Interfering with the Goalkeeper's Release of the Ball

Date: April 14, 2010

Law 12 (Fouls and Misconduct) includes the words “prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands” as an offense punishable by an indirect free kick. By tradition and interpretation, this violation is described more generally as any action by a player which interferes with the opposing goalkeeper’s ability to get the ball back into active play freely and quickly.

A goalkeeper is considered to be in the process of “releasing the ball” from the first moment when he or she has clearly taken hand control of the ball until the moment when the ball has been clearly released into play. This includes any time when the goalkeeper is:

• bouncing the ball,
• running with the ball
• in the process of dropping the ball in preparation for kicking it
• throwing the ball

During the time the goalkeeper has control of the ball and is preparing to release it into active play, an opponent may not stand or move so close as to restrict the direction or distance of the goalkeeper’s release.

In the 70th minute of a match between D.C. United at Philadelphia Union on April 10, 2010, D.C. forward Moreno followed, moved in closer to, waved arms at, and made various head and body “movements” toward Philadelphia goalkeeper Seitz while Seitz was holding the ball and preparing to distribute it. During the course of this interference, Seitz dropped the ball and Moreno shot the ball into the net. These actions by Moreno constituted a violation of Law 12. The goal should not have been allowed and an indirect free kick should have been given where Moreno interfered. Moreno’s behavior additionally could have been cautioned as unsporting behavior.

Whenever a goalkeeper has taken possession of the ball and an opponent is either nearby or begins moving toward the goalkeeper, referees and assistant referees must recognize the possibility of interference and allow their attention to continue to focus on the goalkeeper. More proactively, a quick word to the opponent might well prevent this sort of offense.

Interfering with the Goalkeeper's Release of the Ball (with embedded video)

Week In Review 2010

Week 3 : ending April 11, 2010
WEEK OVERVIEW
Week 3 of the MLS season presented numerous opportunities for match officials to demonstrate their knowledge of the Laws of the Game as well as their understanding of the spirit of the game and law. Two situations will be examined this week that require officials to understand both the letter of the law as well as the spirit of the law. An interesting situation involving interfering with the goalkeeper’s distribution of the ball will be reviewed as will a referee’s management of a free kick just outside the penalty area. Both incidents require an attentive referee who understands the intricacies of the law.

Full article

Week In Review 2010

Week 2 : ending April 4, 2010
WEEK OVERVIEW
Referees continued to work hard to find the balance between asserting their command presence and dealing with situations that require a yellow or red card (100 percent misconduct). Managing this balance is not an easy task as match officials must weigh the “big picture,” including the atmosphere or environment of the game, as well as, what has occurred in the game to that point and the direction that the referee feels the game is heading. The ability to assimilate this information and decide on the correct course of action is a factor that differentiates the elite referee from the average referee.

Assistant referees (ARs) continued to be faced with many difficult offside decisions. In several instances, the lack of concentration and focus caused ARs to misapply the offside law. On the other hand, there were a few fantastic offside decisions that promoted attacking play like the decision highlighted below in this “Week In Review.”

Full article

Week In Review 2010

Week 1 : ending March 28, 2010
WEEK OVERVIEW
After four months of offseason recovery and training, the professional season kicked off once more with eight challenging games during the opening weekend of Major League Soccer. To prepare for the “first kick”, referees and assistant referees (ARs) worked preseason matches to fine tune their competitive spirit and attended extensive preseason training in which their fitness level and knowledge of U.S. Soccer training materials (such as the “Week In Review” and position papers) released over the past year were tested. The most important part of preseason preparation, however, was the instruction geared around key focus areas for the upcoming season. For 2010, referees are being asked to focus on game and player management through “command presence” and increasing their “feel” for the needs of the game and ensuring their management decisions mirror the game and the situation.

Full article

When Defenders Leave the Field

Date: August 12, 2009

A more definitive interpretation of Law 11 (Offside) was circulated this year by the International Board as part of its annual notice of Law changes and clarifications. This has led to some discussion among referees, players, and coaches regarding how this interpretation should be implemented in different game situations involving a defender leaving the field during play across the goal line or touch line. The following scenarios should be considered:

• During the normal course of play. The critical issue is whether, in the opinion of the referee, the defender’s action was a normal part of play. For example, the defender left briefly to get around an opponent or the defender’s momentum necessarily resulted in crossing the goal line or touchline. In this case, no violation has occurred and the defender is expected to return to the field without undue delay. The permission of the referee is not required.

• Attempting to create an offside situation. If, in the opinion of the referee, the defender left the field with the intention of placing an attacker in an apparent offside position (by changing the determination of which teammates are the last and second to last defenders), this is a violation of the Law and a form of misconduct (leaving the field without the permission of the referee). However, play should normally be allowed to continue but the defender off the field is considered to be on the closest point of the boundary line for purposes of determining an attacker’s offside position. Thus, if the defender on the field closest to the goal line is the goalkeeper standing a few feet from the goal line and the defender left the field across the goal line, that defender is, in effect, considered to be on the goal line as the last defender and the goalkeeper has become the second to last defender.

• Misconduct. When a defender has committed misconduct by leaving the field in an attempt to place an attacker in an offside position, the referee’s normal course of action is to allow play to continue but to caution the defender when the ball goes next out of play. However, it is not necessary to wait for the ball to leave the field. The next stoppage of play could occur in a number of ways – a foul or a serious injury or the expiration of time, for example. The referee could also whistle to stop play solely because the attacking team no longer controls the ball (e.g., a shot on goal by the attacker is saved and held by the goalkeeper). In this case, the stoppage is due solely to misconduct by a player off the field: after showing the yellow card, the restart would be an indirect free kick for the opposing team where the ball was when play was stopped by the referee.

When Defenders Leave the Field (pdf)

Deception at the Taking of a Penalty Kick

Date: August 25, 2009

In 2000, the International Board clarified its guideline regarding what the player taking a penalty kick may do to confuse or deceive the defending goalkeeper. Most recently, the new "interpretations" section of the Law book states:

In explaining its new stance in 2000, the International Board noted that various forms of deception are allowed at a free kick restart and, in many respects (including this one), a penalty kick is similar to a free kick.

What is the line between acceptable "feinting" and unacceptable "unsporting behavior"? In essence, it is "the opinion of the referee" -- informed by the specific circumstances of the kicker’s actions and the referee’s "feel" for the match at that point.

However, referees should keep in mind that USSF has previously provided three specific examples of behavior by the identified kicker which are not acceptable, i.e., which cross the line into unacceptable unsporting behavior:

• Running past the ball and then stepping backward to perform the kick
• Excessively changing directions or taking an excessively long run to the ball (thus causing an unnecessary delay in the restart, in the opinion of the referee)
• Making a hand or arm gesture which obviously distracts or deceives the goalkeeper

At the same time, referees should evaluate the behavior of the player taking the kick in terms of what would and would not be acceptable at the taking of a free kick. An action which clearly is consistent with acceptable behavior while taking a free kick should be considered as falling within the category of acceptable "feigning" where the restart is a penalty kick.

The gray area in between must be decided firmly and quickly by the referee. The attached clip from a Confederations Cup match between DC United and Firpo (August 4, 2009) involves such a decision. The kicker's action was not clearly one of the prohibited behaviors nor can it be said that, if the player had been taking a free kick, the brief "stutter" would have been deemed anything other than acceptable deception. Accordingly, the kicker’s action was not a violation of Law 14 and the resulting goal was properly allowed to stand.

Deception at the Taking of a Penalty Kick (pdf)

Law 4 and Hair Control Devices

Date: June 8, 2009

Law 4 (The Players’ Equipment) requires that nothing be used or worn which is dangerous, with certain limited exceptions (religious or medical items). It is the responsibility of all members of the officiating team to ensure that this requirement is enforced, not only at the start of play but throughout the entire match.

Although ultimately it is the responsibility of the referee to decide if an item of equipment or clothing presents a danger, an increasing number of hair control devices are being seen which should not be allowed on the field. Referees should take note of the following guidelines when evaluating such devices:

• Hair control devices which are elastic, flexible, and soft should be allowed.
• Devices which are made of hard, sharp, edged, or breakable materials are not safe and may not be worn.
• Beads or other similar decorative devices woven into or affixed on the hair are inherently dangerous and are not allowed.

Referees are strongly urged to be diligent in enforcing these guidelines in the interest of player safety.

Law 4 and Hair Control Devices (pdf)

Referee Training for Youth Tournaments

Date: May 19, 2009

The Referee Department is pleased to announce the availability of a new instructional package designed expressly for assisting in the training of referees officiating in youth tournaments. This is an on-going project which will be maintained annually with new topics, supporting clips, and instructor guide materials. ...

The presentation currently consists of sixteen modules, each designed to be taught in about 15-20 minutes depending on the instructor’s pace and extent of student involvement. Based on a menu with hyperlinks to each module, the instructor can choose which topics to include in any given training session and the order in which the topics will be addressed. Most modules are supported by video clips which can also be shown individually at the instructor’s discretion.

The topics covered in this first edition of the presentation are: 100% Misconduct, Injuries, “Wait and See,” Exposed Cleats, Bench Decorum, Anticipation & Presence, Misconduct Before & After, Whistle Dynamics, Stoppage Time, Fourth Official, Dangerous Play, Persistent Infringement, Handling Offense, Art & Science, Attacking Throw-In, and Restarts. ...

As new areas of emphasis or points of concern in the national instructional program are developed, the Youth Tournament package will be updated accordingly. ...

Providing we receive positive feedback on this project, it is our intention to update the material annually, to be distributed in advance of the youth regional and national tournaments. Thank you for your assistance.

Cautionable and Sending-off Offenses

Date: May 14, 2009

The 2009 version of the "7 + 7 Cautionable and Sending-Off Offenses" position paper covering professional, youth and adult competitions is attached. There are no changes or any modifications of the Law in this year's memorandum. The paper is offered so you will have a currently dated memo on hand for the start of the tournament season. If you have any questions, please contact our office.

7 + 7 Cautionable and Sending-Off Offenses (.pdf)

Guide to Procedures, 2009-2010 Edition

Date: May 8, 2009

A new and slightly revised edition of the long-standing USSF publication, Guide to Procedures for Referees, Assistant Referees and 4th Officials, will become available this month. Only two changes will be found in the 2009-2010 edition:

• Page 37 (Penalty Kick, Indicated By The Assistant Referee). The fourth bullet point has been modified as follows: “If referee stops game, assistant referee first indicates penalty kick by holding flag across the lower body and then begins walking toward the corner flag
• Page 40 (Substitutions, Referee procedure). The first bullet point has been modified to be consistent with International Board guidelines mandating the use of the whistle to restart play after the referee has delayed the restart for a substitution. The revised bullet item now makes it clear that a whistle is required in all such cases.

Until the new edition of the Guide becomes more widely distributed, you are asked to begin immediately in your respective capacities to pass the above procedure changes along to other referees, instructors, and assessors so that they may begin implementing these modifications as quickly as possible.

SYRA Blog

Paul Hooks, State Youth Referee Administrator, has started a blog. Keep up with the updates and announcements that affect STYSA competitions and Referee News and Development.

Please visit and help spread the link to the people in your soccer address book.

http://southtexassyra.blogspot.com

Kicks from the Penalty Mark Checklist

Date: April 2, 2009

In many parts of the country, tournaments are starting to occur and often their rules include requirements for breaking ties. However, information about the mechanics and procedures involved in taking kicks from the penalty mark to break a tie is spread across several sources:

• the Laws of the Game,
• the new "Interpretation and Guidelines" section of the Laws of the Game published by FIFA (and available on the USSF website under "Laws of the Game"),
• Advice to Referees, and
• earlier memoranda distributed by U.S. Soccer Referee Department.

The following checklist of responsibilities, guidelines, and procedures is provided as a useful single source of guidance for referees who need to conduct this process. The checklist is attached to facilitate printing out just the checklist.

KFTM Checklist (pdf, 98kb)

Head Injuries

March 31, 2009

USSF guidance for referees at all levels has always emphasized the importance of responding appropriately to serious player injuries. National Referee clinics in the past have dealt with this matter in no uncertain terms. A specific directive was issued this year in advance of the 2009 MLS season, and entry level USSF referee training materials have reminded all officials that the seriousness of an injury is more liberally defined for youth players.

In the DC United - LA Galaxy game (March 22), two players collided while attempting to jump for the ball. As a result, both suffered head injuries, with bleeding, that required stitches or staples to close the wounds.

Play should have been stopped immediately. Whenever a player's head is injured -- regardless of whether the collision was with an opponent, a teammate, or an object on the field such as a goal post -- the safety of that player is of prime concern. There is no higher priority.

Instructors, assessors, match inspectors, and others involved with referee training and administration must take every opportunity to remind referees of this requirement, if such a reminder is needed.

Serious Injuries (.pdf)

Offside - Interfering with Play

March 25, 2009

The first goal scored in the new MLS season (New York Red Bulls at Seattle Sounders, March 19, see accompanying clip) was the subject of controversy based on the argument that a teammate of the scorer was in an offside position at the time and had become involved in active play by interfering with play. The goal was from Sounder #17 (Montero) against the Red Bull goalkeeper #1 (Cepero) and the Sounder forward alleged to have been offside was #23 (Nyassi).

The following facts are not in dispute:

• Nyassi was in an offside position.
• Nyassi did not become involved in active play by gaining an advantage (historically, this is only an issue if the ball has rebounded from the crossbar, a goalpost, or a defender, which it did not in this case).
• Nyassi did not interfere with an opponent. He did not get in the way of a defender, make any movement or gesture which deceived or distracted an opponent, and, most importantly, did not block the goalkeeper’s line of sight (the attack came in from the goalkeeper’s left whereas the attacker ran from the goalkeeper's right and was at least several yards away from the goalkeeper when the shot on goal was made).
• Nyassi did not interfere with play (no contact with the ball).

The assistant referee was well placed, in line with the second to last defender, to confirm these essential elements in deciding for an offside violation. Accordingly, there was no offside violation and the goal was valid.

The debate has been vigorous over the last several years regarding the way in which an attacker in an offside position can be involved in active play. The definition provided by the International Board regarding "gaining an advantage" is clear and based on concrete observable facts. The definition of "interfering with an opponent" involves various judgments but is generally clear in its application since the primary issue here is whether the interference results from blocking paths and/or lines of sight.

This memorandum confirms that "interfering with play" cannot be decided unless the attacker in an offside position makes contact with the ball.

Offside - Interfering With Play (.pdf)

Priority of Assistant Referee Responsibilities

March 24, 2009

In a recent professional exhibition match, a group of referees, instructors, and assessors was discussing an incident in which the assistant referee was faced with a conflict in priorities – whether to hang back and observe the goalkeeper with the ball in case the goalkeeper went outside the penalty area with the ball still in his hands (a handling offense) or to move up field to get in position for assisting with offside in case there was a quick counterattack after the goalkeeper released the ball. The conversation was vigorous, but the matter should have been easily settled by reviewing the relative importance of the two possible violations.

A similar conflict in priorities can arise when a team is attacking along the touchline and the assistant referee must choose between looking up the touch line to signal if the ball leaves the field and looking across the field to monitor whether an attacker moves into an offside position. Dividing attention this way is not impossible, but both responsibilities will suffer.

The single most important responsibility for the assistant referee is making timely and accurate offside decisions. All other duties outlined in Law 6 are secondary.

Offside decisions are often "game critical" regardless of their specific result. A decision for offside is just as likely to be challenged as a decision against an offside violation. Whether the issue is offside position or involvement in active play, if a goal is called back, allowed, or interrupted as a result, the decision will be controversial. It must therefore be supported by the best fitness, mechanics, communications, and concentration that the assistant referee can bring to bear.

If there is not much difference between where the assistant referee must focus to handle each different duty then clearly both duties should be attempted. As one duty increasingly becomes a distraction for the other, the assistant referee should attempt to adjust positioning to reduce the conflict. Where the distraction is too great, the only solution is to focus on offside, leaving to other members of the officiating team the responsibility of covering to the best of their abilities the less critical conflicting duty.

Among the topics which must be covered in the officiating team’s pregame discussion is the issue of what the assistant referee should do to resolve a conflict between offside and such other responsibilities as determining if the ball has left the field, which team has possession, and the occurrence of violations which do not involve violence.

Priority of Assistant Referee Responsibilities (.pdf)

U.S. Soccer Referee Directives

March 10, 2009

The 2009 U.S. Soccer Referee Directives are now available online. They can be found under the Referee Development area on the U.S. Soccer webpage. The ten (10) Directives are provided to assist in the management of games at the highest levels and, hence, are of interest not only to match officials but coaches and administrators as well. The objective of the Directives is to provide a more unified and consistent approach in key areas of game management.

• 100% Misconduct - Tactical and Red Card Tackles
• Assistant Referee Involvement
• Contact Above the Shoulder
• Dissent
• Free Kick and Restart Management
• Game Disrepute and Mass Confrontation
• Game Management Model - Flow Risk Taking Game Control
• Handling the Ball
• Injury Management
• Managing the Technical Area

(This page also has the weekly MLS reviews.)

Courageous Call

Date: February 13, 2009

On February 11, 2009, in a World Cup qualifier match between the United States and Mexico (played in Columbus, Ohio) a courageous call was made by the referee under circumstances which, while clearly requiring a red card, might well have been handled less correctly by many referees.

In the 65th minute, Mexico captain Rafael Marquez tackled US goalkeeper Tim Howard and, as a result, Marquez was sent off with no hesitation by the referee. The photograph included in the attachment captures the moment.

Note the nature of the tackle: studs up, delivered in the knee area, while the victim was entirely up in the air.

Given that the match up to this point had been calm, generally friendly, and virtually devoid of misconduct, referees must decide whether they would have the presence of mind and courage to take the necessary action.

Back to Top

Meeting Schedule

BASRA meets regularly at Webster Presbyterian Church, 201 W. NASA Road 1 (Click for Map). Coming meetings are:

[ May 13 | June 10 | July 8 | August 12 | September 9 ]

Business Meetings start at 7:00pm, and are over by about 8:30pm.

Back to Top

[Return to BASRA Homepage]
[News] [Minutes] [Links]
[Handbook] [Constitution] [By Laws] [Contacts]

Send questions or comments about this site to webmaster@basra-refs.org.

People say Life isn't black and white. Mine is.