Question Number: 17336

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/15/2007

RE: Competive Under 15

Joel of Fallbrook, California USA asks...

what would be called if a player is sprinting down the field with the ball and a player, from the opposite team, purposefully puts himself in front of the player and with having absoultely no possibility of taking away the ball and gets laid out by the sprinting player would that be a foul for the sprinting player or the other one?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Joel a player is entitled to stand his ground if that is where he is long before you got there. When an opponent tries to impede and gets run over for his troubles there could be holding or charging fouls depending on which player the referee feels is at fault. If you intercept at 90 degrees at 20 miles an hour somebody going to get hurt real bad. So reckless and excessive come into play. To jump into the path of a speeding opponent you will get knocked, the referee might play advantage and later when you groggily pick yourself up see a card being waved in your face you will be reminded better not do that again! Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

It's either a no-call, impeding, or holding by the defender. If the player was in that space well before the attacker, it could be a no-call and play continues. It could be impeding (indirect free kick) if the referee felt that the contact was solely initiated by the running attacker who could not run around the defender. If the referee felt the defender had any part in causing the the physical contact then it's going to be a hold against the defender (direct free kick).

The defender should start running for the ball or get out the way to avoid this situation.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Depends upon how far in front of the attacking player the oppoenet was. If he sets up 5 yards ahead the attacker has plenty of time to go around and chooses not to and may be called for charging. If he abrubptly steps in fron with no contact it would be impeding and if contact it would be holding. Of course, if this is done recklessly or with excessive force there may be cards involved