Soccer Ref's Are Professionals But Sometimes They Get It Wrong

Here's an article by Dr. Robb Webb as part of their Ask the Ref series.  It's currently posted on SoccerNation.com.

Worth a read....
========================================
“We are, after all, professionals.” Hunter S. Thompson, The Great Shark Hunt
Referees, after all, are professional, and they get it right. However, sometimes they make mistakes. It happens. Referees are human, just like the rest of us. When I first put on a badge, many years ago, I was told ‘you’re going to make mistakes, it’s going to happen’. Since then, I’ve learned that when I blow a call to acknowledge the error, to learn from it, and to move on. What else can you do?

I was just asked to write an article about alleged incidents that occurred in a particular State Cup game that a particular parent did not like. There was allegedly a missed offside call that resulted in a goal that allegedly decided the outcome of the game. Also, one of the AR’s was allegedly less than professional in his dealings with the coach and players.

I’m not sure what to write about. The ref may or may not have blown an offside call. That's news? It happens on occasion. We all wish it didn't, but it does. Even in the World Cup. And don't think I'm trying to be rude here, but that’s the way it goes. Even if I did look at the video (which I haven’t) and said ‘yep, looked offside to me’, what difference would it make in the outcome of the game? And the video only offers one point of view, and not the view of the ref making the call, and that is the only view that matters.
........

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

What Is "Advantage"?

Source:  Cover of the FIFA Laws of the Game 2010/2011

Ever watch a game and see a foul committed but the referee didn't blow the whistle? You may think in fact the ref "blew" the call by not calling a foul.   But wait...

The ref may have been invoking a rule known as "advantage".   It simply means we don't want a team who commits a foul to benefit from stopping play when the fouled team has the ball and an advantage in allowing play to continue.  You see a similar concept in basketball where the ref can call a foul but allow a basket to count after a foul has been committed.

So next time the ref doesn't blow the whistle on a foul - think twice before screaming FOUL!!!! at the top of your lungs  - the ref might simply be invoking advantage.    It'll be easier on your lungs and your neighbor's ears....   :)

Here's the rule definition from the FIFA Laws of the Game 2010/2011, Law 5:  The Referee.

Advantage

The referee may play advantage whenever an infringement or offence occurs. The referee should consider the following circumstances in deciding whether to apply the advantage or stop play:

• the severity of the offence: if the infringement warrants an expulsion, the referee must stop play and send off the player unless there is a subsequent opportunity to score a goal

• the position where the offence was committed: the closer to the opponent’s goal, the more effective it can be

• the chances of an immediate, promising attack

• the atmosphere of the match
The decision to penalise the original offence must be taken within a few seconds. If the offence warrants a caution, it must be issued at the next stoppage. However, unless there is a clear advantage, it is recommended that the referee stops play and cautions the player immediately. If the caution is NOT issued at the next stoppage, it cannot be shown later.

RCL Player Movement Guidelines

Here are the official guidelines from the Regional Club Subcommittee for non-EFC players who may be interested in attending the training sessions of an Eastside FC team prior to the upcoming tryouts.

1) During the week between state finals and the start of tryouts, and only during that week, non-EFC players may ask to attend trainings an EFC team may be holding.

2) The practices will not be advertised. There can only be two practices per team.

3) The player *must initiate* interest, and the EFC coach must have an email thread from the player (or parents) expressing their interest. They must have this email in hand prior to a player coming to a practice. A phone call is insufficient.  A player/parent may call the EFC coach, they can talk and agree to them joining a training, but must email them as well.

4) Players cannot be given spots at the practices, although relative levels of interest from both parties can be expressed. The intent is to allow players to be informed of their options so they make a good choice for where to tryout. Hopefully we limit the amount of movement during the season by allowing players to make better choices at the tryouts.

Handball! More Information

In a prior post entitled Handball! , we discussed the Laws of the Game around handling the ball.  We recently received an email from our friend Tom Hill, a board member at Issaquah Soccer Club, highlighting the US Soccer Federation's "Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game 2009/2010".  This publication by the USSF’s National Referee Development Program is specifically intended to give USSF referees, assistant referees and fourth officials a reliable compilation of the Interpretation of the Laws of the Game and Guidelines for Referees which are provided as part of the Laws of the Game. 

It is not a replacement for the Laws of the Game, nor is it a "how to" book on refereeing: It is an official statement of Federation interpretations of the Laws.

For those interested in learning more about what is (and perhaps more importantly, what is NOT) a 'handball', read on.....

12.9 DELIBERATE HANDLING

The offense known as "handling the ball" involves deliberate contact with the ball by a player's hand or arm (including fingertips, upper arm, or outer shoulder - see diagram below).

"Deliberate contact" means

• that the player could have avoided the touch but chose not to,
• that the player's arms were not in a normal playing position at the time,
• or that the player deliberately continued an initially accidental contact for the purpose of gaining an unfair advantage.

Moving hands or arms instinctively to protect the body when suddenly faced with a fast approaching ball does not constitute deliberate contact unless there is subsequent action to direct the ball once contact is made. Likewise, placing hands or arms to protect the body at a free kick or similar restart is not likely to produce an infringement unless there is subsequent action to direct or control the ball.

The fact that a player may benefit from the ball contacting the hand does not transform the otherwise accidental event into an infringement. A player infringes the Law regarding handling the ball even if direct contact is avoided by holding something in the hand (clothing, shinguard, etc.).

NOTE: In most cases in the Laws of the Game, the words "touch," "play," and "make contact with" mean the same thing. This is not true in the case of deliberate handling, where the touch, play, or contact by the offending player must be planned and deliberate.

12.10 RULE OF THUMB FOR "HANDLING"

The rule of thumb for referees is that it is handling if the player plays the ball, but not handling if the ball plays the player. The referee should punish only deliberate handling of the ball, meaning only those actions when the player (and not the goalkeeper within the ‘keeper’s own penalty area) strikes or propels the ball with the hand or arm (shoulder to tip of fingers).

12.11 USE OF THE SHOULDER

For purposes of determining deliberate handling of the ball, the "hand" is considered to be any part of the arm-hand from fingertip to shoulder. Using the top of the shoulder is not considered as using the hand. (A diagram showing the area of “the hand” is shown below.)

 

What's "Advantage" Mean?

Ever hear a ref call "Play On!" or "Advantage!"  Here's what it means.....

Laws of the Game:  Law 5 - The Referee, articulates the authority, powers, duties, and decision-making scope of the referee.

Under the Powers and Duties section of Law 5, one clause states the following: 

"[The referee] allows play to continue when the team against which an offence has been committed will benefit from such an advantage and penalises the original offence if the anticipated advantage does not ensue at that time."

This clause gives the ref discretion to allow play to continue even after a foul has been committed if stopping play would unfairly punish the fouled team.  The idea is that the team which committed the foul should not benefit from the foul.

An example of a situation in which the ref could call "Play On" or "Advantage" might be if the fouled team had a breakaway & might score even after having been fouled.  In this case the ref might call "Play On" to allow the breakaway to succeed.  If it does not, the ref has discretion to halt play and call the penalty on the original offense.

Andrew Boyd Stepping Down As Club Referee Rep

Andrew Boyd has an eye for soccer.

Andrew Boyd has been Eastside FC's referee representative for the last 6 years.  He's finally stepping down and we'd like to thank him for such a great contribution.

Here's a little bit about the job he has so ably done for the club.  It involves being the liaison between the referee community and the club. The primary duties of the role are:

1. Assist the registrar in loading games to the referee website to facilitate getting quality refs assigned to EFC matches.

2. Maintain the "Teams Table" on the referee site.

3. Manage the Referee in Pool program, and ensure that each team has a representative for their team.

4. Coordinate with the EFC Treasurer regarding which teams have met their Referee in Pool commitment
5. Work with EFC Leadership and EKCSRA leadership when game protests, red cards, or other significant issues happen that need attention.

7. Public speaking at the EFC orientation nights recruiting parents and older players to become a referee.

8. Represent EFC on the EYSA Referee Committee.

9. Organize Referee training classes for new referees.

Andrew is also the State Treasurer for the Washington State Referee Committee, which serves Washington State Youth Soccer (all youth matches in Washington), and Washington State Soccer Association (all amature USSF adult matches in Washington). As Treasurer, he coordinates all the payments for the organization, and serve the 5,000 referees in Washington as one of the 6 voting members of the committee leadership team. Andrew will be concentrating his efforts on the committee agenda in the future.

Thanks, Andrew!!

What Are Those Hash Marks For?

I've always wondered about the hash marks that are on the touch line and goal line.  What the heck are they for?  Finally looked it up today...  They're put down to mark the 10 yd limit for defenders to approach when corner kicks are being taken.

Here's what I found about hash marks from the Laws of the Game, Chapter 1 - The Field of Play
.....
Marks may be made off the field of play, 9.15 m (10 yds) from the corner arc and at right angles to the goal lines and the touch lines, to ensure that defending players retreat this distance when a corner kick is being taken.
.....

More on Red Cards Specific to WA Youth Soccer

Andrew Boyd provides some additional detail regarding red cards with respect to playing in Washington Youth Soccer leagues....

There are 7 different types of red cards, and each can have different consequences. When a player receives a red card, they cannot play in the match anymore, and if they were one of the players of record (the active players on the field during the match) the team may need to play short for the rest of the match.

Substitutes who are sent off do not require that the team play shorthanded. In addition, the recipient of a red card is suspended for at least one more match. The WYS disciplinary committee has established the following MINIMUM suspensions of a person receives a red card:


Penalties for being Sent Off:

Serious Foul Play: Examples include, but are not necessarily limited to: when a player, in a violent or dangerous manner intentionally holds, trips, pushes, charges or tackles an opponent from behind: 
     1 match

Violent Conduct: Examples include but are not necessarily limited to: striking or attempting to strike another player, team official or spectator, or unlawfully entering the field of play during an altercation:
     2 matches (3 if conduct is directed towards an official)

Spitting at another person:
     2 matches (3 if spitting at an official)

Denying a goal by handling the ball:
     1 match

Denying an obvious goal score opportunity by unlawful means:
     1 match

Foul or abusive language or gestures: Examples include, but are not necessarily limited to: Foul or abusive language said loud enough for the game official to hear, but not directed at a specific individual. Includes, racial, sexual, religious or ethnic slurs:
     1 match (not directed at another)


     2 matches (directed at a player)


     3 matches (directed at a referee)

Send Off for Second Cautionable Offense during a match:
     1 match
Suspensions can also be imposed if there is an accumulation of points from cards accumulated in the season. Cautions (Yellows) count as one point, and Send Offs (Reds) count as three. If a player receives a Send off because they received two cautions in a match, the total count for that game is set at three. There are 4 cases where point accumulations and cards can result in further suspensions:
• Players/coaches that accumulate three red cards/ejections in a seasonal year will be subject to disciplinary actions.

• Players that accumulate seven (7) points from red and/or yellow card accumulation during the seasonal year will be subject to disciplinary actions.

• A coach of a team receiving fifteen (15) points accumulated from red and/or yellow cards during the seasonal year, will be subject to disciplinary actions.

• The coach of a team that has four players who received red cards during the seasonal year will be subject to disciplinary actions.

Note also that “points” reset each season, and that state tournaments often have their own sections that talk about point accumulation within the tournament play. Points do not transfer between league play and tournament, but suspensions may transfer, if there are no more games from the competition that the player was suspended from (example, player receives a one game suspension from a red card received in the last game of the season, then the player must sit out their next WYS match, which may be the state tournament).

The Red Card

Photo:  Rtimages Dreamstime.com

Finishing the section on Disciplinary Sanctions from Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct, we focus on red cards.
 
A red card is given...

• only to players - not coaches, spectators, or other personnel - and...

• is a formal signal to the player that he or she has been sent-off (kicked out of the game) for...

• committing one of seven sending-off [red card] offences:

           1.  serious foul play

          2.  violent conduct

          3.  spitting at an opponent or any other person

          4.  denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by
               deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his
               own penalty area)

          5.  denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards
               the player’s goal by an offence punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick

          6.  using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures

          7.  receiving a second caution [yellow card] in the same match

A player, substitute or substituted player who has been sent off must leave the vicinity of the field of play and the technical area..  The full text of the law pertaining to disciplinary sanctions (including yellow cards) is provided below.

======================================

From Law 12

Disciplinary Sanctions

The yellow card is used to communicate that a player, substitute or substituted player has been cautioned.

The red card is used to communicate that a player, substitute or substituted player has been sent off.

Only a player, substitute or substituted player may be shown the red or yellow card.

The referee has the authority to take disciplinary sanctions from the moment he enters the field of play until he leaves the field of play after the final whistle.

A player who commits a cautionable or sending-off offence, either on or off the field of play, whether directed towards an opponent, a team-mate, the referee, an assistant referee or any other person, is disciplined according to the nature of the offence committed.

 Cautionable Offences

 A player is cautioned and shown the yellow card if he commits any of the following seven offences:

 • unsporting behaviour

 • dissent by word or action

 • persistent infringement of the Laws of the Game

 • delaying the restart of play

 • failure to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick, free kick or throw-in

 • entering or re-entering the fi eld of play without the referee’s permission

 • deliberately leaving the fi eld of play without the referee’s permission

A substitute or substituted player is cautioned if he commits any of the following three offences:

• unsporting behaviour

• dissent by word or action

• delaying the restart of play

Sending-off Offences

A player, substitute or substituted player is sent off [shown the red card] if he commits any of the following seven offences:

• serious foul play

 • violent conduct

• spitting at an opponent or any other person

• denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity
   by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within
   his own penalty area)

• denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards
  the player’s goal by an offence punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick

• using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures

• receiving a second caution in the same match

A player, substitute or substituted player who has been sent off must leave the
vicinity of the field of play and the technical area.

The Yellow Card

Photo:  Keith Barlow Dreamstime.com

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct is the section of FIFA's Laws of the Game that describes among other things, when yellow and red cards are given.

Basically, a yellow card is given...

• only to players - not coaches, spectators, or other personnel - and...
• is a formal signal to the player that he or she has been cautioned for...
• committing one of seven cautionable offences:

               1.  unsporting behaviour
               2.  dissent by word or action
               3.  persistent infringement of the Laws of the Game
               4.  delaying the restart of play
               5.  failure to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick, free
                    kick or throw-in
               6.  entering or re-entering the field of play without the referee’s permission
               7.  deliberately leaving the field of play without the referee’s permission

There are some fine strokes around this, but that's it in a nutshell.  An edited version of the actual text in the law is provided below.

======================================
From Law 12

Disciplinary Sanctions




The yellow card is used to communicate that a player, substitute or substituted player has been cautioned.


The red card is used to communicate that a player, substitute or substituted player has been sent off.


Only a player, substitute or substituted player may be shown the red or yellow card.


The referee has the authority to take disciplinary sanctions from the moment he enters the field of play until he leaves the field of play after the final whistle.


A player who commits a cautionable or sending-off offence, either on or off the field of play, whether directed towards an opponent, a team-mate, the referee, an assistant referee or any other person, is disciplined according to the nature of the offence committed.


Cautionable Offences


A player is cautioned and shown the yellow card if he commits any of the following seven offences:


• unsporting behaviour


• dissent by word or action


• persistent infringement of the Laws of the Game


• delaying the restart of play


• failure to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick, free kick or throw-in


• entering or re-entering the fi eld of play without the referee’s permission


• deliberately leaving the fi eld of play without the referee’s permission

A substitute or substituted player is cautioned if he commits any of the following three offences:


• unsporting behaviour


• dissent by word or action


• delaying the restart of play

Duration of the Match

Here's the breakdown of how time is allocated during a match, as described by Law 7 - The Duration of the Match.  In summary:

1. A match consists of two 45 minute halves.
2. A half-time interval is specified up to 15 minutes.
3. Stoppage time, or "allowance for time lost" is added on to either 45 minute half at the discretion of the referee.

For match durations by age in youth soccer, read our prior post here.
Below is the text of Law 7 - The Duration of the Match in its entirety.

Periods of Play


The match lasts two equal periods of 45 minutes, unless otherwise mutually agreed between the referee and the two teams. Any agreement to alter the duration of the periods of play (for example, to reduce each half to 40 minutes because of insufficient light) must be made before the start of play and must comply with competition rules.

Half-time Interval

Players are entitled to an interval at half-time.  The half-time interval must not exceed 15 minutes.  Competition rules must state the duration of the half-time interval.  The duration of the half-time interval may be altered only with the consent of the referee.

Allowance for Time Lost

Allowance is made in either period for all time lost through:

• substitutions

• assessment of injury to players

• removal of injured players from the fi eld of play for treatment

• wasting time
• any other cause

The allowance for time lost is at the discretion of the referee.

Penalty Kick

If a penalty kick has to be taken or retaken, the duration of either half is extended until the penalty kick is completed.

The Indirect Free Kick

Beckham waits to take an indirect free kick.

Source:  BBC

Continuing our series on the Laws of the Game, here's the story on indirect free kicks.  Those are the penalties you see where the ref calls a foul, play is stopped, and the opposing team is awarded the penalty.  They take possesion of the ball and kick it to one of their teammates to resume play.  The primary difference between this type of penalty and those associated with direct free kicks are that the list of offences is not as specific and a goal cannot be scored from an indirect free kick.  In other words, you have to pass before you shoot when an indirect free kick is taken.

Here's the section of Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct in italics below.  My own notes are displayed in brackets [].

Indirect Free Kick

An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper, inside his own penalty area, commits any of the following four offences [haven't seen one of these called yet]:


• controls the ball with his hands for more than six seconds before releasing it from his possession


• touches the ball again with his hands after he has released it from his possession and before it has touched another player


• touches the ball with his hands after it has been deliberately kicked to him by a team-mate [note:  however, the goalie is allowed to handle the ball if it is headed back to him from a teammate because this is not proscribed by the law, ie heading is different from kicking]


• touches the ball with his hands after he has received it directly from a throw-in taken by a team-mate


An indirect free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if, in the opinion of the referee, a player:
[this is the typical scenario we see on the field.  ref blows the whistle, play stops, ball changes hands, play resumes]

• plays in a dangerous manner


• impedes the progress of an opponent


• prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands


• commits any other offence, not previously mentioned in Law 12, for which play is stopped to caution or send off a player.

The indirect free kick is taken from the place where the offence occurred (see Law 13 – Position of Free Kick).

Signal [from Law 13 describing the procedure for free kicks]



The referee indicates an indirect free kick by raising his arm above his head. He maintains his arm in that position until the kick has been taken and the ball has touched another player or goes out of play.


Ball Enters the Goal  [from Law 13 describing the procedure for free kicks]

A goal can be scored [from an indirect free kick] only if the ball subsequently touches another player before it enters the goal:


• if an indirect free kick is kicked directly into the opponents’ goal, a goal kick is awarded


• if an indirect free kick is kicked directly into the team’s own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team

Procedure  [from Law 13 describing the procedure for free kicks]


For both direct and indirect free kicks, the ball must be stationary when the kick is taken and the kicker must not touch the ball again until it has touched another player.

Position of Free Kick



Free Kick Inside the Penalty Area


     Direct or indirect free kick to the defending team:


     • all opponents must be at least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the ball


     • the ball is in play when it is kicked directly out of the penalty area

     • all opponents must remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in play

     • a free kick awarded in the goal area may be taken from any point inside that area

     Indirect free kick to the attacking team:

     • all opponents must be at least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the ball until it is in play, unless they
       are on their own goal line between the goalposts

     • the ball is in play when it is kicked and moves

     • an indirect free kick awarded inside the goal area must be taken on the goal area line
        parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred

Free Kick Outside the Penalty Area [the typical scenario in this blog posting]

     • all opponents must be at least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the ball until it is in play

     • the ball is in play when it is kicked and moves

     • the free kick is taken from the place where the infringement occurred or from the
        position of the ball when the infringement occurred (according to the infringement)

Here's the best page on FIFA's website that provides links to all their various laws and regulations governing not just the Laws of the Game, including those for FUTSAL, but tournament regulations, transfers, player status, club/agent regulations, rules of conduct, code of ethics, and disciplinary code.

See also Wikipedia's description of the Indirect Free Kick.  It's pretty good.


More on Laws of the Game

The Penalty Kick and Pics of the Week
The Direct Free Kick - Continued
The Direct Free Kick
Hand Ball!
The Field of Play
Sideline Guideline
Hey!  That Player is Offside!!!

Finding the Line

Nope, this post isn't about crossing the ball, or field positioning, or team shape. It's about good sportsmanship and strong but fair competition.  We play in the most competitive league in the state.  We strive to compete as hard as we can right up to the line delineated by the Laws of the Game, good sportsmanship, and fair play.  So, yeah, we like to play team ball and we like to win.

However, there is a line.  And you can cross it.  Here's what that looks like...



For those receiving our blog in email, you can view the video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNmPybFK2_o

The New Mexico player, Elizabeth Lambert #15, was suspended from the team indefinitely for her behavior on the field in the NCAA Mountain West Conference semi-final against BYU.  You can read the University of New Mexico's statement on Lambert here.

More on Laws of the Game

The Penalty Kick Plus Pics of the Week
The Direct Free Kick - Continued
The Direct Free Kick
Hand Ball!
The Field of Play
Sideline Guideline
Hey!  That Player is Offside!!!

The Penalty Kick plus Pics of the Week

After a busy couple of days, we continue our series on the Laws of the Game, this time focusing on Law 14 - The Penalty Kick.  The penalty kick, for all intents and purposes, is the result of a direct free kick foul that occurred in the penalty area, also referred to as the 18 yard box.  (Note - the penalty area has dimensions of roughly 44 yds wide by 18 yards deep).

Source:  FIFA Laws of the Game 2009/2010

What distinguishes a penalty kick from a direct free kick is the following:

1. 
   
   the offense occurs inside the penalty area.
   
   
   
2. 
   
   when taking the direct free kick, the ball must be placed on the penalty mark.
   
   
   
3. 
   
   the defending goalie must remain on the goal line, facing the kicker, between the goalposts until the ball has been kicked.
   
   
   
4. 
   
   players other than the kicker and the goalie must remain on the field, outside of the penalty area, behind the penalty mark, and at least 10 yds from the penalty mark (which is why you have the semi-circular penalty arc at the top of the penalty area - it is that portion of a 10 yd circle around the penalty mark that is outside the penalty area).
   

Here is a sequence of photos that show a direct free kick foul being committed inside the penalty area, in this case by the defending goalie.  This young goalie, in the heat of the action and facing an imminent goal in the last minute of a game, goes a little over the top in his efforts to stop the goal from being scored....

Thanks to Todd Ames for this excellent series of images that illustrate the circumstances under which a penalty kick should be awarded.  The Eastside player is Nihar Baxi of the B95W (U14) team.  In this case, a penalty kick was called.  In a later post, we'll cover the circumstances under which a yellow or red card may be issued.  This sequence could easily have called for one...

We thought they qualified as Pics of the Week.

Photo:  Todd Ames

Photo:  Todd Ames

Photo:  Todd Ames

Photo:  Todd Ames

Photo:  Todd Ames

Photo:  Todd Ames

Photo:  Todd Ames

Photo:  Todd Ames

Photo:  Todd Ames

More on Laws of the Game

The Direct Free Kick - Continued
The Direct Free Kick
Hand Ball!
The Field of Play
Sideline Guideline
Hey!  That Player is Offside!!!

The Direct Free Kick - Continued

Tara Eisenman (G95R) taking the classic direct free kick.

Photo:  David Pang

Law 13 - Free Kicks is the rule in soccer governing how direct and indirect free kicks are taken. Here are the excerpts from Law 13 pertaining to procedures for taking the direct free kick.

To me, Law 13 is a little jumbled up. It doesn't take each type of free kick in turn, spelling out the who, what, where, when, and how of each type. Plus you’d think the Penalty Kick, which seems like a variant of the direct free kick, would be in Law 13. Nope, that’s Law 14.

For me, trying to learn and understand the rules of the game, it’s a little confusing.

So, I've excerpted and rearranged various sections of Law 13 in an attempt to isolate (mostly) the procedural aspects of the direct free kick.

The Direct Free Kick


• if a direct free kick is kicked directly into the opponents’ goal, a goal is awarded. [the classic direct free kick into the goal]

• if a direct free kick is kicked directly into the team’s own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team [never seen this happen, but I suppose it could]

Procedure


For both direct and indirect free kicks, the ball must be stationary when the kick is taken and the kicker must not touch the ball again until it has touched another player.


Position of Free Kick

Free Kick Outside the Penalty Area


• all opponents must be at least 10 yds from the ball until it is in play


• the ball is in play when it is kicked and moves


• the free kick is taken from the place where the infringement occurred or from the position of the ball when the infringement occurred (according to the infringement)

Free Kick Inside the Penalty Area

Direct or indirect free kick to the defending team: [this is the direct free kick that typically takes place if the team on offense kicks the ball past the defenders goal line, not scoring a goal, and the ball changes hands]

• all opponents must be at least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the ball


• all opponents must remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in play


• the ball is in play when it is kicked directly out of the penalty area


• a free kick awarded in the goal area may be taken from any point inside that area


[What’s missing here you ask? Well how about the Free Kick Inside the Penalty Area for the team on OFFENSE? aka the Penalty Kick! That’s a different law. Law 14 to be exact. More later.]


Infringements and Sanctions [in other words, what happens if the direct free kick is taken incorrectly]


If, when a free kick is taken, an opponent is closer to the ball than the required distance:


• the kick is retaken


If, when a free kick is taken by the defending team from inside its own penalty area, the ball is not kicked directly out of the penalty area:


• the kick is retaken

More on Laws of the Game

The Direct Free Kick
Hand Ball!
The Field of Play
Sideline Guideline
Hey!  That Player is Offside!!!

The Direct Free Kick

From the Cover of the Laws of the Game 2009/2010

Source:  FIFA

I'm still kinda hazy with regard to when and why the referee awards a direct free kick vs. an indirect free kick in response to a foul. So I spent a little quality time with Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct. Here's what I found. 

First we'll focus on the direct free kick.  That's where the penalty kicker can take a free shot directly, well, anywhere he or she wants, but often in the direction of, or crossing in front of, the goal.  Most times you'll see 3 or 4 of the opposing team line up in front of the kicker, no closer than 10 yards.  Most importantly, goals can be scored from direct free kicks.

The Direct Free Kick - straight from the Laws of the Game.

A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following seven offences in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:

• kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
• trips or attempts to trip an opponent
• jumps at an opponent
• charges an opponent
• strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
• pushes an opponent
• tackles an opponent

A direct free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following three offences:

• holds an opponent
• spits at an opponent
• handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area)

A direct free kick is taken from the place where the offence occurred.

In summary, if the ref thinks the foul was reckless, careless, or used excessive force AND was one of the offences listed above, he or she will call a foul and award a direct free kick. 

If a foul as described above is called by the ref inside the penalty area, then the direct free kick becomes a penalty kick.  1 on 1 between the penalty kicker and the goalie with the ball placed on the penalty mark.  We'll talk about penalty kicks in another post.

In summary, then, with regard to direct free kicks - no egregious kicking, tripping, jumping on, charging, striking, pushing, tackling, or holding an opponent.

And no hand balls.

And most especially, no spitting.  Very very bad.

More on Laws of the Game

Hand Ball!
The Field of Play
Sideline Guideline
Hey!  That Player is Offside!!!

Hand Ball!

I used to think any time the ball hit a player's hand, it was a foul.   Turns out, that's not the case.

Here's a short article (gently edited by yours truly) on "hand balls" from Victor Matheson.  Victor is a USSF National Referee as well as a certified assessor and instructor. In his 15 years as a referee he has officiated over 1,600 games including A-League matches as referee and MLS matches as a 4th official and assistant referee. He has refereed in USSF amateur or youth regional competitions thirteen times and in national competitions five times. He currently serves as the State Director of Instruction for Illinois.  

Here's his article on hand balls....

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In this week's article we'll have a little talk about the "hand ball" and what this rule really entails.
To learn more about the "hand ball," we begin by looking inside our FIFA Laws of the Game to see what the rules really are. First, there is no such rule as "hand ball."  In reality, Law 12 states it is illegal if a player "handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area)"  This means there is not, I repeat not, an automatic foul if the ball touches a player's hand.  It is only a foul if the player intentionally handles the ball.  Therefore, all of those times a defender kicks the ball right into a player's hand or the ball bounces up and hits an arm, these are not fouls and should not be called.

Let me also emphasize that nowhere does the rule book say anything about whether or not the player gains an advantage by the ball hitting his or her hand.  In other words, even if the ball were to hit a player's arm and drop right at his feet or even were to go directly into his opponents' goal, these are not fouls if they were unintentional acts.  As recently as 1996 FIFA specifically changed the laws to make very clear it is only a foul if the player handles the ball deliberately.

So how can one tell if a hand ball is intentional or not?  First, if a ball, such as a clearance out of the defense, hits a player so fast that they have no time to react then this cannot be a hand ball. Likewise, bouncing balls that come up and hit a player's arm or balls that hit a player's arm when his or her back is turned are generally not fouls. On the other hand, when a player uses her hand at her side to control a ball that comes in at waist level or has time to reach out and touch a ball, then these clearly should be called.

A good rule-of-thumb to use is if the player's hand comes to the ball, it is a foul. If the ball comes to the hand, it is not a foul.

Now to all of you parents, coaches, players, and fans who incessantly yell for the referee to call these infractions:  you need to sit down and be quiet.  There is nothing that makes you look more ignorant of the game than crying for a foul every time the ball touches an arm.  Unintentional hand balls are not fouls.  Period.

Finally, to all you referees out there, I know that it is easier to simply call every ball that hits a player's hand a foul rather than having to make a difficult decision regarding a player's intent and having to face the wrath of angry (although incorrect) fans.  However, you must resist the temptation of making the easy call and have the courage to make the correct call.  Calling unintentional hand balls will only make it more difficult in the future for the minority of referees who choose to call the fouls correctly.  Remember, no intent, no foul!  Let's start playing and calling the game the way it is meant to be played.

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Victor's comments first appeared on AskTheRef, a website that's been operating since 1999 focused on soccer rules. Their copyright rules are available here.
More on Laws of the Game

The Field of Play
Sideline Guideline
Hey!  That Player is Offside!!!

The Field of Play

The elements of the playing field.

Source: FIFA Laws of the Game 2009/2010

The dimensions of the playing field.

Source: FIFA Laws of the Game 2009/2010

Continuing our little series on the rules of soccer, here's FIFA's Law #1.  The Field of Play.  This section of the rules specifies a number of things about the playing field:

• Type of surface - natural grass or synthetic turf (which must be green).
• The fundamental field markings - rectangular in shape and including the touch lines, goal lines, halfway line, and center mark.
• The dimensions:  see above, including the width of the lines (no more than 5")
• The goal area and its dimensions.
• The penalty area and its dimensions, including the penalty mark and arc.
• Flagpost specs.
• Corner arcs and their dimensions.
• The goal opening, construction, and its dimensions (standard is 8' x 24')

The game of soccer in some form dates back to medieval Europe with antecedents dating back to ancient times.  Wikipedia has a pretty good writeup on the history of soccer.  The Laws of the Game date back to England in 1863 and are the foundation on which the game is played today. 

Prior to the modern era, soccer was often played through the streets, fields, and town squares.  Not much was standard.  Today, however, we enjoy excellent playing fields with a high degree of consistency from field to field.

More on Laws of the Game

Sideline Guideline
Hey!  That Player is Offside!!!

Tick Tock - Game Length by Age

A classic Heuer model H102 mechanical stopwatch.

"How long are the halves again?"  Seems like I ask that question every game.  Here's the rundown on game times by age group.

From the Policy on Players and Playing Rules of the U.S. Youth Soccer Association.
U19:  Two 45 minute halves
U18:  Two 45 minute halves
U17:  Two 45 minute halves
U16:  Two 40 minute halves
U15:  Two 40 minute halves
U14:  Two 35 minute halves
U13:  Two 35 minute halves
U12:  Two 30 minute halves
U11:  Two 30 minute halves
U10:  Two 25 minute halves

Sideline Guideline

Does this guy look like he's having fun?

Competitive youth soccer is about many things.  At Eastside FC having fun is one of our most important goals. These are the indelible golden years in our kids' soccer experience.  They'll look back on them for the rest of their lives.  So of course we want them to enjoy this time. They work hard, train with commitment, and overcome challenges.   When game day arrives, and all that work comes together, it should be the most fun they have.  The work's over, now it's time to play!

How we conduct ourselves on the sideline matters.  As a club we believe in support for each other and respect for individuals. We recognize that the words we speak and the way we present ourselves impart values to our kids, for better or worse, and greatly affect the enjoyment of the game for all involved.

The Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association produced a video focusing on the issues of sideline behavior of adults, and specifically on how that behavior can affect the player experience, player retention, and retention of qualified referees. They've created a valuable tool that serves to remind us of the impact of negative sideline behavior.

The video had its national debut at the US Youth Soccer Workshop in Indianapolis in 2004 and it's worth revisiting from time to time.

It has actual footage shot during games and tournaments.  Some of the clips are pretty hilarious.  More sobering are the comments from young players and young refs about how parent behavior affects their enjoyment of the game.

The video may be viewed online at the following locations on the Mass Youth Soccer Website.

http://www.mayouthsoccer.org/video/attitudes.wmv

http://www.mayouthsoccer.org/video/attitudes.mov

Keep it fun out there!