to play the ball whereas the opponent was trying to do so.
Scenario #3
This is slightly more difficult one as A1 does not have to move to play the ball and is waiting for the ball to arrive. B1 is clearly moving to play the ball and both players come together at the drop location. Certainly the moving player carries the higher risk of committing the foul here as he has to have an awareness of opponents around him. When there is no obvious offence then the best decision can just be to allow play to continue.

Perhaps in arriving at a decision the referee should ask himself some of the following questions
# Is there a genuine attempt to play the ball by the player/s?
# Is there potential for the ball to be actually played?
# What player played the ball?
# Has the player made a movement with the sole attempt of making contact with the opponent when a legal charge is not possible?
# Is there a genuine attempt to avoid contact?
# Has a player been careless / reckless in not taking into account the positions of opponents.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi David
Situation 1
picks and cross blocking are used in other sports. On a few occasions I have had an attacker choose to run (I call it a charge) into a defender in an attempt to draw a foul and say he was interfered with, impeded or held. It is difficult to not shift into the lane of an attacker when defending to force the issue so often just a subtle shift over and the foul is becoming holding on the defender instead of charging by the attacker. Usually some hand holding is going on as well. Angle of view, help from the AR I note a lot of off the ball contact occurs when a slower defender tries to bump into the attacker to slow him down and take the angle of the run away.

Situation 2
If you are backing up not looking ,you are likely undercutting the player who, if stationary behind you, is waiting and is in my opinion in the best position to play that ball is the aggrieved party, despite the backing in player wanting the jumping on top to be punished. The points is here. who is moving into who? The straight arms into the back if forceful as opposed to just warding off, can alter that decision. As can forward movement that discerns position, eye movement. the body repositions and sets up for collision, arms out ,elbows coming down, then goes ahead and jumps in and over top anyway.

Situation 3 You run over an opponent standing still you are guilty of a foul . If the opponent was moving and stopped suddenly if you were so close in behind you run into the back of him you are at fault unless he stops and spreads his arms to prevent you from passing or fires an arm back into your chops. It is more difficult to gauge MOVING targets in close proximity fighting to get position then a player who is flattened without regard by a fixated charging one!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

David,
I am wondering if you also referee basketball because these situations sound very similar to blocking and charging fouls that are called in basketball. However, these are situations that do arise in soccer and a call or no call must be made based on the following NFHS rule: Rule 12-4-1: A player shall be penalized for charging an opponent in a dangerous or reckless manner or using excessive force. Based on the above, I feel that: In scenario 1, the attacker was guilty of charging because he/she by going directly at an opponent initiated the contact in a dangerous manner and possible with excessive force since the opponent was knocked down; In scenario 2, From your description, not being aware of the other player would be deemed acting in a reckless manner and, thus, would be charging. In scenario 3, I believe that the defender was acting in a reckless manner and would be guilty of charging. You keep asking if a player can establish a position on the field where a player running into him would result in a foul. A player has to be on the field and in a position. The player should be protected from other players running over him/her. If a player moves into a position to obstruct an opponent, then the situation would be different and the player rather than the opponent would have committed a foul. I make these opinions based on your scenarios, but every situation is different, and it is most useful to see the action and eyes of the participants prior to the contact being made. I hope this helps and that the remainder of your season goes well.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 29885