Question Number: 17585

Law 3 - Number of Players 10/29/2007

RE: AYSO Under 8

Scott of Huntington Beach, CA usa asks...

This question is a follow up to question 17377

Hi,

I read with interest question 17377 in which referee Contarino says that allowing spectators behind the goal line "is simply asking for trouble."

I know that many leagues ban spectators from standing behind the goal line, but honestly, I don't know why.

I can understand requiring spectators to be five yards or so back for safety sake, but other than that, what is the reason for this rule? True, spectators could yell at the players and referee from behind the goal line but they can do that from the touch line, too, so what's the difference?

Thanks for all your helpful advice on this website.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The simple answer is because some spectators can't stop themselves from harassing the opposing goalkeeper and because of that spectators behind the goal line is "is simply asking for trouble". This doesn't mean you will bother the opposing goalkeeper, it means a significant number of idiots do so it is not allowed.

Spectators should not yell at the players because it is the coach's job to do this and he is allowed to give tactical instructions from his technical area in Law 3. The spectators, while they think they can yell at the referee, have no true right to do so. I understand it is tradition to vent at a referee in sports but in this Game the referee is empowered to terminate the match for spectator interference. Yell all you want in support of your child, chastise the referee at your child's peril because the referee might just go home and then what happens. Your yelling at the authority figure on the field has just ruined your child's enjoyment of sport AND instructed him or her that authority is to be challenged in every case you don't agree with it. Then we have what?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Scott,
the fact is most grassroots matches are played with less than 100 fans in attendance per team ample room along the touch line and thus no need to stand behind the goal to distract oncoming players or the keeper.

Stadium seats or bleachers are hopefully set back far enough to avoid these issues but at the elite level the right to make noise is a paying commodity thus noise it shall be. A young impressionable youth will not have the strength of character to withstand such verbal assaults and dissent and abuse from the touchlines NOT from the players is the number one reason youth quit refereeing!

Even in a world FIFA qualification match a referee has stopped a match due to the spectators chanting about his mother of all things. The players were disgusted and they too told the spectators to stop.
Passion and cheering for support should not be out of character that we can defame ridicule and create safety concerns.

When the kids watch the antics of their parents coaches and those they love act in vengeful or ugly behavior on the pitch you can trust me it translates into their attitude and posture on the field.

In fact league rules dictate in many cases, the two teams are on one side of the pitch within the technical areas and the fans/parents watch from the opposing side touchline. Thus they are not standing with the players but across and hopefully not distracting them but encouraging them

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Because they bother the players, invariably talk with the referee and make a general nuisance of themselves. They are also distracting and make my and the players jobs more difficult.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 18293