Fouls and Misconduct (12)
U.S. Soccer Federation Referee ProgramGrade 8 Referee CourseCompetitive Youth Training
Overviewo FoulsoDirect free kick foulso Indirect free kick fouls
o MisconductoCautionable offensesoSending-off offenses
Part 1 – Fouls
Foulso CommittedoBy a playeroOn the field of playoWhile the ball is in playoAgainst an opponent
Details to Remembero How do we know if it’s a foul?
o If in the opinion of the referee …
o What about a thrown object?oConsidered an extension of the hando Throwing object at person same as hitting themo Throwing object at ball (with contact) is handlingo The “foul” occurs where the object strikes
The “CREF” FoulsCareless, reckless, excessive forceo Kicks or attempts to kick an opponento Trips of attempts to trip an opponento Jumps at an opponento Charges an opponento Strikes or attempts to strike an opponento Pushes an opponento Tackles an opponent
Carelesso Player has shown a lack of attention or
consideration when making a challenge or acted without precaution
o No further disciplinary sanction is needed if a foul is judged to be careless
Pop QuizWhen can a foul occur?a) During the halftime intervalb) During the period immediately before and
after the matchc) When the ball is in playd) All of the above
Reckless• Player has acted with disregard to the danger
to, or consequences for, opponent• Must be cautioned and issued a yellow card
Excessive Force• Player has far exceeded the necessary use of
force and is in danger of injuring opponent• Must be sent off and issued a red card
Kicking (or attempt)
Tripping (or attempt)
NO FOUL
Jumping At
Charging
Striking (or attempt)
Pop QuizWho can commit a foul?a) Playersb) Substitutesc) Substituted playersd) All of the above
Pushing
Tackling
“Always” Fouls
Yes, even if it was an accident
Holding
Spitting at opponent
Deliberate Handling
HANDBALL is not a foul
This is a handball
This is deliberate handling
HandlingDeliberate act of a player making contact with the ball with hand or armoHow do we know?
oDeliberate actiono “Deliberate – not “intentional”
oHand not in “normal” playing positiono “Normal” doesn’t mean “normal for this person”
oContinues initially accidental contacto “Ball hits hand” and then hand is used to direct it
The Reality of Deliberate Handling
It’s the “cause” not the “result”If contact NOT deliberate, “gaining an
advantage” doesn’t make it a foul!“Self-protection” is allowed.
Distance from ballSpeed of ballNormal reaction vs. deliberate
handling
Remember ….• Goalkeepers outside of the penalty area
• No special rights• Deliberate handling is still a DFK foul!
Pop QuizWhere can a foul occur?a) In the technical areab) On the field of playc) In the spectator aread) ‘a’ and ‘b’ above, but not ‘c’
Restarts for DFK foulso Direct free kickoTaken from location of offenseo Inside own goal areaoTaken anywhere in the area
o Penalty kickoDirect free kick foul in own penalty areaoPenalty mark
8 Indirect Free Kick Fouls
Six Second Rule
Using Hands Twice
Deliberately Kicked
Throw-in from Teammate
Pop QuizUnder the Laws of the Game, it is a foul for a player to strike:a) The refereeb) A player from the opposing teamc) A teammated) All of the above
Dangerous Play
Impeding (Formerly “Obstruction”)
Shielding or Impeding?
Within playing distance of the ball
Preventing GKFrom Releasing the Ball
Other Offenseso Play is stopped to issue a yellow or red card
to a player on the field of play during playo IFK to opponent at location of misconduct
Free Kick Locationo An indirect free kick is taken from the place
where the offense occurredo In defensive goal areaoKick may be taken from any point inside
o In attacking goal areaoKick taken on goal area line parallel to goal
line at point nearest to where foul occurred
Part 2 – Misconduct
Misconducto CautionoYellow card
o Send offoRed card
o Only applies tooPlayersoSubstitutesoSubstituted Players
Cautionable Offenses
Leaves Field w/o Permission
Excludes “Normal Course of Play”(Think “offside”)
Enters or re-entersfield without permission
Fails to Respect Distance
1.Free Kick – 10 yards2.Corner Kick – 10 yards3.Throw-in – 2 yards
Delaying the restart of play
Persistent infringement
Dissent by word or action
The Three P’s1.Public2.Personal3.Provocative
Unsporting Behavior
• Reckless challenge• Tactical foul• Diving• Faking an injury• Removing jersey in
celebration• Taunting• Got on my nerves
SubstitutesCautions to substitutes should be classified only as:o Dissent by word or action, o Unsporting behavior, or o Delaying restart of play
Sending-off Offenses
Serious Foul Playo Serious Foul PlayoMeets four criteria for fouloChallenging for balloExcessive force – well beyond “norm”
Any tackle that endangers the safety
of an opponent MUST be sanctioned as serious foul play.
VCo Violent conductoExcessive force or brutality against any
other personoBall in or out of playoOn or off field
Offensive, insulting or abusive language
o Language that is completely inappropriateoCan be directed at anyoneoRemember the 3 P’s?
o Zero tolerance for discriminatory or racist comments. Always send them off.
o Spitting at an opponent or any other personoMight be a fouloAlways misconduct
oWhat about the word “at”o Leaves room for “accidental”o Permits sanction even if they “miss”
Spitting at another person
o Denying goal scoring opportunity with handoDoes not apply to goalkeeper within own
penalty area
Denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity by use of the hand
DOGSOo Deny an obvious goal scoring opportunity by
free kick or penalty kick fouloDefendersoDistance to goaloDistance to balloDirection of play
Second Cautiono Player/Substitute receives 2nd caution in same
matcho First show yellow cardo Then show red card
Restarts can get confusing …
Did we stop for a foul?Did we stop just for misconduct?
Did we stop for a different reason?Where did it happen?
Who did it?
Restarts
On the Fieldo Misconduct on the field of playoPlay stopped for misconductoIndirect free kick
oPlay stopped for a fouloFree kick based on foul committed
oPlay already stoppedoRestart based on original reason for
stoppage
Off the Fieldo Misconduct off the field of playoPlayer left field during normal playoDropped ball
oPlayer left field to commit misconductoIndirect free kick
oPlay stopped for misconduct from substituteoDropped ball
Review QuestionWhat should the referee do if a player commits persistent infringement?
o Caution and show the player a yellow cardo Send off and show the player a red card
Review QuestionWhat should the referee do if a player tackles an opponent using excessive force?
o Caution and show the player a yellow cardo Send off and show the player a red card
Review QuestionWhat should the referee do if an opponent fails to respect the required distance during a throw-in?
o Caution and show the player a yellow cardo Send off and show the player a red card
Review QuestionHow should the referee restart play if a player carelessly kicks an opponent in the center circle?
o Dropped ballo Indirect free kicko Direct free kicko Penalty kick
Review QuestionWhat should the referee do if a player, who has already been cautioned and who is not the goalkeeper, punches the ball to deny an obvious goal scoring opportunity while standing in his or her own penalty area?
o Show the player a second yellow card and then issue a red card
o Send off the player and issue a red card
Review QuestionHow should the referee restart play if a player commits a careless tackle on his or her own penalty area line?
o Dropped ballo Indirect free kicko Direct free kicko Penalty kick
Review QuestionHow should the referee restart play if a goalkeeper plays the ball with his or her hands in the penalty area after it has been deliberately kicked by a teammate?
o Dropped ballo Indirect free kicko Direct free kicko Penalty kick
Review QuestionHow should the referee restart play if a goalkeeper’s hands and the ball completely cross the penalty area line into the penalty arc while holding the ball?
o Dropped ballo Indirect free kicko Direct free kicko Penalty kick
Review QuestionHow should the referee restart play if a player commits an impeding offense inside his or her own penalty area?
o Dropped ballo Indirect free kicko Direct free kicko Penalty kick