Question Number: 15839

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 6/20/2007

RE: Rec and competitive College

Phil Acebo of Barre, VT USA asks...

Players are on the ground often and the ball sometimes is close to that individual. I call dangerous play only when I perceive a clear danger. A player lying on the ground near the ball does not constitute dangerous play, but many players argue that the ball cannot be played while the player is on the ground. What are your thoughts.

Thanks

Phil

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

You are right on. It must be dangerous to another player. Look to see how opponents react. If they hesitate to play the ball, then you probably need to award an ifk. Make sure to educate players and coaches on this.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

The cry of "he's playing on the ground of ref" is a fallacy. A player should only be penalized for playing any dangerous manner when their actions infringe upon their opponents' right to play the ball fairly. Then, that criteria having been met, you should consider whether the players actions pose a danger to himself or his opponent. Only then should you award an indirect free kick for playing a dangerous manner.

It sounds to me is that you have a firm grasp of this concept. Keep up the good work!

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

No sweat here Phil, you have it right, so long as its an opponent close by and the opponent is disadvantaged by what you see. Dissenting players are just dissenting players, again. They have succumbed to the myth, again.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Phil,
you need to consider how that player came to be on the ground and the realistic attempt to get to his feet is being instigated. As referee you need to remember that just because a player falls or is knocked to the ground near a ball or even on falls on top of the ball that is not a foul. If he lies on the ball for an unrealistic amount of time it is an indfk for basically wasting time. To play in a dangerous manner requires the opponent to be unfairly disadvantaged and unable to play the ball without injuring himself or the downed player. That does not mean the player on the ground must simply give up the ball. He can still shield or Sheppard that ball as it is within playing distance and can impose his body while rising off the ground between an opponent and the ball.
It is a myth that the ball can not be played upon the ground and my thoughts are please make every player you come into contact with aware of the fallacy!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

There is no rule disallowing the playing of the ball whilst laying on the ground. It's yet another popular myth. My thoughts are those outlined in Advice To referees. 3 things have to be present in order to call PIADM, 1. The action must be dangerous to someone, 2, there must be an opponent nearby, and 3, an opponent must somehow be disadvantaged by the action. I will, at lower levels of play, be a little quicker to whistle this as oftentimes the opponent doesn't have the skill to back off. Of course, sometimes PIADM rapidly becomes one of the 10 penal fouls as contact occurs.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

When I hear the cry, "He can't play it on the ground!", I'm tempted to ask, "I'm sorry, am I at the right field? Because I'm sure I was assigned to the U13 Premier game, not the U7's." I've never tried saying this out loud, though.

That's where this myth originates - way back in the U-littles. Many leagues have anti-slide-tackle rules and other such things to help keep the little tykes safe. Somewhere along the way, the rule gets translated as "can't play on the ground" and it sticks.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 15912