Question Number: 15894

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 6/26/2007

RE: Competitive Under 16

Anthony Wright of Newmarket, Ontario Canada asks...

A referee in a recent game spoke to our goalie and said that she wasn't allowed to call 'keeper' as she came out for the ball in the 18yd. box. As far as I know, keepers have been doing this for some time now without repercussions. Is this a new rule? He was adamant after the game that he was right.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Anthony,
Wow a new myth that we can try and quickly squelch! A keeper who comes for the ball roars, "KEEPER" for one reason, a single outcry tells her team mates to get the frig out of the way because this ball is mine and I want it!

It is called putting a name onto the ball and is a tactically sound communication that all us coaches like to see displayed by our players!

Contrary to this idea is the un tactically sound to scream ANY word into the ear of an opponent in the hopes of unnerving or distracting them!

There is this myth that seemingly will not be dispelled by our vaunted efforts no matter how much effort we place on getting the word out! That words such as mine, or I got it, somehow are unsporting just by saying them. Total barf cookies fed to us by those with no clue on the laws of the game. What is said is not as important as why and how? I go up for a ball in a crowd and shout "Richard's ball !" it ids to my team mate hey guys I take responsibility for this challenge. It warns the opponent that this ball will be contested. There is NOTHING NADA that can be construed as unfair or unethical.

Now if I creep up behind an opponent and scream KEEPER into his ear or I scream Richard's ball or Mine or I got it or Arrrrrrgh as I cup my hands around my mouth. Just what was I trying to do? Yes you got it, I was unethical and unfair as I tried to startle or get my opponent to pullout of the challenge. This is USB and if spotted by the referee it is an INDFK with a caution show a yellow card to the perpetrator!

Now I know there are those that feel an indfk for this type of verbal impeding is all that the match really needs but WHY I disagree is that scream of WHATEVER words or phrase are used to distract or unnerve an opponent are calculated to do exactly that.

I go up and yell, "I got it!" in a crowd, it could be confusing to some degree to both my team mates and my opponents but if I try to get it how does that unfairly affect my opponents? I really thought I was trying to say to my teammates I got it! I got it! and as I go up for it I likely felt my team mates knew rather than aha I put one over on my opponents. Given the remote fact that it could be construed in a crowd as an unfair attempt to disrupt an opponent which is why putting a name on it takes that sting of misconception away.

If a team mate and I as the keeper are at the back and a ball comes between us and I say KEEPER or I got it! Then likely my team-mate will let me have it.
If an opponent and I as the keeper are at the back and I say KEEPER" or keeper's ball or I got it do you really expect my opponent to stop and say oh ok I will not challenge as you have unfairly put me off because I thought I could get it but now that you said you would get it I guess I won't get it?
Get it?

Just a word of warning though if a referee as the match condition decided that those words are not part of free speech then for that match his decisions his reputation!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Nathan Lacy

No worries in my book. I think this ref confused the "my ball" issue with calling "keeper" but they are most certainly not the same thing. All the best,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

This referee felt that that was unsporting behavior. I and the rest of the panel disagree. Too bad!

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

See Question: 15908