Question Number: 30077

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 2/3/2016

RE: Intermediate Under 13

Phil of Tarzana, CA United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 29510

I notice that referee Dawson mentions a slide tackle with a single leg. Suppose the tackle is with 2 legs (sort of like a baseball player sliding into base with one leg on top of the other), where the defender gets the ball & the legs are kept down & studs point down. If the attacker trips over the top leg, would you consider that a foul? In other words, would the fact that you're more likely to trip over two stacked legs rather than one, turn it into a foul...or would this be a grey area?
Thanks again,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Phil,
two legged extended tackles in my opinion are WAY more dangerous, studs exposed at a higher ankle shin level, considered more as a jumping at an opponent. Greater mass and speed variables. The grey area would be having the referee think the tackle was executed with no danger to the opposing player ball well out in front, long slide, easy to avoid. I can not recall a safe two footed tackle in recent memory? But if you review data two footed are being looked at as a mandatory red card and banned because of the danger they impose.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Phil
Challenges involving two legs for the ball are viewed very negatively in the game. Players take grave exception to these type of challenges. The reason is that to execute those the players many times have left the ground as some point and as a result have little control of their actions.
Also once it is done with cleats showing that is absolutely reckless which is a caution and if there is heavy contact most likely serious foul play.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aj93su6kDr4
In the challenge it is a caution and if there is contact on Blue it is serious foul play. Red has absolutely no control of his actions as he has left the ground and if he makes contact with Blue it risks the safety of an opponent.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GwOq9VRwzho
In this one the Red player was fortunate it was only Yellow probably due to Blue getting up quickly and showing that the contact was minimal. Certainly a caution and it could have easily been red.