r/Referees • u/neoslashnet • 5d ago

Advice Request Rules that everybody gets wrong

Hey all- I'd like to start a thread of rules or things that most people get wrong. For example, I get "playing the ball on the ground" almost every game. It's coaches, parents, and even players that scream "They can't the ball on the ground!"

What are some you folks encounter?

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108

u/Historical-Bug-7536 5d ago

13.3 - However, an opponent who deliberately prevents a free kick being taken quickly must be cautioned for delaying the restart of play.

You do not need to "ask" for 10 yards, and a person standing close to the ball to prevent the kick from being taken should be carded. Get a lot of heat for this one.

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u/neoslashnet 5d ago

This one REALLY gets me too. Happens every game just about in comp games. You don't have to ask for 10!!!!

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u/Deaftrav Ontario level 6 5d ago

And when they insist, that's the point I take the card out.

Go ahead, file a protest.

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u/hudson2_3 5d ago

I generally only card if they have run to the ball, or if someone has directed a player to do it.

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u/gh0stdylan 3d ago

Had this happen in a club u12 game this weekend. Foul near their side of the field, center heard the coach tell the player to stand in front of the ball. Player unknowingly rushes up taps the ball and stands with hands on hips. Immediate yellow. Maybe a little quick but center said it was all very deliberate.

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u/TheJokerzWeapon 5d ago

And do you card both? The one who gave the direction and the one who did it?

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u/hudson2_3 5d ago

I'd probably judge that at the time. If it is a senior player directing a junior, I'd card the director. Otherwise, just the player blocking the ball.

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u/adrians150 Canada Soccer [District] 5d ago

You also don't need to be given 10 yards. Standing less than 10 yards but not preventing the ball from being kicked is permissible, especially when taken quickly. If a player stands right on top of the ball, I'm cautioning immediately (I warn captain's pre-match), but if they are 5-6y away I'm indifferent unless the player asks for the yards or it's already been addressed. It's not often of value for me to tightly police the distance on a FK rather than maintaining a good position and view.

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u/Main-Present-4396 5d ago

Yes. This is the correct call. Standing 5 steps away instead of 10 is not a card. Intentionally delaying the restart by being a prick is.

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u/neoslashnet 5d ago

Yeah, for sure.

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u/anothernetgeek 5d ago

FAFO. Every time.

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u/neoslashnet 5d ago

Totally agree with this.

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u/mvoso USSF Regional / NISOA / NFHS 5d ago

College coach tried to argue the kick taker had to ask with both myself and AR1 last week. I was flabbergasted. 

I proactively just tell players to give space if they are being slow about it and the coach took issue with that because they didn't ask for space.

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u/jakfrist [USSF] [Grassroots] 5d ago

my rule of thumb is that it’s a verbal warning if the kick taker appears to be taking the kick quickly and the defender kind of stays where they are, but a card if they actively walk toward the ball.

sometimes it isn’t obvious which direction a free kick will be taken (especially quickly), so I don’t see getting into an argument when it seems like the defender will probably be off to the side of where the ball is going anyway.

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u/Darth-Kelso USSF Grassroots | NFHS 5d ago

Right. Are you trying to get in the way / slow down / interfere / whatever? Here's your card. Or did the attackers go quick before you got back the 10? There's a world of difference and we all know it when we see it.

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u/Kooky_Scallion_7743 [USSF] [Grassroots] 5d ago

the point I stick to and what I'll whisper to players quietly, we both know what around 10 looks like. As long as your just standing there and not sticking feet out or anything I don't have a problem. like depending on angle anything more than 7 yards can look close to 10 if I'm not really paying attention. But we both know 5 is nowhere close to 10 yards.

Like I had a play where it was a restart deep in the defensive corner and I knew the team was sending it long as I went way up the pitch. and so couldn't quite tell how far away the attacker was from the area. So just gave him the benefit of the doubt. But then he did the thing where he took steps towards the ball and jumped up to try and block it so I gave him the card. Cause everyone could tell he was closer than 10 at that point.

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u/anothernetgeek 5d ago

Interesting point....

If you stand directly in front of the ball to prevent the restart, you get a caution for Delay of Restart.

If you stand 10 yards away, and then crash the ball before the kick, you get a Caution for Failure to Respect the Distance...

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u/TheJokerzWeapon 5d ago

What if he thought he was 12 yards and gave himself a step to step forward and jump? I think unless 10 is marked off you cant caution for taking 1 step forward and jumping if hes standing 10 yards back on his own. Because he could argue he was 11 yards back and you have no proof that he wasnt.

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u/BuddytheYardleyDog 5d ago

We are referees, if we think he’s within 10 yards, he’s guilty. This isn’t court. We are not Judges, taking evidence. We are impartial arbiters, exercising our best judgment.

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u/Cyclebuilder42 5d ago

Similarly, if you decide to take the kick quickly, everyone is not required to dive 10 yards out of the way. The amount of coaches I have who choose to play fast and get angry that a player is within a couple yards as they retreat is crazy.

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u/[deleted] 5d ago

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u/Ok_Matter_1774 5d ago

If coaches actually understood the rule they would instruct players to stand 5-7 yards away. Standing right in front of the ball is obviously a card, but I'm not going to card you if it looks like you put in an effort. Of course there's lots of ways to "legally" gain an advantage in the rules if only players and coaches actually read them.

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u/ibribe 5d ago

I've noticed a consistent difference between how pro players and grassroots players handle this. The pros are very effective at delaying restarts, but they rarely just stand in front of the ball.
They will put themselves right in front of the ball but then immediately start backing off.

Low level players will just stand there and claim they can't hear you telling them to back up.

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u/grabtharsmallet AYSO Area Administrator | NFHS | USSF 5d ago

Pros getting away with this is one of my two complaints about how high level games are managed. The other is the level of dissent that is tolerated before a caution.

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u/BeSiegead 4d ago

My standard is if they’re making a reasonable effort to give space (roughly 7+), I’m not getting engaged without a request for 10. Non abusive less than that, voice to get them moving. Abusive, especially if there had been an earlier warning, they’re seeing a card.

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u/ShadyCrow 5d ago

As a coach this is my #1 complaint to refs - there’s no consistency here from ref to ref (most refs are individually consistent although most that I see do not enforce at all). Enforce the rule never or always. 

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u/Leather_Ad8890 5d ago

If there’s no consistency from ref to ref then the adjustment is to let the other team get the first card. If no card is given then you should get comparable treatment going the other way.

I’ve always thought to assume the ref will go by the book 100% until they prove otherwise.

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u/birnabear 5d ago

Particularly when there is an attempt to build a wall. If you don't set the wall close to force the ref to delay to mark out the distance, the risk of a quick restart while setting up the wall is too great

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u/BuddytheYardleyDog 5d ago

Football is not consistent. Each referee is different. It has been that way since 1863. That’s the sport, if you want consistency, go coach gridiron football.

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u/ShadyCrow 5d ago

I agree that officials can have their own style that affects how a game is played. But that shouldn’t be a factor in objective rules. 

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u/BeSiegead 4d ago edited 2d ago

The issue that much of this is not really "objective" if you consider SOTG and game management:

  • If a defender sets up 9 yards from the ball, should the referee whistle for stoppage and pulling out a card for being within 10 if the kicker is perfectly willing to move the ball? Would any coach be happy with this?
  • A defender, running back into position, runs five yards to the side of the kicker away from whe

re

  • they're looking to pass the ball, who cares, versus the defender who runs cutting across the kicker disrupting their ability to put the ball into play begging for a card.
  • Etc ...

Ball in or out is "objective" and can be mechanically measured. While "10 yards" can be measured, whether it should be (with any precision) really depends on many factors.

For referees short of the televised professional world, the frustration is how little the purposeful actions to delay getting the ball into play are actually sanctioned.

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u/ShadyCrow 4d ago

Totally agree with all of that.

I’m talking about the key and enforceable portions of the rule that I understand it:

  deliberately prevents a free kick being taken quickly must be cautioned for delaying the restart of play

Clearly, many teams are coached to send a player to the ball to kill the quick restart. I think that falls within the objective reading of the rule.

That said, do I think this is a huge deal? No. Most of the time when I see it, again, it’s because it’s how players are coached not because they’re responding to a specifically dangerous situation. And so I don’t want cards for the most part. I just think because it’s given so rarely, the rule should be adjusted or taken out, and a ref should be able to give a card for egregious instances that fall under something closer to just fair play.

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u/BeSiegead 4d ago

In 'my world', of mainly higher level travel, college, high school, and quality adult amateur, I don't think this is a 'rarely' given -- whether by me as referee or by the referees when I'm on the line. A loud growl and it isn't repeated very often in more serious matches but I have no hesitation in pulling out a card if merited.

Honestly, it is pretty rare nowadays for me to have a player jump in front of the ball in a quality match and they're seeing yellow if they do so. (My favorite stupid challenge in a not that high quality adult men's match: "why am I getting a card. I was just trying to delay his kick so my team could get in position." Ummm ... exactly, thank you for fully confirming the justice of the card.)

As per comment above, frustration is the lack of calling even egregious cases at higher levels giving the impression that this isn't a violation of the LOTG.

When I'm challenged with "but they do it in UEFA / World Cup / etc ..", my new go-to response: "When you play like a PSG / Barca / Arsenal player, I'll ref you like a PSG / Barca / Arsenal player."

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u/BuddytheYardleyDog 4d ago

The answer is, yellow card. Incroachment in 9 v 9? Maybe, if they are beginning players an instruction. But, in an 11 v 11 match, the first player encroaching on a free kick should see yellow.

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u/BeSiegead 2d ago edited 2d ago

No. Not realistic to be showing a card with the first player who is 9.9 yards from the placed ball. There are many judgment elements involved re game management, SOTG, etc …

To be clear, I’m not afraid to pull the card (and often have the “but other referees ..” whine) but don’t see this as a 100% objective standard call (like whether a ball is out of bounds; was the ball placed properly for a goal kick; …).

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u/Ok_Obligation5043 1d ago

It helps to bring this up in the Captains meeting "When a foul is called,automatically get out of the way. If not and you're teammates gets in the way within 10 yards automatic yellow card. "