Question Number: 20425

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 11/1/2008

RE: AYSO Girls U12 Under 12

Mike S of Chino Hills, CA USA asks...

Our attacker is running with the ball into space at the top of the penalty area. A defender runs into the space and towards the attacker. The defender gets to the ball, and a head-on collision occurs. There is a collision, and the attacker goes down. The referee whistled for a PK in our favor.

In my mind, I was trying to reconcile the call. It felt like the right call, because it did seem like a careless tackle, and it had that 'cringe' or 'foul-like feel' to the collision.

But the defender did get to the ball before contacting the opponent. She did seem like she was trying to play the ball over the opponent.

However, it was a train wreck in the making. The defender continued forward after the contact with ball. And the attacker did not have a chance to change course or reduce speed.

I also had this occur a lot in my adult league. I'd be running with the ball, and then 'bam' -- a defender runs into my path and collides head on with me. Are these 50/50 collisions? Or is this a charge? If a charge, then how do we determine whether the defender or attacker is at fault. From what I described, does it seem like the ref made the right call?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

You are falling into the myth that suggests if a player 'plays the ball' there can be no foul. Just because a player gets to the ball first does not give that player the right to then run over the opponent which is what you describe. What if the defender had played the ball then punched the opponent in the face? She played the ball first, right? Of course you would never allow this but it's virtually the same as allowing her to run over the opponent after she 'played the ball'. There are some 50/50 plays that result in collisions but if a player has control of the ball and an opponent challenges for it, that's NOT a 50/50 play and if a collision occurs it should usually result in a foul on the player making the challenge. When there's a loose ball and no one has control of it, you may see some unavoidable 50/50 collisions but not when one player already has control of the ball

Read other questions answered by Referee Keith Contarino

View Referee Keith Contarino profile

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

There are times when opposing players meet on intersecting runs at the ball at the same time, there is a meeting of two very determined bodies that makes us cringe yet we find fault with both and wonder if a drop ball solves this or if they appear ok to let play flow?. If both were reckless one could caution both ands how the yellow card and restart with a drop ball. That said more often or not one player had a better position to the ball which the other player chooses to ignore and continued the challenge anyway.
For me a 50/50 is simple a ball equally available but the challenge itself is either FAIR or it is FOUL. Getting to the ball first certainly gives you more rights then getting to the ball second but you can NEVER completely disregard the safety of an opponent. I look for eyes where are they looking at ball or player? The arms braced for a crash stiff arms or lowered shoulder in other wards preparing for impact. Defenders will often play the ball gets through or the man gets through but never both. These acts are deliberately designed to prevent scoring or breakaways and one can judge the body language and actions of these challenges. An attacker who thinks a strong run into a defender will intimidate the defender to cringe or turn away can not expect to find favor with the referee when contact occurs. These are charging fouls where the heavy contact is designed to put the opponent out of the picture.
You must play under reasonable control and if an opponent gets to the ball you are obligated to bail out of any challenge where the ball is not contacted and try to avoid or get out of the way of that opponent.
Even if you get the ball if your challenge is so forceful that it continues through the opponent with reckless even excessive force you can still be sanctioned. Especially on intersecting runs. On head on challenges you better swerve from your flight path if the ball is unavailable and you will be judged on whether you are preparing your body for impact or are fixed on the ball. Generally if these face to face collisions occur and the ball runs by in the same direction as one is facing, the other opponent has held or charged and a caution for reckless or breaking up attacking play is also present. If one player is stationary the moving player is generally at fault unless the stationary player took a static position to impede as setting a pick. Then it is in effect a holding foul as the insertion of a body into the run was deliberate to impede the player not stand your ground or plays the ball. You need to form an opinion as to the angle the players are coming together and the speed at which it occurs. Two opposing players chasing a ball in a V one coming from left the other from the right meet at the ball shoulder to shoulder at 20 miles an hour is far different than an opponent charging a slower moving player at 20 miles an hour. In the first one play could continue where as the second one we find fault with the force used. We add up speed, force, angles, body movement, eyes, even verbal or manipulative intimidation we make the best decision we can considering the variables and whether the SAFETY of either is being disregarded.
A diving header with a foot to the head John Terry took it square was seen as part of the game in the EPL yet many felt it was somehow a foul on JT for trying to head the ball PIADM indfk out or the defender who kicked him for trying to clear the ball thus a PK . This was a risk taken by John accepting the consequences that a defender was in the process of trying to clear that same ball sometimes collisions will occur and we pick each other up and dust ourselves off as best we can.
Cheers


Read other questions answered by Referee Richard Dawson

View Referee Richard Dawson profile

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Just because the ball was contacted first DOES NOT DISMISS THE POSSIBILITY OF A FOUL. If the defender got the ball and then carelessly charged into the opponent, it is a still a foul. This is what the referee ruled in this case.

Read other questions answered by Referee Ben Mueller

View Referee Ben Mueller profile