Question Number: 17378

Law 7 - Match Duration 10/18/2007

RE: Girls State Cup Under 19

Steve of Vero Beach, FL USA asks...

I think I missed this one, please advise.

In a recent game, Team A was awarded a goal kick. The keeper sets up the kick from one corner of the goal area line, steps back then moves forward, picks up the ball and runs to the other corner where she executes the kick. As it ws happening, I thought this is wrong, but could not figure out why, so I let it go. No one from the other team seemed to be bothered by it and the game went on without incident.

After reflecting upon it, I believe that the keeper was guilty of misconduct, delaying the restart. This was confirmed by a referee friend who was in attendance (his daughter plays for team A.)

Is this a Delay of the Restart or am I over thinking the call?

Thanks,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Steve,
in such cases the first time if it truly is just a funny trait just warn them no put the ball down and kick it. No restart has occurred so the goal kick is unaffected and no caution is likely required to get your point across. If it was one in a series of events where delaying the restart and messing with time is the sole purpose then a caution might be considered. This sounds as a tactical bit of foolery.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Once the ball is on the ground at a goal kick it stays there. What you should have done is just forbidden the keeper from doing it. I don't think you "blew it" as it's still a trifling offense in many referees minds not deserving of a caution.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I'm sure the player didn't intend to be wasting time. She just wanted to get the ball out where there were fewer opponents. I'm not sure how effective moving the ball would be to accomplish this, as any alert opponent would see the keeper running across the goal area.

Still, moving the ball did use up a bit of time, did it not? So technically she has delayed her restart. It may be trifling, a trivial amount of time compared to the time it took to retrieve the ball from behind the goal in the first place. So as my colleagues suggest, it's hardly a matter to start cautioning over, unless it's prolonged or repeated. Simply give a few short tweets on your whistle and point for her to put the ball back down where it was first placed.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Steve what troubles you troubles many referees. What you see as trifling just isn't trifling to other referees. That's the problem, "To" referees. We aren't the ones who should be concerned about that. What we should be doing is determining whether or not it is "apparently" trifling to their opponents. Those are the folks who will, ultimately, get tired of something and if we don't intervene before that happens then we will surely intervene when they take it upon themselves to seek justice.

We, the referee on that match, must judge if what we see is going to affect things then and now. In the time wasting arena Law 7 affords us the ability to make allowance for time lost so time isn't really wasted. Also Law 12 allows delaying a restart is an offence for which the player will be cautioned and shown the yellow card. Where the referee hits the wall is on a Saturday match or in tournament play where the "powers that be" deny the right to add time.

They move the ball and waste a second or two, we can't add on, now what? Yup, when we intervene we delay the restart and don't have the ability to add time lost. So rock and hard place time.

If we see time wasting and we are prohibited by league or tournament rule to add time lost we must ensure it is not lost. When we caution the first instance it MAY curtail the behavior. This is good. BUT, you knew that was coming didn't you? But, what happens if this is something in the game play of a side holding a small lead in a match. They have been told to waste time [as opposed to use time] at every opportunity BECAUSE of your inability to add. Now what?

Here, if you decide time is wasted AND can't add, who is responsible for bringing The Game into disrepute. Remember wasting time is MUCH different than using time when the ball is in play. Wasting time is extending the period the ball is not in play to your side's advantage. It prevents the opponents from playing the ball, again to your advantage. When you feel that is happening you must get to the root of the problem, the person who told them to do what they are doing AND the person who can tell them to stop. Yup, the coach!! When you discover this tactic is being used AND you are prohibited from adding time you must inform the coach his doing this is bringing The Game into disrepute and if if continues he will be expelled. If that solves the problem of time wasting, super. If it doesn't you must have the courage to carry through on what you said AND what the coach has asked you to do... He goes.

At this point, regardless what the special rule says, you add time. Here you have just made the point the time wasting is deliberately coached and intolerable. Now you must ensure the crime does not go unpunished. Future time wasting will be dealt with in the manner Law 12 demands AND time is added to ensure their opponents may demonstrate their skills.

There are other ways to waste time that don't appear as such, a goal kick or free kick taken but touched before leaving the penalty area, setting up an offside decision every time you attack, giving an obvious indirect free kick offence right in front of the referee, an on and on.

Regards,