| Subject | Date Asked |
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| To PK or not PK | 9/28/2009 |
Q: This question concerns fouls by the goalie after an offensive player has taken a kick inside the ...
A: The call would depend on the details and your perception of them. I would have to ask myself the ...
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| Contact with gaolie after goalie has ball in control | 9/28/2009 |
Q: Goalie laying on the ground cradling ball totally in control. Opposing player on run makes contact ...
A: From your description, I would say you made a great call. It takes courage and fortitude to make ...
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| soccer | 9/18/2009 |
Q: what are all the rules about off sides?
A: First, I would suggest that you read Law 11 - piece by piece, section by section. Then consider the ...
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| Goalkeeper possession | 9/13/2009 |
Q: In a game today, the opposing goalkeeper lost control of the ball and then picked it back up and ...
A: The current interpretation that I have gotten is that the "release" is a willful, voluntary action. ...
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| Questionable foul call | 8/11/2009 |
Q: Today i was playing in a coed rec league game and our ref made one of the most bizarre calls i have ...
A: It all depends. Under what rules were you playing? Under FIFA or USSF, dangerous play, as you ...
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| off side rule | 7/29/2009 |
Q: The off side rule (OSR) is the number one thing that turns people off to soccer. I've played in ...
A: To paraphrase one of the great referees of the beautiful game, the player who was cherry picking had ...
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| off side rule | 6/21/2009 |
Q: The off side rule (OSR) is the number one thing that turns people off to soccer. I've played in ...
A: Offside was one of the early rules from about 1863 when it required three defenders between the ...
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| Keeping time | 5/13/2009 |
Q: When expires at the end of quarter, half or the end of a game do you stop play or wait until the ...
A: In high school, when the score board clock runs out, the game is over. No added time, no ...
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| Red Card | 5/4/2009 |
Q: During our game yesterday, a hard foul (which resulted in a direct kick) was called about 25-30 ...
A: Unlike high school, USSF does not allow captains to discuss calls or obtain an explanation from the ...
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| referees placing hands on players in agressive manner | 10/16/2008 |
Q: Does a referee have the right to place hands on a player? Example: high school player given yellow ...
A: Sorry to hear of this incident. Not a good situation. While there is nothing in the "rule book" ...
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| Is "trickery" a foul? | 10/11/2008 |
Q: I was playing in a game last week and the ref called a foul on one of our players when he went up ...
A: Depends... From your description, I believe the referee may have used the wrong word. If your ...
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| Hand ball in box | 10/7/2008 |
Q: My daughter plays on a select team and in the last couple of games there has been balls kick and hit ...
A: If the foul just did not have the name "handball," it would be easier to comprehend. So many people ...
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| handball call or no call | 9/28/2008 |
Q: In a recent game, our player crossed a ball into opponents box. The cross hit a defender's ...
A: I am afraid I have been on both sides of this issue as coach and referee. As you mentioned, the ...
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| Goal | 9/20/2008 |
Q: this IS MY QUESTION : a PLAYER FROM THE OPPOSING TEAM FALLS ON THE BALL IN THE PENALTY AREA WHILE ON ...
A: Good question. This issue usually can get complicated, but let me just consider the limits of your ...
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| handballs with goalies | 6/23/2008 |
Q: If a goalie has one foot over the penalty area, the whole of the ball is inside the penalty area and ...
A: Good question. This is one that even many less experienced referees misinterpret. The entire ...
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| Timing of calling the game over | 4/28/2008 |
Q: This may have been asked and answered previously but there were so many questions I didn't find it. ...
A: This is always an interesting question, and one that can get the ref into hot water. The Laws of ...
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| soccer offsides | 4/13/2008 |
Q: what type of foul is offsides?
A: If I understand your question correctly, I would say that offside is an Indirect Free Kick type of ...
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| Red card foir Hand ball | 2/18/2008 |
Q: WE had agame last Friday night under the lights. Our goalie was oputside the 18 yard box and ball ...
A: Babak, you have provided an interesting situation. If the ball were rolling directly towards to ...
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| yellow card | 11/21/2007 |
Q: how long can a player be on caution in another words can someone have yellow more than one month
A: Sorry for the delay - holidays, you know. A caution or yellow card only lasts for that game. One ...
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| Handball | 10/30/2007 |
Q: please clarify if the following action is a foul or not. A defender is trying to block an oponents ...
A: Jam, sorry for the delay, but I only learned of your question today. As you know, the foul of ...
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| soccer -goalkeeper question | 10/9/2007 |
Q: My question is: Can an opponent run into the goalkeeper? Our team's goalie had the ball, was run ...
A: Julie, from the description of the incident that you have provided, I would say that the referee may ...
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| Shoe Inserts | 10/8/2007 |
Q: I'm a rugby player, but we use the same boots, so I thought I'd throw this out. I don't have the ...
A: Taylor, I do not pretend to be an expert on shoes or feet. However, I thought I would suggest ...
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| Field Turf Football/Soccer Combined Field | 10/5/2007 |
Q: Our high school recently installed a field turf football field with 6' white perimeter boundary ...
A: Dale, I am not certain I am totally understanding your description of the situation. However, let ...
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| Indirect Kick on goal | 9/21/2007 |
Q: On an Indirect kick the "offensive" player shoots on goal and the "defensive" goalie touches the ...
A: Eric, sorry for the delay between some of these answers, but one does not get to live on soccer ...
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| Infractions within the 18 | 9/21/2007 |
Q: Infractions within the 18, are they PK's or can there be Indirect as well as Direct kicks? And what ...
A: There are only ten (10) Direct Free Kick fouls. Any other infraction is an Indirect Free Kick. The ...
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| Free kick perimeter | 9/21/2007 |
Q: On a free kick the kicker is allotted 9.15m/10yd perimeter around the ball so the kicker can kick ...
A: If the spot of the foul is less than 10 yds from the goal line, the Laws of the Game provide an ...
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| GK hands ball | 9/21/2007 |
Q: On a Goal Keeper kick (keeper catches a shot on goal), what happens if he/she carries the ball past ...
A: Eric, you are right on top of this one. Yes, if and when the keeper carries the ball in his/her ...
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| Hands rule for shoulder | 9/19/2007 |
Q: Can a player use the top of his shoulder to play the ball or gain control? One example would be to ...
A: Good question, Eric. This has been one of those issues that comes and goes over the years. As you ...
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| Offsides | 9/18/2007 |
Q: If a forward is in offside position and the following happens: A defensive half back passes the ball ...
A: No. Yes, the attacking player was in an offside position, but from whom did he receive the ball? ...
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| goal keeper | 9/7/2007 |
Q: Are there any circumstances when the goalie can pick up the ball when delivered to them by their own ...
A: The only time that the keeper can not pick up the ball with his/her hands is when it has been ...
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| Offside on corner kicks and throw-ins | 7/30/2007 |
Q: John, What is the correct ruling when a defender deflects a throw or corner to an attacker in an ...
A: Warren, Great question. It is my understanding that a deflection of the corner kick to a player in ...
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| shin guards | 6/27/2007 |
Q: my name is andrew and i am a senior 4 year varsity lettermen. In the past week some middle school ...
A: By Law 3 of the Laws of the Game, the required equipment include five things: a shirt, shorts, ...
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| soccer coaching qualifications | 6/12/2007 |
Q: I need to get my basic level 1,2 UEAFA or similar as soon as possible as I have got offered a job ...
A: Most states offer entry level USSF referee courses at various times throughout the year. In Ohio ...
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| Legal vs illegal body contact | 5/7/2007 |
Q: We had a rough game with our 5th and 6th graders without many calls. I'm not sure how body contact ...
A: Sorry you had the negative experience in your match. Referees, like players, are learning and they ...
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| yellow card | 5/6/2007 |
Q: Should a player get a yellow card on a quick start kick when the player "sticks his leg out to kick ...
A: Law 13 requires that all opposing players give the required distance (usually 10 yards) on a free ...
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| Offside | 5/2/2007 |
Q: If the defending team has all of its players across mid field and the team on offense has a player ...
A: If I am understanding you correctly, you are saying that all of the defenders are in their ...
|
| soccer rules | 4/30/2007 |
Q: Are their different rules for soccer in different countries? If their is, what are they?
A: Unlike High School soccer in the USA, the rest of the world basically uses the same Laws of the Game ...
|
| Indoor soccer - | 3/28/2007 |
Q: Our girls U12 team was playing indoor soccer league. Our team was up by 10 goals and the ref ...
A: Hope your team still had fun, even though they may have been a bit frustrated. The Laws of the Game ...
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| Monty Python Philosopher's Match | 3/23/2007 |
Q: there I'd like to know if it's considered offside when a player dribbles past all opposing players ...
A: Jim, it would seem to me that the person who headed the ball into the net was in an offside position ...
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| Understanding off-side rule | 2/16/2007 |
Q: Could you please clarify this part of the off-side rule? "the time that Offside is determined is ...
A: Tom, This was all too often misinterpreted by too many referees. For that player in the off-side ...
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| A foul or not? | 12/31/2006 |
Q: Aloha John and thanks for taking another question. A recent debate among parents on my team could ...
A: Mike, you have hit upon one of my pet peeves. Law 13 says that the defending team is to be "at ...
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| Goalkeeper possession | 12/28/2006 |
Q: If a goalkeeper gains possession of a ball inside the penalty box, does she lose control -- or ...
A: Mike, it's great that you are trying to get some clarification regarding this issue. Quite a few ...
|
| high school soccer ref cert. and classes | 11/3/2006 |
Q: How can I become a centeral Ohio high school soccer ref? Is there a web site to go to? Thanks
A: Eric, please pardon the delay in responding to your question, but I believe that I may have ...
|
| Deliberate or protective hand play | 10/18/2006 |
Q: John, thanks for your detailed answer! You asked some clarifying questions: 1.Distance was about 6 ...
A: Let me answer each question separately: 6 feet is fairly close, so I would think that in most ...
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| Deliberate or protective hand play | 10/17/2006 |
Q: John, in a recent game the opponent team shot at the goal. Our defender, only a very short distance ...
A: This issue probably is the second most misunderstood Law of the Game for referees also (Offside is ...
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| Throw In | 10/13/2006 |
Q: Can the keeper pick the ball up off the throw in?
A: The keeper CAN pick up the ball from a throw in only if it was thrown-in by an opponent. If one of ...
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| Soccer Offside Rule | 8/31/2006 |
Q: An attacking player is clearly in an offisde position, closer to the opponent's goal line than ...
A: I'm afraid you are absolutely right. There in no Offside here. As you noted, the time that Offside ...
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| Coaching | 8/14/2006 |
Q: I was wondering how I would go about getting a coaching licence. I really want to be a soccer coach ...
A: This is a bit out of my area, but I did go through the F and E coaching licenses from USSF. You can ...
|
| cap | 7/24/2006 |
Q: when watching the world i heard the announcers say how many "caps" each player had. what is a cap?
A: It is my understanding that in the early 20th Century, members of an international team were awarded ...
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| deliberate hand ball | 7/10/2006 |
Q: in a game i recently played, a team mate kicked the ball towards the opponents net as i ran towards ...
A: Justin, While the referee may not have been right, he was not absolutely wrong. I would agree with ...
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| Ref threw game? | 5/25/2006 |
Q: I just played in the finals in a soccer league today. We were undeafeated and had 6 shut outs with ...
A: From what you say, I think I would be a bit whiney too. It sounds as if you had a number of ...
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| let s get physical (adult league) | 5/24/2006 |
Q: I watch soccer on tv and see alot of physical play. Washington state rules state that shoulder to ...
A: Chulo,you have a rather long and complex answer, so let me take it one point at a time. I will type ...
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| soccer | 3/7/2006 |
Q: What is the total number of soccer referees worldwide 1 registered 2 Best estimate/guesstimate ...
A: Paul, I frankly would have no idea how many referees there are worldwide who are registered or ...
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| Referee conditioning | 2/26/2006 |
Q: From your experience and/or research you have undertaken, what type of fitness program is most ...
A: Rainer, I was never known for my physical fitness; however, at the peak of my limited fitness, I ...
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| Interpretation of the rules | 9/18/2005 |
Q: At the kickoff if a player in one movement takes the ball forward and then brings it back to his ...
A: Jim, This hits on two points - One as a kickoff and the other as an Indirect Free Kick. In both ...
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| Positions | 5/31/2005 |
Q: When I played soccer in the 60's and 70's we had - 2 wings (outside left and right) - Inside left, ...
A: John, I would not say you were wrong. Let's say that you may not be entirely correct. To the best ...
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| Soccer | 5/6/2005 |
Q: How many miles does a player run during a typical one and one half hour match? What would be a good ...
A: Pat, The distance the player may run will vary according to his/her position, age level, style of ...
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| Soccer | 3/20/2005 |
Q: Is fourteen years old too old to start playing soccer?
A: Brittany, While my claimed expertise is more along the proper interpretation of the Laws of the ...
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| 2 attackers on Goalkeeper offsides? | 11/12/2004 |
Q: from just inside the attacking half of the field two attacking players have a two on (none)just the ...
A: Jed, It sounds as if you have a good understanding of the Offside Law. If, as I understand your ...
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| handleing | 7/31/2004 |
Q: Can a keeper handle the ball if his teammate passes (by foot) back to him, but he is under attck by ...
A: This is an interesting issue for refs and players alike. The Laws of the Game indicate that if a ...
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| basic skills | 6/22/2004 |
Q: what are the types of passes and receiving the passes, fundamentals of dribbling, shielding, and ...
A: I don't want to presume to be able to discuss the types of passes, methods of trapping the ball and ...
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| defense | 5/16/2004 |
Q: I am new to soccer,and trying to learn.The coach has put me on right defense.What are my basic ...
A: Barry, I don't want to usurp the authority and guidance that your coach will give you, but you ...
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| Kicking ball while down | 4/19/2004 |
Q: I am a level 8 referee in the U.S., and frequently am involved in discussions regarding whether a ...
A: David, This is one of the enduring questions for most referees. But after all of the discussions ...
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| number of players | 3/10/2004 |
Q: one team as an extra player on the field (12) , they score a goal, is the goal good?.
A: Great question. Generally, if the attacking team had more than 11 players on the field of play at ...
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| Offsides or what? | 7/12/2003 |
Q: In a game of city league soccer I recently participated in I was called on a penalty that I do not ...
A: First, it sounds as if you have a good understanding of the off-side law (if only more of the ...
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| soccer rules | 9/7/2002 |
Q: ok, the call that the ref made in the championship game ended in a penalty shot in the box, because ...
A: Andrea, I frankly feel that, based on what you have told me, the referee may have made a mistake. ...
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| Hand ball deliberate/advantage etc | 6/4/2002 |
Q: you've helped me in the past and thanks in advance.....if there is a hand ball is the question only ...
A: Jim, thanks for the nice comments. Always glad to be of assistance when I can do so. Handling must ...
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