Question Number: 15921

Other 7/1/2007

RE: competive Under 12

marthea cole of labrador city, canada asks...

what do you call a soccer ball and what don't you call a soccer ball or the referee wil blow the whistle and give a free kick to the other team?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Marthea,
I am not 100% sure what you are asking but I will assume you are saying MY ball! or I got it! or words to that effect? It is a myth that saying those words is an infringment. What you can not do is yell or attempt to decieve an opponent by calling out something unfair to trick him or and yelling into his ear to unnerve him. I suggest you put a name on the ball when you want to let your team mates know that you want to challenge for it "Marthea's ball" other words like pass it or support or square are the same idea, you are communicating to your players about your position and you are available for the ball there is NOTHING unfair or illegal when you do this! An inexperianced referee will have different ideas as to what constitutes this and unfortunately for that match what he decides will rule that day. So if he says do not then don't
I hope I got it right
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

Marthea,

I would really like to give you a good solid answer - could you be a little bit more specific as to what you mean when you say "what do you call a soccer ball?"

If you get back to me, I'll do my best to answer your question!

Thanks so much, hope to be hearing from you soon.

Answer provided by Referee Jon Sommer

You call a soccerball a 'football' ;) Being English by origin, the name should stay.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

I call it a soccer ball. Not sure what they call it else where.