Question Number: 16440

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/26/2007

RE: Rec Under 14

Ross of Ottawa, Ontario Canada asks...

I am a new referee, and I am still puzzling over pushing, charging and a fair shoulder challenge.

I am specifically thinking of where an attacker and a defender are running side-by-side after a ball, jostling one another as they run (basically shoulder-to-shoulder, or body-to-body). One will end up being able to out-muscle the other player, and take possession of the ball. To me, this is part and parcel of the normal physical contact of the game. I only blow my whistle if I see an arm or a hand push off the other player. But of course there is the usual chorus of "pushing!" from some of the parents. Am I being too lenient?

The second scenerio is similar, but where the defender comes at an angle and hits the other player shoulder-to-shoulder, knocking him or her off of the ball. Charging?

Finally, at the lower age groups (11-13 years), there can be quite a size difference between players, and a larger player obviously can use his or her body (again, no arms or hands) to over-power a smaller one. To what extent does a ref take this into account when deciding if it is pushing or fair contact?

Thank you for your insight.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

It sounds like you have a good grasp on the concept of a fair charge. Two players meet side-by-side as they both attempt to play the ball. The one with the better leverage often wins; the one with lesser leverage may end up on the ground. The leverage may be because of player size or footing or strength or speed, or any combination of them. That isn't a foul for something against the Laws of the Game. Rather, it is simply the consequences of the Laws of Physics.

In your second scenario, I think I am seeing a player charging in with a leading shoulder, like a pointy-ball player might be doing, bashing him away from play. While we usually consider striking as done with the hand, it could also be done with the elbow or shoulder. That scenario would be a foul. Whether you call it a strike or push matters little, as both are DFK fouls.

When the players are side by side and the arm comes out to help gain leverage, that is a push. It helps if you are directly behind the players to see this clearly. When both players start pushing each other equally, you can just yell at them to knock it off.

When players are of mis-matched sizes, the larger player can often overpower the smaller due to his better leverage. Again, that's physics not foul, as long as the player's mechanics are proper.

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

See Question: 16627