Question Number: 32747

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/26/2018

RE: Competitive, low level travel Under 16

Coach John of West Chester, PA USA asks...

Hello panel,

I really enjoy reading the Q&A on this site.

Coached a game Sunday and looking for opinions on (4) questions:

4 brief game clips here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0Dz2ufnmu67v0H-wcJdUFPGFYicgZAdP

1) Push vs legal charge: all 4 clips involve opponent charging Orange. None were called. None seem legal to me (all involve a well disguised elbow from opponent, with Orange body being displaced, giving opponent easy possession of the ball).

2) Offsides: Opponent Charge (illegal?) puts Orange Striker offsides. Opponent makes a deliberate play that deflected off Orange, and Striker attempts to play. Still offsides?

3) Shielding and forceful displacement: Best reference I've found is this article: http://www.askasoccerreferee.com/shielding-the-ball/
In clip 4 - is that forceful displacement by opponent to knock shielding Orange off ball, actually a Push, to be called a foul?

4) Cajoling better effort from CR: The CR was poorly positioned most of the game. Can a Coach ask the referee to exert more effort to be better positioned to make calls?

Looking forward to the feedback!

Coach John

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI John, we are happy to have you with us. Although I referee I also coach & play so my interacting with referee's as player or coach is not always tempered by my refereeing knowledge. My understanding of why some things might be addressed but I too expect effort & dedication to the job at hand.
The term fair charge is rift with indecisions as to how fair can any charge be? After looking at the videos we have to realize that in real time and from the angle of camera view we have only a small window of view but I see nothing in any of the videos that is a stand out definitive foul. Most of the contact looked reasonable at the speed of play in the clips I saw. I tried to think of your well disguised elbow theory but saw no real use of an elbow directed more of an arm push once contact occurs.

The offside call BECAUSE there was no foul awarded for the charge was correct. The knocked down player if she WAS fouled, needed to be called but because it was not her receiving a deflected ball off her team mate placed her as a PIOP. Now from distance there looks like there could be an arm extension push just prior to the offside BUT there was a definite foul on the player who put through the pass. She had already passed the ball and THEN was knocked down. I could have played advantage and POSSIBLY when the other girl was knocked down brought the ball back for a DFK if I was unconvinced that was a foul as well. You will note the player had a raised inside leg so very easy to knock off an opponent if the inside leg is off the ground.

A ball within playing distance can be shielded so the stepping in front to block is conceivable along the touchline in front of the AR who if he sensed a foul gave no indication.

The run/charge at midfield had the CR in perfect position in that instant to see if it was so? He never even so much as raised his whistle as if he thought about it.

I will say that in the other instances the CR needs to be closer to play or at better angles in anticipation of these contact points. Because the further away the harder it is to get a sense of the impact. You could miss things if too close but it is easier to sell calls or non calls if you are in the vicinity so to speak. It is difficult to state 100% there WAS a foul, there was foul potential I grant you and if I was closer at better angle I might see this disguised elbow you speak of but I do not make calls on speculation. I call what I see what I know for certain to be true. There is a reason why slow motion blow up close in shots highlight infractions easily. It is because you get MORE Time to make the decision and slowing things down they become more pronounced & obvious.

Most referees are not easily approachable during a match to discus their performance. We are all at certain stages of experience or understanding of the LOTG & our foul recognition is what it is based on what we know versus what we see. I have recorded and reported to the league characteristics of a referee I felt could benefit with some attention but that is only as good as the association is diligent to produce better referees not just get someone into the field as a body. I often see inexperienced referees placed in position's above their capabilities in as much as the old guys who just lost interest in staying in shape to stay with play. WE can hope the referee is fair impartial and at least concerned with out player's safety. Even knowing what I know I still find it hard to bite my tongue at times if I see a poor or unconcerned effort. I can forgive a mistake, I can recognize inexperience but I find it intolerable to see no effort.

The writings of Mr Jim Allan & now Dan Heldman at www.askasoccerreferee.com are always full of great advice and solid explanations.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi John
The only obvious foul I saw in the four clips was in clip 3 at midfield. There was a push there while in the other three it is not so evident.
Now there has to be some level of contact between players as otherwise the game would turn into a foul fest. I always watch with interest players reactions on contact and some do not even consider that they were fouled just contact that they expect. If I has a dollar for every time I heard *In the back ref*, *all over him* *push* *penalty* I would have a tidy sum of money.
So there can be fouls that the game considers to be trifling or doubtful which are not called. Some contact due to mismatches in stature also end up as difficult calls. I always hate it when a stronger player is matched against a weaker player as contact invariably ends up in the weaker player being muscled off the ball probably fairly. The opposite is where two well matched players challenge for the ball with give and take on contact. I recall as a young player playing aginast a Premier League player. That players ability to accept strong contact was huge and he shipped all sorts of contact as if it did not happen.
In Clip 4 there is not enough of a foul there for me to be called. The AR is beside it and I would have assumed if there was a *feel* of foul contact it would be obvious so close to it.
As to cajoling a referee for better effort is not acceptable. The referee is assigned to the game based on grade which takes account of refereeing skill and also physical ability. Getting to better locations requires a high level of fitness and physical ability. We have to accept that certain officials will not be up to that standard so shouting is not going to change that. Also angle of view is more important than closeness to play. A referee could be 5yards and miss a foul that with a better angle of view could be seen from 30 yards.