Question Number: 19362

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 6/12/2008

RE: Competitive Under 15

Ben Citrin of Madison, Connecticut United States asks...

In a recent match, I was the player that went over when the ref called captains. So, since I was away team, I got to call the toss in the air. So, since the sun was not a factor in playing and the field was all-around nice, I just decided to lose the coin toss on purpose as to get the ball first. So to do this, when the ref flipped the quarter, I called "edge", you know the 0.01% chance of it landing on. So, when I did this, I was given a caution, which I really think is unfair. But my question is, can a caution be given BEFORE the match has started?

Thanks

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

You just decided to be cute. captain. The referee decided being cute wasn't acceptable today and cautioned you. You and he were on the field and that establishes the referee's authority to take action as he deems appropriate.

Another small thing, being the captain is a position of honor and you chose to degrade this fact and brought The Game into disrepute.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

What a moron! You smart off, bring the game into disrepute by your actions, and you're mad at the referee for calling you on it? For shame, Ben. The referee has the power and the duty to issue cards for misconduct before, after and during the match.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

I bet you learned your lesson... to me, this seems a bit harsh, but the referee is permitted to do this and you did bring the game into disrepute. So you can have no sour grapes... you brought the caution on to yourself.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Cheeky little cuss, aren't you? I guess you're lucky you didn't dissent the first caution, earn a second one, and get sent off before the game even started.

I suspect there's a little more to the back-story here. The ref may have been having a bad day, just got fired from work or split up with a girlfriend. Or maybe your team was too busy planning their strategy to send a captain up for the coin toss when first called. Or maybe you were trying to argue that you should have choice of kickoff if you won the toss, and came up with this brilliant scheme to outwit the Laws.

Whatever the case, I hope you learned something. Not the least of which is don't unnecessarily rile the referee before the game even starts. It only goes downhill from there.

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

See Question: 19376