Question Number: 16134

Law 3 - Number of Players 7/26/2007

Gil Acedo of Pasdena, CA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 16069

Hello Referees. I would like to throw in my 2 cents worth on this one.

Bob didn't identify the type of tournament their team was playing in. I believe it could make a difference. For example, in our region's Thanksgiving Tournament where several hundred teams are registered and playing on fields where there are no lights, squeezing in the last games of the day becomes a challenge when the late-November sun sets soon after 4 PM. Matches are scheduled back-to-back and our referees (I am one of the Tournament Referee Coordinators)are instructed to stop the games 10 minutes before the start of the next match, NO MATTER HOW LATE THE MATCH STARTED. We even use an air horn. Three blasts says, "blow the whistle and stop the game, NOW!"

This is the only way that every one gets a chance to play. The games are competitive and the best teams may make it to the playoffs, but generally it's a great way for the teams to play in a festive, fun atmosphere; but add a few minutes to even half the scheduled games and the players at the end of the day may play only 10-minute halves. No referee wants one team to be disadvantaged unfairly, but everyone paid to play soccer, even those playing at the end of the day.

On the other hand, tournaments held to determine champions such as State or National Cup allow enough time between matches that time lost can be adjusted for without delaying the start of the next game. Adding time is not only accepted but expected to account for the time-wasting for some teams.

There may be some tournaments where time-wasting must be dealt with in ways that don't include adding time. So, unless you want to drive the ref scheduler nuts, stop the match on schedule.

If I was a referee in this type of game, I would insist that the subs be on the half-way line before I would even blow the whistle for the sub-opportunity. Then if the player was too slow coming off the field I would say "Next time, Coach" and restart the game. I think that may speed things up.

Thanks for your time.

Gil Acedo

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Ah, a practical refereeing suggestion! Excellent! As a former tournament assignor of many years, I know exactly what you are talking about. I hated it very much when referees weren't paying attention and neglected the time, causing everyone else to run late and throwing the schedules into chaos, and have been known to jump up and down about it. However, if a referee had a really good reason for adding a bit of time, I could be convinced not to throttle them, that one time! It is all about the game - and the teams know the halves are shorter and that we aren't to add time - so the referee needs to be reasonable and make any added time very scant. Like you, I have always gone by the coaches (whether or not it is a tournament, but especially then) and in a friendly way reminded them a sub not ready to come in will have to wait until the next opportunity. Good post!

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Gil,
it is always good and useful for us to hear from you.
I participated as a director in a league (not a tournament)that did the same thing . We were big on ending a match no matter what. What was done there was 15 minutes allowed to delay the start but if up to 7 starters were present the match started, late comers came in as they arrived. The match ended 15 minutes before the scheduled start of the next match as a horn sounded to clear the field. No waiting in the rain no waiting for a match to finish when you should be playing. The difference of course is there was sufficient time to add a bit if a match STARTED on time!

In any tournament, in any match, the substitute should be on the half way line as part of the correct procedure. Failure to be there at the stoppage meant you do not substitute period! The exemption in unlimited substitutions is injury when a player or keeper replacement is needed.

One bylaw that a tournament might consider is if any tournament official noticed any team employing tactics of an unsporting nature, like delay returning to the field at half or start up or engaged in time wasting actions where a referee was forced to caution more than once the team could forfeit the match if the ruling body decided there was just cause. Medical delays are difficult but proper first aid responders should be able to be on hand to minimize delays.

While I can not condone trying to fit TOO many games in before night fall as scheduler and tournament organizer I understand the difficulties and agree that sanctioned tournaments where state provincial or national advancements occur have sufficient time added . It is the fun lets get together and play tournaments where the problems arise.

Field availability and officials in sufficient numbers is always a head ache. I have tried 4 officials assigned to a field for four matches each referee did one match as centre 2 as AR and 1 as 4th. All referees were paid $100.00 per 4 matches with free food and accommodation provided if required. I switched up the four on the second day so we could enjoy working with new officials but stressed the equal pay and worked at keeping the 4 officials al at the same field whenever possible . We have had massage therapists on hand as well as 2 +floater referees who worked the referee holding area and subbed in when required if no show or injury. The acting 4th really dealt with team behavior at the subs which go like clock work if we train our referees well! Yes we do know that different levels of play require more experienced referee but we also acknowledge you need to step up to the plate having a good experienced 4th will allow an inexperienced referee to have a better shot at controlling the match.

We scheduled matches as to the order but allowed the 4 referees to determine if any alterations needed to be made in the arrangement of who refereed, who ARed and who was 4th depending on the circumstances. Since the rate of pay was the same the prestige factor was the issue at times but mostly co-operation and sharing responsibility was the order of the day. We asked the coaches/teams to rate all 4 referees as to overall performances and sent assessors to at least one match out of the four. We never said which match it would be!
While we had referees who were capable of doing more than the four matches those just in for the money rarely had more than another 1 or 2 and usually as AR.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Well if thats whats agreed upon and everyone is happy...cool. But no way can the games be 100% fair if that is the case and the referees certainly have a power and a duty taken away. Also, that promotes teams wasting time and delaying restarts. I simply do not like that...but hey thats my 2 cents. We will leave it at that.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I concur with Ref Mueller. The air horn has completely removed the referee's discretion. Now he can't even add a couple seconds on to see if that ball in the air makes it into the goal or not. Let alone give the team a couple more minutes to make up for blatant time-wasting by their opponents.

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