Question Number: 19023

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/8/2008

RE: select - SLYSA Under 12

David of St. Louis, MO United States asks...

At my daughters game the level of physical play was over the top. Pushing the offensive player with the ball from behind and thus knocking her to the ground was an obvious infraction in the box. If the offensive player was to the side of the goal and not shooting but preparing to cross the ball - is that a penalty kick?

In addition the opposing defensive player attempted to stop the offensive player with the ball by reaching around the offensive player with the ball with her leg and then planting her foot in front of our player. Is that not a dangerous play?

Could you clarify how the arms may be used in competing for an opposing player who has possession of the ball.

The opposing team on numerous occasions ran from over 10 feet away and physically knocked our players off of the ball. One resulted in an injury. Is this not charging?

Is that considered to be a dangerous play?

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

You say a defender PUSHED an attacker inside the defender's penalty area. Seeing as how pushing an opponent while the ball is in play is a direct free kick foul, that you admit was an obvious foul, we can all agree that in fact a direct free kick foul was done by the defending team inside their own penalty area. The laws further establish that when a defending player commits a direct free kick offense inside their own penalty area then play is always restarted with a penalty kick. The law makes no distinction for the playing action of the attacker when it comes to a penalty kick. Either the foul occurred inside the penalty area or not, and if so it's a penalty kick.

A player attempting to play the ball with a foot is not going to be considered playing in a dangerous manner. At best it would be tripping which is a direct free kick foul and only if there was a trip.

A player should not use their arms to play the opponent even while playing for the ball, except in an incidental manner. If the opponents made shoulder to shoulder contact with your players and it wasn't out of control and they were playing for the ball, then this play is legal.

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Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

With all due respect coach, the opponents' play was over the top in your opinion. If the ref was not calling fouls when you thought he should, then your opinion differs from that of the ref. Guess who's opinion counts. I will grant that at U12 you are not always getting the cream of the crop of referees, and that the referee's opinion may be due more to lack of experience than anything else. But the referee is just like a field or weather condition. Sometimes it's clear and dry with excellent grass. Other times it's cloudy, wet and muddy. But you make do.

This question reminds me of a game I did many years ago, at the U12 rec level. One coach complained that I wasn't protecting his girls from the other team. Yet I had been calling fouls, and even went to the extreme (for that age level) of cautioning one of the opponents. At that point the coach pulled his team off the field. I had no option but to terminate the game and write up a report giving the reasons for the termination. Not a pleasant task. And while I do not know the specifics of how the league dealt with the coach, I was led to believe that wasn't pleasant either.

My colleague has answered your questions specifically, technically, and correctly.

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Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Perception be it right or wrong or partly correct a referee is a match condition to adapt to at times and if, as you indicate, the penal fouls are going unrecognized then we will hope some training of foul recognition is in the referee's future. There are ten penal fouls which as DFK offences, upgraded to PK status if they occur inside the culprits own penalty area.

A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits
any of the following six offences in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:
• kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
• trips or attempts to trip an opponent
• jumps at an opponent
• charges an opponent
• strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
• pushes an opponent
A direct free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player
commits any of the following four offences:
• tackles an opponent to gain possession of the ball, making contact
with the opponent before touching the ball
• holds an opponent
• spits at an opponent
• handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his
own penalty area)

PIADM is not a penal foul it is an INDFK offence with no or minor contact. It is NEVER a PK.
Playing in a dangerous manner
Playing in a dangerous manner is defined as any action that, while trying to play the ball, threatens injury to someone (including the player himself). It is committed with an opponent nearby and prevents the opponent from playing the ball for fear of injury. The action becomes an offence only when an opponent is adversely affected. A scissors or bicycle kick is permissible provided that, in the opinion of the referee, it is not dangerous to an opponent.
Playing in a dangerous manner involves no physical contact between the players. If there is physical contact, the action becomes an offence punishable with a direct free kick or penalty kick. In case of physical contact, the referee should carefully consider the high probability that misconduct has also been committed.
Disciplinary sanctions
• If a player plays in a dangerous manner in a “normal” challenge,
the referee should not take any disciplinary action. If the action is
made with obvious risk of injury, the referee should caution the
player.
• If a player denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity playing in a
dangerous manner, the referee should send off the player.
Restart of play
• Indirect free kick from the position where the offence occurred
* (see page 3)
• If there is contact, a different offence has been committed, punishable by a direct free kick or penalty kick.

Shoulder to shoulder is permitted but it is true that the free arm interlock between opposing players have degrees of push and hold attributes . Even a decent looking shoulder challenge can have charging conditions but it remains in the opinion of the referee is it is so.
Charging an opponent
The act of charging is a challenge for space using physical contact
within playing distance of the ball without using arms or elbows.
It is an offence to charge an opponent
• in a careless manner
• in a reckless manner
• using excessive force

A reach around leg trap can get the ball locked in at the knee or ankle by a defender and the attacker can fall over the ball or run into the leg and fall as well. It is not automatically a foul if the ball is first contacted and then the attacker FALLS over the defender's body or ball BUT it does not excuse the manner in how it is done. We judge whether it was a careless reckless or excessive action and whether contact occurs prior or after, the force used and other body language or movements deemed unnecessary as in a leg sweep or grab with the arms on a follow through

Careless, reckless, using excessive force
“Careless” means that the player has shown a lack of attention or
consideration when making a challenge or that he acted without precaution.
• No further disciplinary sanction is needed if a foul is judged to be
careless
“Reckless” means that the player has acted with complete disregard
of the danger to, or consequences for, his opponent
• A player who plays in a reckless manner shall be cautioned.
“Using excessive force” means that the player has far exceeded the
necessary use of force and is in danger of injuring his opponent.
• A player who uses excessive force shall be sent off.
Cheers


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