Question Number: 20165

Character, Attitude and Control 10/6/2008

RE: Rec and Select Under 13

Todd Wendorf of Camp Hill, PA United States asks...

How much contact between players is too much? This is probably the most difficult foul identification problem for referees. I realize, that in general, soccer is a contact sport. There is going to be some bumping, etc... But when is it too much?

In my experience, I normally will call the pushing or charging foul when
A) Elbows or arms get extended (either presenting a dangerous weapon or giving the offender space that he would not normally have earned without the extended arm).
B) One player is gaining a very discrete advantage in the situation due to his inability to not push or hold.
C) I see that it is escalating to something bigger.

In most cases, running along side the players who are getting physical and giving them a stern 'keep the elbows down' or 'play under control #10' is enough to control the situation.

Am I being too lenient? Should I whistle the foul earlier and stop play?

In hindsight, I've yet to have a match get out of control (thankfully, in my very short career) so my gut says I must be doing something right. However, while coaching, I've seen fouls called on many occasion (on both teams) that I felt were trifling or at worst needed a word of warning but let play continue.

I know you say 'Your Match, Your Decision, Your Reputation'...but when you watch others call VERY tight matches, you tend to question how lenient you are being.

Any thoughts and/or advice are greatly appreciated.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

When the elbows or arms are extended out, you should consider striking or pushing or holding, as you say you already do. The hardest thing to tell is when a charge changes from being fair to unfair. The fact that a player being challenged for the ball falls down due to charging is not de facto evidence of a foul - the player may simply have been off balance and gravity took over (even with a little nudge of help from the opponent). A charge becomes a foul when the force used is more than necessary for the situation. This is a threshold that has to be felt by the referee in relation to that particular game. What do the players seem to expect of you? What do they accept as reasonable? (Players, not coaches or spectators, who often think that any bump must be a foul.)

USSF Advice to Referees gives a little help:
[quote]
12.5 CHARGING
The act of charging an opponent can be performed without it being called as a foul. Although the fair charge is commonly defined as 'shoulder to shoulder,' this is not a requirement and, at certain age levels where heights may vary greatly, may not even be possible. Furthermore, under many circumstances, a charge may often result in the player against whom it is placed falling to the ground (a consequence, as before, of players differing in weight or strength). The Law does require that the charge be directed toward the area of the shoulder and not toward the center of the opponent's back (the spinal area): in such a case, the referee should recognize that such a charge is at minimum reckless and potentially even violent.
[end quote]

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

I like your proactive approach.

Tolerance by players acceptance by the referee that FAIR PLAY and the compromise of spirit and letter in law is regulated to a manageable level. Doubtful we are unsure whether what we saw requires our intervention. Trifling we saw the foul but it does not matter. Trivial is again we see the foul but we ASSUME the player is unaffected and would prefer to play through it. Hence advantage is used.

The KEY here is foul recognition is as much art as science and the ability to read the body language and divine the psychological profiles of players so they are in agreement with our assessments we need to communicate with them. I see it, advantage play on, helps identify at least you were on the ball so to speak.

The application of advantage is far more than letting play not stop there must be a purpose in not rewarding the foul play of the opponent as a stoppage is what he is trying to bring about. Players must feel you have their backs and failure to reassure them by not saying or doing what is required forces them into the retaliatory mind set of, 'Since you won't do anything I will!'

The use of the appendages to create space, go through, push, pull block or hold up an opponent are well documented and in evidence on every pitch every day. The shoulder to shoulder acceptable definition must realize unequal height and weight and the fact that both parties are to some degree acting illegally in their arm deployment to pull even or stay ahead. The force used to make a challenge must be equitable to the consideration of an opponent's safety.

You ask when is it too much. If you have a small quick passing team and a larger physical take no prisoners but go for the ball 100% team you will have a divergence in what each will accept from the other. As in most any decision 50% will be in disagreement. Both teams will whine, one team thinking the other dives at any physical challenge and the other team worried they are getting creamed unfairly at every 50/50 ball. There will be an element of truth to both and you as referee must step in and sort it out by good positioning, correct angles of view to put a stopper in the bottle before they decided to act according to their wishes not yours.

Two players side by side arms across each others body with a grip on the jersey of the other is one tring to sling shot around or hold off the other from getting away? Can you accept the illegal action, do they? Was one player in control, did you let this foul develop into a 50/50 push pull thing, when the initial foul took the control away? Is that trivial?

The easy actions arms flung out wildly, elbows triggered cocked are cut and dry most of the time as actions easily identified as unacceptable fouls or misconduct, It is the subtle nudges in the back or pawing over the side shoulder just enough to not get a call but sufficient to get that needed position to effectively challenge and change the dynamics.

This is where you need to be close up and personal No! drop the hands, elbows down, off the ankles, advantage and signal, add the play on only if they respond to stopping the fouling action recognizing yes there is a foul no I am not stopping yet but I see it and as you SEE and HEAR I am dealing with it. Verbally warn those who are engaging in stupid stuff and ask those who you let play through the stupid stuff if that is what they want?
Do not be afraid of cautioning for persistent infringements after the play is stopped if you find the warnings fall on deaf ears. And consider the free kick might be better than letting the irritation build.

Cheers