Question Number: 33145

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/13/2019

RE: Youth to adult, comp and rec.

Barry Stewart of Chilliwack, BC Canada asks...

This question is a follow up to question 33137

Re, the upcoming changes to DHB:

It was mentioned in the thread that we should learn from rules in other sports. In ice hockey, when a player uses a high stick to touch the puck or a glove to pass the puck(except in the D-zone), there's a moment of limbo.

If the innocent team gets possession, it's play on. If the guilty team chooses to touch it, there's a whistle and a face-off. (Sometimes, there's a prolonged dance, with neither party wanting to touch it first.)

When I'm playing drop-in soccer and the ball has struck me on the hand or arm: if there's a sniff of a shade of 'deliberate,' I bow to pressures of those who appeal everything and simply back off the ball. I'm not going to offer a free kick - but I offer to lose possession, as a bit of a sop.

Is this a useful compromise?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Barry,
this is my opinion but it seems clear to me for the sake of consistency the push is to call it just in case. Possibly because it indicates you SAW the contact & thus did not just miss it

There is wisdom in your doubtful or trifling aspect of something that need not be of concern if as you say play appears to be unaffected. A Nothing there or keep going attitude should not be a source of grief.

Sound judgement good positioning and a toleration & acceptance by those playing & officiating as to what is fair or unfair.

Knuckles out thumbs gently resting on your short pockets is a forgivable hand/arm dangle. However, we see dead air space between the arm and body or the arms get raised chances are it WILL be given as DFK if ball arm contact occurs. Slide tackles with arms dragging going to be a DH every time. A falling player with outstretched arm to cushion the fall is NOT The same!. The in close rebounds are still suspect if those arms are out & away from the body.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Barry
We will have to see how the new handling Law works out.
My experience is that in handling situations in competitive games the *offender* rarely offers up possession. Under the new advice handling will be called if it creates a goal scoring opportunity for the team. Maybe as it gets rolled out some might yet consider it I doubt it.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Barry,
You seen to be talking about things a player (or the players on different teams) might do in the case of a handball so I'm not really sure it's something a referee or the laws could control. The new law on handling seems intended to give the referee the power to decide if an accidental handball created an advantageous situation for the player guilty of what would then become an offence.