Question Number: 32374

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 4/15/2018

RE: Competitive Under 15

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

What are your thoughts on whether this is a foul on #62 powder blue?

I evaluate the play this way:

1. #62 initiates contact.

2. The ball has not yet arrived.

3. Although it could be 'shoulder to shoulder', #16 blue is turned away from the opponent and is pretty much blindsided.

4. It is clear to me that the contact is not an attempt to play the ball.

However, I admit I may be biased my view of this play.

As an aside, #62 makes a great case for the biobanding I've been reading about recently.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1GW8BV2o9A

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Aaron
A few observations
1. Contact happens when the ball is within playing distance of both players.
2. It seems shoulder to shoulder which would make it legal based on 1 above.
3. Blue is obviously less physical than #62 which clearly is why the player is knocked over. 4 With a stronger defender it probably does not happen or to the same extent. 5. If the player was constantly bundling players over I would have less tolerance.
So was it a foul?. The referee thought not on the day. I would say on balance probably not with more reasons for it not be given than awarded as a foul. Just because a player is bigger and stronger referees have to be mindful of that in decision making However if it was given as a foul I would have no real difficulty with it.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Aaron,
Bio banding is a recent phenomena, that judges players not in age groups dependent upon their chronological age but instead in terms of physical maturation. I suppose it has conceptual advantages but how practical in smaller communities?

I could see this as shoulder into the back side but the angle of view is indistinct. I noted the blue player apparently was not upset or screaming for justice. Yet my instinct was reaching for a whistle on 1st glance!
Cheers

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 32378