Question Number: 14671

Character, Attitude and Control 1/6/2007

RE: rec Adult

alex of richmond hill, on canada asks...

This question is a follow up to question 14659

I like Keith's logic in his answer [to 14659] so much that I actually hope that a similar throw in situation happens soon so I can try Keith's trick out.

However, is there a time limit that I can blow the whistle for "foul throw in"? The player might be making a long throw towards the opposition goal keeper so as to surrender possession of the ball. The opposition defender might do nothing as they expect their keeper will get the ball without any challenge. What can we do if one of the attacking player (who is so "passionate") ran for the ball after sensing the ball is unprotected from the defenders? Is is now too late to make that "foul throw in" whistle?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Absolutely. This has only happened once and the thrower threw it to a wide open teammate that was behind the opponents as they were just standing there waiting for the ball so I was able to blow the whistle immediately. If the throw was as you described and it was obvious to me it was being thrown to the opposing keeper and no opponents are rushing towards the ball, then let it go. What you're wondering about is what to do if you're not sure immediately that the thrower has lied. In that case, you better let play continue as you only have a second or 2 to whistle a foul throw. You could, I suppose, look at your AR with a quizzical expression on your face and stop play walk over to the AR, come back and say "I'm sorry. I thought the AR was signalling a foul throw." You then could take the ball and drop it to the team that was supposed to get the ball in the first place. I know I'd do this if I thought of it within 5 seconds or so.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Remember Alex these things we speak of are in the realm of "making things up as we go along". They are not the things assessors will laud you for using, quite the opposite. Fooling parents and coaches is loads easier than being caught out ignoring the Law just to make things right.

We all, from time to time, fall back to the "That just ain't right" mode of operation and put things right. It feels good and everyone present buys into it -- these times just happen and usually only once. It's the referee's experience that tells him what to do at the time and his field presence sells the decision. Using someone elses trick that worked for him, that time, might not work for you and will leave you worse off that not doing it in the first place.

Each referee has a "Bag of Tricks" he takes with him to every match. Sometimes a trick, way at the bottom, is pulled out and used, most are not used again. The whole idea is it's there, if it works GREAT, if not don't use it again. We offer these "Little Tricks", proven to have worked once, as food for thought. The reader is allowed to think up his own "Little Tricks" or to remember ours.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Good thoughtful question. Glad to see that you are putting your critical thinking skills to use. We as referees cannot tell the players what to do as far as who to throw the ball to. Just as they cannot tell us how to referee, we cannot tell them how to play the game. What Keith describes is a strategy that you can use to ensure that the spirit of the game is observed.