AYSO National Referee Program

I Got Ball, Ref!

Workshop number: # 318

Workshop Objectives• Define a fair tackle• Define a tackle which is also a foul• Define a tackle which is a foul and a caution• Define a tackle which is a foul and send off

What Is …

o A FAIR challenge?o A CARELESS challenge?o A RECKLESS challenge?o A challenge USING

EXCESSIVE FORCE?

Tackling An Opponent

Tackling is a normal element of play and usually occurs entirely legally.

It becomes a foul if it is not performed properly.

Contact with the ball before contact with an opponent does not automatically mean the challenge is fair.USSF 2013-14 Advise to Referees (¶ 12.A.7)

Careless

“Careless” means the player has shown a lack of attention or consideration when making a challenge, or that he aced without precaution.FIFA Interpretation of the Laws of Game and Guidelines for Referees (2014-15 Edition)

A player who is “careless” in making or attempting contact has committed a simple foul.

This is usually a simple miscalculation of strength or a stretch in judgment of the player.

Reckless“Reckless” means that the player has

acted with complete disregard to the danger to, or consequences for, his opponent.

A player who plays in a reckless manner must be cautioned.FIFA Interpretation of the Laws of Game and Guidelines for Referees (2014-15 Edition)

A player who is reckless has clearly played outside the norms of fair plan.

Using Excessive Force

“Using excessive force” means that the player has far exceeded the necessary use of force and is in danger of injuring his opponent.

A player who uses excessive force must be sent off.FIFA Interpretation of the Laws of Game and Guidelines for Referees (2014-15 Edition)

A player who uses excessive force has played totally outside the bounds of normal play.

Fair or Foul?Two opponents are shoulder to shoulder, each challenging for the ball. The defender pokes the ball away from the attacker with his foot and leg in a normal position relative to the ground and play. The defender makes contact with the ball first, then the attacker stumbles over the defender’s outstretched leg, falling to the ground.

Fair – Why?

Fair or Foul?

A defender is facing an attacker and makes a play on the ball, contacting the ball just as the attacker is pushing the ball to the outside to go around the defender.

The attacker trips over the ball, falling to the ground.

Fair – Why?

Fair or Foul?

The slide tackle presents the referee with difficult decisions. Here is a recent video clip from “Outside the Touchlines”.

20140918 - Slide Tackle.wmv

Fair or Foul?An attacker is on a fast break up field after beating a defender to the ball. As the attacker is running up the touchline, a defender challenges for the ball by slide-tackling the attacker from behind. The leading foot clearly makes contact with the ball first, but the trailing foot hits the attacker’s calf causing the attacker to fall to the ground, grabbing his calf in pain.

Foul – Why?

Class Scenarios

Scenario #1You are the referee in a U-16G match. About midway through the first half, the Red team is building an attack in the middle third of the field. As Red #2 is dribbling downfield, Blue #3 challenges her for the ball. Blue #3 makes contact with the ball with her left foot but at the same time, pushes her left hip into the right hip of Red #2 dispossessing her of the ball.

What action should be taken?

What is the rationale for this action?

Scenario #1 Answer

Recommended ActionWhistle for the foul and restart with a

direct free kick for the Red teamRationaleEven though Blue #3 got the ball first,

she also “hip checked” Red #2, pushing her off the ball. This is a careless charging foul.

Scenario #2 (part 1)You are the referee on a U-19B match. This game has been hotly contested with neither team dominating play. There are 6 minutes left in the match. Blue #21 tackles the ball away from Red #3 with a legal slide tackle. Blue #21 dribbles the ball about 20 yards toward the touch line near your assistant referee. Blue #21 then turns up filed and is about to kick the ball to a teammate when Red #3 challenges by slide tackling for the ball.

Scenario #2 (part 2)Red #3successfully touches the ball first with his lead foot but at the same time wraps his trailing leg around the back of Blue #21’s leg. Red #3 then raises his lead leg up and twists his body causing his legs to close around the opponent’s legs in a scissors movement. Blue #21 goes to the ground face first.

What action should be taken?What is the rationale for this action?

Scenario #2 Answer

Recommended Action

• Whistle the foul and issue a red card to Red #3 for using excessive force on the tackle (SFP). Restart with a direct free kick for the defending team.

Scenario #2 Answer (part 2)• The referee should run toward the

spot of the foul giving a loud, long whistle. The referee should also be aware of potential problems with both teams. Check for injury and summon a trainer or coach if needed. The referee may consider checking with his AR to make sure they are on the same page.

Scenario #2 (final)

Rationale• In a heated game, the referee needs

to take decisive action and issue the red card to Red #3. Even though Red #3 got the ball first, he used excessive force in doing so.

Scenario #3 (part 1)

You are the referee at a U-19G match, a rivalry between two Regions. The last time they played, Red defeated Blue 5-0. This game is into the second half with Red winning 6-0. It has been a tough match with Red clearly dominating. Red #6 has just received the ball from a pass at the top of Blue’s penalty arc when Blue #4 challenges for the ball by slide tackling from the front.

Scenario #3 (part 2)Blue #4, with cleats up, raises her leg so that her foot comes over the top of the ball but catches enough of the ball to deflect it away from Red #6. Red #6 sees the cleats up and moves aside to safely avoid the cleats but into the path of Blue #4’s trailing foot. Red #6 is tripped by the trailing foot. The ball goes to Red #12, and you play the advantage. Red #12 shoots the ball which goes out of play after hitting the crossbar.

What action should be taken?

What is the rationale for this action?

Scenario #3 Answer

Recommended Action• Playing the advantage was

appropriate. The referee should now caution Blue #4 for unsporting behavior (reckless foul) and restart with a goal kick.

RationaleIt is legal to slide tackle, but when

a player comes in “cleats up” there is a high probability of harm. In this scenario the cleats did not make contact with attacker but the defender played in a dangerous manner by exposing her cleats.

A caution is appropriate for the reckless “cleats up” tackle and subsequent tripping foul. A send-off is not appropriate because the cleats never made contact with the opponent.

SummaryAnytime a challenge for the ball is

made by two players, the referee must evaluate the challengeWas the contact made with the ball before

contact is made with the opponent?

Is the challenge made in a careful manner with only the amount of force necessary to dispossess the opponent of the ball?

Did the initial fair contact turn foul?

Was the contact careless, reckless, or made using excessive force?

Customer Service

9/26/2014

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Goal for the referees:Support the delivery of a great AYSO experience for the players and others.

How will today’s workshop help you support this goal?