Question Number: 16716

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/16/2007

RE: Competive Under 16

Denise of Sacramento, CA Sacramento asks...

What is a good way to determine if there is a foul when an attacker is trying to get the ball from a defender. Often I see this when there is a player trapped and almost still position and the attacking team is trying to get the ball from the defender.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

No matter how much a player wants to take the ball away, he cannot foul his opponent while doing so. So there can be no kicking, pushing, holding, etc.

Neither can the opponent shielding the ball foul the players trying to get it. No backing into (a form of an unfair charge), no elbowing, etc.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Shoulder to shoulder touching is permitted in a challenge for the ball before the ball is touched. No other touching is allowed. In the event one player is impeding an opponent chest to back contact is permitted but it must not be dangerous to either. ALL other forms of beating an opponent off the ball are foul play, no matter what television commentators and coaches say. The thing a referee must do is determine if the players themselves consider what's being done to them acceptable or not at that instant in time. This is how good referees earn their match fees.

Once the referee determines a player has a high level of acceptance for getting hacked, held, undressed, hit, yelled at or any other of TV commentator "fair" stuff she must keep in mind the player can have a change of heart and what was fair then isn't any more. That's when fights start, the player's "enough light" illuminates and out comes a fist. The referee should intervene BEFORE that happens.

Those referees who let them play until a fight starts are sad cases indeed. It is so simple to read players facial expressions and figure out when they want help... Of course the referee has to be there to see the expression change and that might involve something more than standing in the center circle and taking sun.

Regards,