Question Number: 31355

Other 3/17/2017

RE: Competitive Adult

Francis D'Souza of Kitchener , Ontario Canada asks...

The new LOTG 1216-17 in Soccer are in effect for USA and Canada from this summer. A lot of changes by IFAB.
I am sorry to point to your pages on 'ask the ref' have to changed drastically. The reading the 'old' rules are very confusing on your interpretations and advises are wrong.
I do understand, it's a very big task for you revamp the entire contents your compiled Rules, POSTED on line for active referees.
Luckily, we the refs from Ontario had to write a test on new LOTG in 4 modules and pass 100% and then register for the next annual test before before we get the badge
For the upcoming season.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Francis
With annual changes to the Laws many answers are dated on an annual basis. With the significant rewrite of the Laws in June 2016 we recognise that many more questions are in fact now dated and incorrect at this TIME not when they were written..
For that reason the opening page has a statement from us which states and I quote.
** Over the past 18 years we have amassed hundreds of thousands of questions and answers but the LOTG have changed and/or portions no longer apply. Be SURE to reread the latest version IFAB 2016 - 2017 LOTG
The new Laws of the Game can be viewed here and will be effective from 1st June 2016
http://www.theifab.com/#!/document**
Please remember that site provides answers to current questions at a particular time and the answers are correct at that time. I am sure that questions today will be incorrect in 2018. Also the site is not a current law resource yet rather providing current answers to current questions. You will note that all questions answered since June 2016 are correct under the current Laws.
Having been in existence for now some 18 years with over 30000 questions answered it would be a mamouth task to rewrite each question based on the up to date laws. It would also prove meaningless as frankly only a few research historical questions on the site.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Francis,
this site answers' immediate questions on the LOTG in real time meaning as the current state of the LOTG at the time of the question. It is good that you passed the 4 new modules so how about answering the 2017 March you call it given the new LOTG? It is why those seeking answers ask for a current understanding given the vast number of changes and alterations the LOTG undergo with very little public explanation. If you could provide the 4 modules it would be posted for all to see. After all it is not classified secret data!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Francis,
I'm afraid you seem to have misunderstood the format of the site. It consists of questions asked by readers over the last 18 years and answers that were valid at the time the questions were asked. As my colleagues have already mentioned, it is clearly pointed out that answers given in, for example 1999 are not guaranteed to still be valid today.