Question Number: 31392

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/26/2017

RE: Rec Under 13

Trent Futrell of Knoxville, TN usa asks...

I was refereeing a U12 boys match. Several of the young men would slide as they kicked the ball. Most of the time the other players would be several feet from them when they did it. However, there was a time other players were around them. Since they never ran into anyone I let it continue, but wanted to ask for other opinions.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Trent
A slide tackle is allowed in soccer provided the player does so in a way that is not careless or reckless. So if the player slides in and play the ball cleanly there is no offence even if there is a coming together of the players after the ball is played.
If however the tackler makes contact with the player first then it is a foul or he slides in to ball and player in a way that the only possibility is heavy contact on the opponent which is a foul and a likey card.
Have a look at this compilation of slide tackles
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8zw8OodH6BQ
There are one or two that are questionable fair challenges particularly ones involving two feet. Most though are fair challenges.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Trent,
There is nothing inherently illegal about a slide tackle. As with any other challenge, the referee must decide if it was careless, reckless etc - or not. There is a fairly common myth (especially in youth soccer) that it is illegal to play the ball while on the ground but that's all it is - a myth.

Having said that, there are apparently some leagues (youth and veterans mostly) where, even though it's not officially one of the laws modifications that is allowed, they have prohibited slide tackles.

Unless you are refereeing in one of those competitions however, you should basically apply the same criteria to a slide tackle as you do for other types of challenge, in deciding whether the tackle was fair or not.