Question Number: 15564

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/22/2007

gary of Hartford, CT USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 1134

I would take exception to Ref Burbidges perpetuation of the myth that girls can use their arms to protect themselves. [1134]
Sure, if it is purely a reflexive action to protect them from a fast moving ball from close range or their arms are already i that position as in standing in a wall. But if they have time to move their arms to that position as the ball is approaching them then they have time to move, duck, chest or head the ball. If they CHOOSE to play it with their arms it should be called as handling every time.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Wow, ancient history. I'm glad to see that people are reading our archives.

I tend to agree with you - I guess "Gary's" think alike. I tell the young ladies that somewhere between U-Little and Lindsay Tarpley this stops - and for me, it's today. (Today being at the U14 game, or younger if it's a select team.) If they have time to think about moving their arms across their chest, they have time to think about a better way to play the ball, or to duck out of the way.

Your point about protection from a close hard shot - an instinctive flinch move - is spot on. Also about taking a protective stance in a wall situation. I've wondered why the guys, who usually protect the "family jewels" in a wall, don't do it while running around during dynamic play. The fact that it would look dorky probably has something to do with it.

Now not having ever been a girl and not knowing what it feels like, I may be totally incorrect about this. Perhaps one of our female panelists will chime in. Still, you don't see it happening in the Womens' World Cup, do you?

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

I look at all sorts of things here. Could they have played the ball with another part of body? Did they have time to react? Was it just reflexive? Did their hand motion to the ball or vice-versa? Was their hand in a regular playing position? Then you have to make a judgement call and go with your instinct. Make sure to sell the call though!

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

If the player, male or female, chooses to cover and protect after the ball is in flight and subsequently plays the ball with the hand or arm it is an offence. If a player takes a protective position before the ball is in flight and moves the hands or arms forward to mitigate the impact this is an offence. If a player moves to keep vital parts attached as an instinctive act it's not deliberately handling the ball and, therefore, not an offence.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Debbie Hoelscher

I suppose that being the sole female panelists I get to chime in. I read Burbidges' comments and frankly, I don't see where she is giving license to females to handle the ball deliberately. And the context in which she appears to be writing is specifically regarding taking a position in the wall, crossing ones arms across the chest for protection. If guys can cross their hands across their groin area, why is there questions when girls do this to protect their chest? If a player handles the ball deliberately, it is a foul. Period. Guy. Gal. Baboon. It really doesn't matter. If one "CHOOSES" to play the ball then they have thought it through, "deliberated" and came to a conclusion (all in about a nanosecond).

I would like to speak to the issue of protection. It is a given that the gents in the game of soccer would do just about anything to protect their groin area. At about an 80-1 ratio in the ranks of the referee's world, this is a mutual concern, as most referees are men and "feel their pain" if you will. As for me, I can only imagine the pain....much like only a man could imagine the pain of child birth, menstrual cramping, and... getting hit by the ball in the area of the chest that is as sacred to the female, as the previously mentioned area of the body on a male is to the guys. Know this. A female will do just about anything to keep from getting hit there as well (and even more so between the ages of 11 - 16 because it REALLY hurts during those ages because of the physical development taking place). The difference is, of course, where on the body it is. This is not to say that we females won't chest trap a ball, we can (after proper instruction about how to avoid the unthinkable) and do. But the fact remains that the area of concern for females is in a the playable area (meaning you aren't going to see anyone trapping a ball down using their groin area. You do see players -- male and female -- chest trap the ball). As a result, you will find that women/young ladies will put their hands up more often then men to make sure they are "safe" from any unfortunate impact. For guys, the ball is more easily played should a ball come in at the height of their mid-section, by stepping aside slightly, and using their leg/thigh, knee, shin, foot, whatever. For women, stepping aside isn't necessarily the next best choice. Now you have the neck and face right up the street to deal with! No one likes a ball to the face either. So arms are up to protect the upper chest, neck and face. As a result, more real estate to cover means more opportunity to have the ball hit the hands.

It is also important to realize that the distinctions between the men's and women's game reduce themselves as the level of play becomes higher. You will not find a WNT Under 16 team throwing their arms about in protection as you would an Rec GU16. Simply because the WNT (Women's National Team) is more physically fit and has a high level of ball skills with which to compensate.
The moral to my story is this: It depends is the only answer one can give for the 'handling the ball' foul. The referee must take into account not just the 2-dimensional aspect of the written LOTG, but add in the 3-dimensional component to make the right call. It's much like the famous judge who once said "It's impossible to define, but you know it when you see it."