Question Number: 17427

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/21/2007

RE: USSF 07 Adult

David Ogrin of New Braunfels, Texas USA asks...

This is a Law 12 Q.

In back to back games I had to make a call while a player from themselves basically sitting on the ball while it was in play.

In game 1 a defender fell and sat on the ball in the penalty area. As he was getting up he shileded the ball very effectively by "crab walking". Attackers were all around him. I whistled him for playing in a dangerous manner and awarded an IFK.

In game 2 pretty much at mid field an attacker fell and sat on the ball. Before I could give instructions or before the young lady could begin to get up she was kicked by an opponent. I called a foul on the opponent who kicker her while she was down and awarded a DFK.

My question really is this: when we find a player on the ground with the ball each set of circumstances requires unique calls. Since in and of itself a player can certainly play the ball while they are on the ground the referee needs to watch for violations of all the other laws as well. Is this correct? Also how do the top of the top officals handle these cases where a player finds himself trying to "hatch" the ball?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

David what you should look at in these cases is this: does anyone give up play for the ball because of the dangerous act? This is the key to playing in a dangerous manner. A dangerous act with the ball in play, an opponent close by and someone giving up play because of the dangerous act. Kicking or attempting to kick is self explanatory so you need not worry if you got that right or not. One other thing the referee should be concerned about is did the player lie on the ball for an unnecessarily long time. If so that is unsporting and it is dealt with as Law 12 on the misconduct side demands.

Yes, each is a different set of circumstances. But in every set of circumstances there are common threads, is there a danger? Is an opponent involved? Did someone quit contesting for the ball because of the danger. Once that is understood the referee may approach playing in a dangerous manner in a different way. At higher levels of youth play U-19, U20's and U-23's and most amateur competition players usually have sufficient skill to avoid kicking someone and still play the ball. They usually do, too. When the referee sees one player try to head the ball and another use a high boot neither is giving up play. Not only that, but a lot of referees feel they accept the danger as fair play. That said, fair play amid danger, accepting and something happens the referee had better be looking at the eyes of the player contributing most to the something.

If they are fixed on the ball, accidents do happen. Players are kicked all the time "By Accident" and this is not foul play. On the other hand if the eyes are fixed on what gets kicked then it ain't no frigging accident and you better get in your pocket. This is the difference between a 20 year very experienced grade 08 who has never seen an assessor or been expected to get 85% on his refresher test and a grade 07 who works his arse off to get where he is. Keep plugging away, you have the most part of what it takes, you recognize what is going on and can relate it, a few tweaks and along comes three more assessments, higher physical standards, a new test to take and grade 06.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi David,
in my opinion your interpretation is as good as it gets. Well done. Top official or grassroots the opinion of the referee is each situation is judged based on the reasons the player is there on top of a ball and the reasonableness of how long and in what manner he gets up and plays it and the deference by the opposing players in their restraint or as you noted unfair actions. I have scored a goal while on my butt and defended the same way with no infringements. You appear to understand the myth that a ball cannot be played while the player is on the ground is indeed bunk but that all parties here must exercise a certain amount of responsibility in their actions. Just because a player falls or is knocked down he is under no obligation to get up in a manner that makes it easy for an opponent to get to the ball, after all the ball is within a playable distance. You will find the greater the skill the more willing and better able they are to play into and around the circumstance instead of stop playing altogether.
Cheers