Fouls and Misconduct, a different look… Jim Kritzberg Tri-City Soccer Referee Association Chapter Meeting – Nov. 12, 2008

Fouls and Misconduct Fouls PhysicalTechnical Careless Reckless Excessive Force Misconduct IDFK D/P FK Drop Ball IDFK D/P FK

Fouls and Misconduct Fouls What is a Foul? An Unfair or Unsafe action committed: (1) By a Player (2) Against an Opponent or the Opposing Team (3) On the Field of play (4) While the Ball is in Play

Fouls and Misconduct Fouls But Wait… An Unfair or Unsafe action committed: (1) By a Player (2) Against an Opponent or the Opposing Team (3) On the Field of play (4) While the Ball is in Play If any these four (4) requirements is not met: The action is not a foul The action can still be misconduct

Fouls and Misconduct What is a Foul? The Direct Kick Fouls: Ten (10) offenses for which, if play is stopped as a result, the restart is a direct free kick (or penalty kick). They are divided into two (2) groups Physical

Fouls and Misconduct What is a Foul? Six (6) Actions – for which the referee must evaluate how the act was committed Four (4) Actions – for which the referee need only decide if the act occurred Physical

Fouls and Misconduct What is a Foul? Six (6) – how the act was committed 1.Kick (including the attempt to) 2.Trip (including the attempt to) 3.Jump at 4.Charge 5.Strike (including the attempt to) 6.Push Physical

Fouls and Misconduct What is a Foul? Four (4) – if the act occurred 1.Making contact with an opponent during a tackle prior to contacting the ball 2.Holding 3.Spitting 4.Deliberately handling the ball Physical

Fouls and Misconduct Fouls PhysicalTechnical Careless Reckless Excessive Force Misconduct IDFK Drop Ball IDFK D/P FK D/P FK

Fouls and Misconduct What is a Foul? N otes on Tripping: Includes “bridging” Must be directed at an opponent Does not include opponent trip or fall as a result of natural play (such as tackling away the ball) Physical

Fouls and Misconduct What is a Foul? N otes on Charging: A fair charge can result in the opponent falling to the ground A fair charge can be two players on one – evaluate each charge individually Physical

Fouls and Misconduct What is a Foul? N otes on Striking: Can be direct contact Can be a thrown object Location of Strike (or attempted Strike) determines location for Restart If Striking occurred during a stoppage of play, the restart is unchanged from what caused play to be stopped Physical

Fouls and Misconduct What is a Foul? N otes on Holding: Includes the act of stretching the arms to block an opponent Blatantly holding onto or pulls should be cautioned UB Physical

Fouls and Misconduct What is a Foul? N otes on Making Contact: Playing the ball first is irreverent if, while tackling, the player carelessly, recklessly or with excessive force commits any prohibited actions Little or no concern for the safety of an opponents is serious foul play SFP Physical

Fouls and Misconduct What is a Foul? N otes on Handling: Accidental contact followed by action to direct the ball is Handling Accidental contact followed only by gaining an advantage is not Handling The top of the shoulder is not using hands Physical

Fouls and Misconduct Technical What is a Foul? The Indirect Kick Fouls: Eight (8) offenses for which, if play is stopped as a result, the restart is a indirect free kick They are divided into two (2) groups

Fouls and Misconduct Technical What is a Foul? Four (4) Actions – by a goalkeeper inside his own penalty area Four (4) Actions – by any player

Fouls and Misconduct Technical What is a Foul? Four (4) Actions – by a goalkeeper inside his own penalty area 1.Takes more than six (6) seconds 2.Touches (hands) the ball again after possession 3.Touches (hands) the ball from throw-in by team-mate 4.Touches (hands) the ball from kicked to him by team-mate

Fouls and Misconduct Technical What is a Foul? Four (4) Actions – by any player 1.Plays in a Dangerous Manner 2.Impedes the progress of an opponent 3.Prevents goalkeeper from releasing the ball 4.Commits any other offence, for which play is stopped to caution or dismiss

Fouls and Misconduct Technical What is a Foul? Notes on Playing in a Dangerous Manner: Must meet three (3) criteria: 1.Must be dangerous to someone 2.Committed with an opponent near by 3.Disadvantaged the opponent (such as ceased active play)

Fouls and Misconduct Technical What is a Foul? Notes on Playing in a Dangerous Manner (continued): 1.Take in account the experience and skill level of the players 2.Cleats up – if dangerous, does not require a reaction of opponents

Fouls and Misconduct Technical What is a Foul? Notes on Impeding and Opponent 1.An act to – Obstruct, interfere with or block the path (no or little physical contact) 2.The ball is not within playing distance

Fouls and Misconduct Technical What is a Foul? Notes on “Playing Distance” Should be based on the player’s ability to play the ball, not upon any arbitrary standard

Fouls and Misconduct Technical What is a Foul? Notes on Prevents the Goalkeeper May not interfere with or block goalkeeper’s release Offense requires action by player – goalkeeper can go around Player can take advantage of ball released

Fouls and Misconduct Technical What is a Foul? Notes on Six (6) Seconds Does not include time while gaining control Reasonable effort = benefit of the doubt Warn on first offense

Fouls and Misconduct Technical What is a Foul? Notes on Second Touch Control does not include accidental rebound or save This can never be DOGSO-H

Fouls and Misconduct Technical What is a Foul? Notes on Kicked to Goalkeeper Only deliberately “played by the foot” Includes “to or toward a place” keeper can legally handle or easily play This can never be DOGSO-H

Fouls and Misconduct Technical What is a Foul? Notes on Charging the Goalkeeper Not specifically listed, however: It is an offence to charge a Keeper in possession, as this is not challenging for the ball

Fouls and Misconduct Technical What is a Foul? Notes on “When Fouls Continue” A foul which starts outside the penalty area, for example, might continue into and finally end inside the offending player’s penalty area. Or a foul might start inside the field but, due to momentum, end off the field. In these cases, the decision about where the foul occurred also affects what the correct restart must be. In general, the referee should determine the location of the foul based on what gives the greater benefit to the player who was fouled.

Fouls and Misconduct Physical Careless Reckless Excessive Force “Careless” - the player has not exercised due caution in making a play D/P FK “Reckless” - the player has made unnatural movements designed to intimidate an opponent or to gain an unfair advantage “Involving Excessive Force” - the player has far exceeded the use of force necessary to make a fair play for the ball and has placed the opponents in considerable danger of bodily harm D/P FK

Fouls and Misconduct Physical Careless Reckless Excessive Force “Careless” – simply a miscalculation of strength or a stretch of judgment by the player D/P FK “Reckless” – clearly outside the norm for fair play “Involving Excessive Force” – totally beyond the bounds of normal play UB D/P FK SFP VC D/P FK

Fouls and Misconduct Misconduct Drop Ball IDFK D/P FK Cautionable Sending-Off Offenses

Fouls and Misconduct Misconduct Drop Ball IDFK D/P FK 7 Cautionable 1.Unsporting Behavior 2.Dissent 3.Persistent Infringement 4.Delays the Restart 5.Fails to respect distance 6.Enters or re-enters 7.Deliberately leaves

Fouls and Misconduct Misconduct Drop Ball IDFK D/P FK 7 Sending-off 1.Serious Foul Play 2.Violent Conduct 3.Spits at anyone 4.DOGSO-Handling 5.DOGSO-Foul 6.Language a/o gestures 7.Second Caution

Fouls and Misconduct Notes on Unsporting Behavior Reckless Foul from behind (without endanger) Tactical foul Action shows lack of respect for the game Handles – scores Fakes or exaggerates injury What is Misconduct? Misconduct

Fouls and Misconduct Notes on Unsporting Behavior (more) Dives Interferes with the goalkeeper Verbally distracts an opponent Unfairly interferes with Throw-in Changes Jersey with Goalkeeper (both) Engages in trickery to circumvent keeper… What is Misconduct? Misconduct

Fouls and Misconduct Notes on Unsporting Behavior (more) Makes unauthorized marks on the field Uses tobacco or a cellular or other mobile Verbally distracts an opponent Celebration of goal – provocative, derisory or inflammatory actions (includes jersey) What is Misconduct? Misconduct

Fouls and Misconduct Notes on Dissent Goalkeeper who leaves the penalty area to “debate” referee or assistant has committed dissent What is Misconduct? Misconduct

Fouls and Misconduct Notes on Persistent Infringement Player repeatedly commits fouls or infringements (not off-side) Player participates in a pattern of fouls directed against the same opponent (warn, then caution – no warn if the pattern is detected quickly and blatantly) What is Misconduct? Misconduct

Fouls and Misconduct Notes on Delays Restart Kicks, throws, holds the ball to prevent Does not restart after instructed to Excessively celebrates goal Fails to return at half, kick-off when told, is not in the correct position Improper throw-in to waste time What is Misconduct? Misconduct

Fouls and Misconduct Notes on Delays Restart (more) Unnecessarily moving the ball - goal kick Provokes confrontation by deliberately touching ball after the referee has stopped play What is Misconduct? Misconduct

Fouls and Misconduct Notes on Enters or Re-enters Must always have referee’s permission Permission may not be delegated Equipment (mandatory caution) What is Misconduct? Misconduct

Fouls and Misconduct Notes on Deliberately Leaves Only consider unsporting reasons, such as: Unfair offside situation Dissent or to “manage” the referee’s next decision Any other tactical advantage Otherwise - trifling What is Misconduct? Misconduct

Fouls and Misconduct Notes on Substitutes Only Cautioned for Unsporting Behavior Dissent Delaying the Restart (example, entering without permission) What is Misconduct? Misconduct UB DT DR

Fouls and Misconduct Notes on Sending-off Offences Substitutes Can be sent off and shown a red card for all but: Serious Foul Play

Fouls and Misconduct Notes on Sending-off Offences Serious Foul Play or Violent Conduct? A player is unlikely to be “contesting for the ball” if the player’s actions against the opponent occurs from behind and with the ball on the opposite side or with the ball beyond playing distance. This is VC

Fouls and Misconduct (the end) Fouls PhysicalTechnical Careless Reckless Excessive Force Misconduct IDFK Drop Ball IDFK D/P FK D/P FK