Question Number: 18031

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 11/30/2007

RE: rec Under 14

Linda Roberts of Suisun City, CA USA asks...

Based on the description below, what would be your advice re: what to look for when contact occurs during play to determine if a foul has occurred?
Before describing the play, this might be helpful to know: the referee that called the game has much more experience than I do as a ref; my assumption is that he made the correct call.
The play: Player A has control of the ball and is dribbling near sideline. Opponent Player B comes towards Player A and contact occurs. Picturing an analog clock face, Player A was moving from 12:00 toward 6:00; Player B was moving from 6:00 toward 12:00. Contact occurred in the center of the clock face, with Player A ending up on the ground and Player B leaving with the ball. The referee would be placed at ~ 8:00, maybe ten yards away. My view was from 4:00, about 20 yards away. There was no call from the referee; play continued.

What might the referee have seen or been looking for to make a decision here? My competency about fouls needs a lot of development; your answers will help me here. Thanks.
PS- I was the coach of Player B; if it was up to me, I would have called a foul.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

When two players crash straight on like this, I'd probably be looking for a foul too. They can't hardly claim that they didn't see each other. You'd have to decide who to make the call on - which player looked more like she was crashing through the other? Perhaps the ref called nothing because to him it looked like 50/50 fault, and if there was no injury there was no need to stop play.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

If the referee has an angle to see between the players, which from your description he does, then he should be able to see if one player tackles the other before tackling the ball, or whether one kicks or trips the other. If they come together, meeting at the ball, and one guy trips over the ball and one dribbles away with it, there is likely no offense to be called, unless there is more to the situation than mentioned above. You didn't say why you thought the offense should have been called - give it a name, and you'll be better able to judge if it was or wasn't.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

It is all about angles and the referees positioning here. If the referee is in a different angle, he may see a different foul. The referee must evaluate and decide what player (if any) caused the contact. If it was a 50/50 collission, then it is possible that there was no foul.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Linda, remember way back to your entry level clinic. Someone mentioned that the referee needs to position herself so she can see between the two players. That way the referee will be able to see the arm fly out, the leg make contact, the flying hip and all the things that just look bad. The key is be in a position so you can see.

Remember too, we talked about fitness, fitness, fitness. When we have that we can position ourselves advantageously even though we're behind play.

So there is a face to face collision. Was there contact between the two players before there was contact with the ball? If yes tackles the ball to gain possession of the ball, making contact with the opponent before touching the ball is what you see. Is the ball flicked out of the way before the contact? If so was there an attempt to avoid contact? Yes, was the contact at least reckless? Yes, charging is what you see. No, play continues.

All you must do is get in position to see between the players. Fitness, fitness, fitness. The referee MUST be able to be close to Any significant contact in the first and last minute of play at either end of the park on the match she accepts, remember me saying that? Close is defined as 10 -15 yards. The referee must be in the penalty area when two players are competing for the ball in the goal area, remember the film clip of the referee entering the goal area at a sprint just as a goal is scored?

Fitness Linda, fitness.

Regards, C.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Linda,
The angle of view a referee has is different than a spectator, parent, player or coach. As my colleagues' touch on getting that best angle of view it means effort and focus as well as physical conditioning. Some things are obvious to all no matter what angle but MOST often the perception and the reality of the event is not the same.

Ask Esse Baharmast a referee at the World Cup in 98 when he went through two days of vile threats and condemnation for what PROVED TO BE a 100% correct call that a BILLION people did not see in the televised segments but a camera from behind the goal by a Scandinavian company caught as CLEAR as a bright sunny day. That day they held that precious angle as did Esse even though Esse was in front and the camera was behind.

Words rarely describe the crunch of a collision!
From eye contact to how a body reacts to the nearness of the other by repositioning for an impeding challenge. We need to see it to accurately measure the degree of fair or foulness as the case may be!

I coach and when teaching defensive tactics I want my defenders to go into a tackle with all their body not just a foot in or a leg drag where only a small portion of the body has a chance to intercept the ball. I want an opposite foot to foot points of contact in the right footed dribbling attacker is met with a left footed defending challenge that places the body in front of the oncoming attacker where as a right foot to right foot challenge places only a portion of the right foot in the way of the ball and leaves a knee to knee/thigh collision as a distinct possibility.

Two freight trains a coming, the player with the ball has a slight edge given the opponent must take it away FAIRLY. But while neither player can blow through their opponent nor can we impede the ball carrier if the ball is not played, the ball within playing distance must be fairly played and we watch to ensure it is so!
Cheers