Question Number: 18796

Other 4/15/2008

RE: Competetive Under 19

Doug Anderson of Orillia , Ontario Canada asks...

This question is a follow up to question 5980

This is a follow up to Q 5980 about the kick back to the opposing keeper that goes in the net.

There is a clip on one of the internet video site that shows this very event happening; it appears that the attacking #6 character in the video makes a genuine mistake, lofting the ball over the keeper and into the net. Oops.

What follows is either high comedy or the SOG in the extreme or both. The defending team gets to take the kick off and none of the embarrassed attacking squad opposes the defenders from walking down the field and scoring a goal to put the teams back where they were before attacking #6's miscue. (There is high emotion throughout this little drama, so much so that the avenging defenders almost miss the undefended attacker's goal and screw up this little morality play. It is priceless!)

I find that the sportsmanship of the situation described is difficult to teach in anything other than a game setting and is most difficult to instruct with younger players. Does anyone have suggestions on how this type of teaching of the spirit of the game is best handled?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Teaching this starts with coaches. Unfirtunately, at least in the US, fairness is woefully absent on the soccer field. When refereeing younger recreational games I try to encourage fairness and the players usually respond admirably

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Just reading what Ref Contarino says I have to laugh. Coaches, those guys screaming I don't know what match I'm watching, teach sportsmanship. Yeah, right...

Regards,

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

See Question: 19231