Question Number: 31749

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/1/2017

RE: Competitive Under 14

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

Hm ... what do we think of this one? Looks like a pushoff by the offensive player? (No call on field - goal stands)

I think if there were no arm involvement it might be different, but then the player probably wouldn't have gotten away so cleanly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1BjCphUEo0

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Aaron
I have looked at this a number of times and to be honest I am still not sure of a certain foul. I see arm movement yet I am unsure if that arm movement alone was sufficient to push the defender to the ground in the manner it happened. The defender seems somewhat off balance on the challenge which does not help the call?
As I have said in the past taking incidents in isolation is always difficult. Referees develop a feel for players actions during games. If I see a player fall down a number of times on slight challenges with no appeal I perhaps accept that as weak play rather than fouls per se. If I see a player use her arms aggressively in play then on incidents that result in a players falling after such arm movement that player will get less benefit. I also think that perhaps score and time in the game might have a bearing although it should not. If one side is so far ahead / behind a referee might let it slide or perhaps if it is 0-0 the ref might be tougher on questionable calls. Now I cannot see the referee here in the video so angle of view would certainly be a difficulty in making a decision. The only way to see this clearly is from the camera side or directly behind and close enough to *feel* the strength of the arm. Is it a clear strong push off that is a foul or perhaps low level arm shielding that many times is not called as it not seen as a push. I am also not sure where the AR was positioned here although if level with the attacker the angle of view would also be compromised as to not see any side push.
So yes a foul could have been called and perhaps not which is what happened.
The learning point for the referees is that the CR needs to be a lot closer to the play, needs to come off the diagonal to see the contact between the players which has to be from the rear. As this is the one key contact area in the phase of play coming off the referees diagonal would be the best movement here for the ref.
The learning point for the defenders is that they needed to engage the attacker sooner perhaps around the first ball control area. The starting position of the challenger is poor is that she allows the attacker a clear run towards goal. She also has to be stronger in the challenge and not allow contact to knock her off the ball or if she is knocked off it is then so obvious it has to be a foul. The right back needs to come across sooner and quicker as there is also another attacker unmarked who had the ball been slipped forward would have been through on goal. That also is poorly positioned play. She also needs to support the tackler which actually has to happen albeit again from a late poor position. I also believe that an appeal for a foul by the defenders team mate directly behind the contact might have helped in the call. As it unfolds there is not one onfield appeal for a foul.
So lots of learning points in there. Relying on the referee can as seen here be questionable. Better defending would have dealt with the situation.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Aaron,
This is difficult. Referees need to officiate in a manner that's in line with how the community expects the game to be played. For an example, watch any mens game and there's a lot of arm use, grabbing, pushing and pulling. Strictly speaking against the laws - but it's just because the standard, so referee are sort of stuck abiding by that. In that sense, I'd argue that referees themselves are also part of the problem!
This sort of arm use by attackers is something I've seen creep into the game - and it creeps into the game through a combination of referees being reluctant to call it, and the community being more accepting of play continuing than fouls being called.
Often at younger ages referees have a little more freedom from this sort of thing, though, and it's a bit easier to penalise things that are affecting play.
In a high level men's game, I think most referees would let this go - and most players and spectators would be happy with that decision. Does that make it right? Well, probably not.
Stepping away from being philosophical for a moment, the short answer is, this was a push by an attacker and play has been affected. I think the reluctance to penalise attackers for pushing is an insidious thing that's crept into the game. I've seen attackers stiff-arm defenders on plenty of occasions and referees allow it to happen. If referees pull it up, then it makes it easier for other referees to pull it up.
While I'm not surprised this was allowed, I think it's a foul and the referee should not have allowed play to continue. I think decisions like this perpetuate the incorrect notion that attackers are allowed to push defenders. After all, if the defender was running alongside the attacker and stuck his arm out like this (push, not shoulder contact), I doubt anybody would be surprised at a foul being called. So why the double standard?
I wonder how much this sort of behaviour is allowed in your league - because that affects decisions on low-level offences such as this; a one-man crusade against something every other ref is allowing helps nobody.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Aaron ,
as a teaching tool it is difficult to be sure given the angle of view but it does look as if the one arm shiver might have been delivered unobtrusively or so it seems given there was no call. I recall how when players OFF the ball would try to run into space and how defenders would ensure a bump or push to halt or slow their run. I can not see if the forearm was simply left out there for the defender to run into as opposed to a palm directly into the chest but it look suspicious and if I was certain as a CR or AR it WAS a straight arm shiver it does need to be called.
Cheers