Question Number: 31016

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 11/12/2016

RE: Competitive Under 17

Aaron Speca of Virginia Beach, VA United States asks...

Hello again! Once again, I get confused regarding the difference between legal charging and a foul. The two plays in this video took place during the same match, in opposite PAs. One was called a foul, the other was not. Thoughts?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wuoEjVcpBg

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Aaron,
my thoughts both looked fairly benign or innocuous based solely on the angle of your camera of course. The first one, the fact red had her inside leg raised and was already jousted slightly trying to break through made her susceptible to falling. I initially thought perhaps 20 got a leg entangled into the red player who looked off balance in the sandwich setting and could see little to get overly excited at the bump until we see white 20 had arm straight out in a pushing motion which might account for a referee seeing the contact as a foul if the hand was direct into the back part of the shoulder of white.
The second one seemed a normal coming together although the white player did turn slightly. I say play on. I like the white player got up and made no fuss.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Aaron
For me an illegal charge involves contact on the players back or chest with a shoulder or arm and/ or the use of an arm to push the opponent away and/ or reckless contact. I describe the legal charge as easing an opponent off the ball using side to side contact with the ball beside both players The Laws define charging as a challenge for space using physical contact within playing distance of the ball without using arms or elbows.
Here is an example of a legal charge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUCPFrOV8JM
Note that the ball is within playing distance of both players. Had the attacker kicked the ball away towards goal then the charge would not have been legal.
Here are two example of illegal charges
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quqk637UI50j
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qhKJgaGPt8
In the two examples shown on your video I would give neither as fouls or if I give one I am giving both. The reason I believe that the first Red one was given IMO was a late raised arm motion by 22, the raised arms apology by 5, a sort of *I did not mean the contact* and then theatrics by Red. Red looked for the foul IMO which does require a strong official to wave it away. On the second one it is doubtful where the contact was on the White player so the benefit was given to Red as shoulder to shoulder. White showed no theatrics and fair play to her for her reaction to the no call.