Question Number: 15590

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/24/2007

RE: Rec Girls Under 19

Keith of Point Pleasant, WV USA asks...

I'm trying to understand when it is OK for a player to go "out of bounds" or in the touch area and when, if ever, not. In one case in a recent U18 rec game I noticed a wing would often position himself about 1 step into the touch area on a free kick for his team. The defenders would often lose track of him until later on in the game when they started catching on. He would make a run down the line, in the touch area as the play was restarting. At some point he would cut back onto the field and often be open to receive the kick or a pass. Is this legal or are there legal methods to deceptively step off the playing field? Of course, during a stoppage, we coaches always tell our players not to cross the line and step off the field when we hand them a water bottle. I assume this is a rule, not a myth. Also, I believe one cautionable offense is leaving the field without the permission of the referee. Please define "leaving the field" as referenced by this rule. Thanks in advance.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

What you describe is definitely NOT legal and this player should have been cautioned for leaving the field without permission and shown the yellow card. Players are allowed to leave the field of play during the normal flow of the game. What this player was doing was tactical to gain an unfair advantage.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

A player may leave the field through the normal course of play. That may be playing the ball, or stepping off due to equipment, blood, or injury, or they may wish to declare that they are not taking part in play if they are in the offside position. Once the situation they left the field for is no longer an issue, they are expected to return to the field (in the case of injury, blood, or equipment they will likely require the referee's permission).

The player in your description is in violation of law 12 and should be cautioned for leaving the field of play without the referee's permission. He is gaining an unfair advantage by leaving the playing field - to me, that's a cautionable offense.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

If it is during the normal course of play, then they may run off the field. If they are going off the field to trick someone, then they have committed a cautionable offense. This someone could be either the opponent or the referee.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The winger is permitted to take a position on the touchline to disappear. He is not permitted to disappear from the field of play. There are two schools of play on this one. Caution when he leaves and stop play and caution when he returns.

Getting him when he leaves really doesn't do anything but caution him. Stopping play when he returns and then taking his name breaks up his team's attack! This is by far the better path for the referee to follow BECAUSE this illegal tactic is coached!! Cautioning him at this moment sends a message to everyone. Doing it when he leaves sends the message only to him.

Getting the message out loud and clear is better all round.

Regards,