Soccer (American), Football (European)/Questions Answered by Expert John Cummings
| Subject | Date Asked |
| law 14 | 3/20/2010 |
| Q: Recently at an advanced and national referee gathering we started to discuss 2nd touch on a kick ... A: The key is the predicate. If the LOTG had said that the keeper must "play" the ball, then he/she ... | |
| Goalkeeper offenses | 12/17/2009 |
| Q: In the FIFA Laws of the Game under "Offences committed by goalkeepers" it states that "possession of ... A: To understand this issue, it helps if you are a little "long in the tooth" i.e. older. When the ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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. ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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" ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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? ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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, ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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. ... | |
| 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 ... | |
Soccer (American), Football (European)
Answers by Expert:
John Cummings
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Do you have a call made by the referee in last week`s match puzzling you? Are you a referee who may not be certain that what was done was the right thing to do? I shall be glad to entertain any questions about officiating soccer. The more the players, coaches and supporters understand the referee and his/her decisions, the more fun we can have on the pitch.
Experience
After coaching my son's travel team, I have been USSF State Referee, State Assessor, Assignor and State Instructor in addition to having been a college NISOA referee,a NISOA clinician, a NISOA assessor and a high school referee.
Organizations
USSF, OSYSA, CASOA, NISOA
Publications
Soccer Ohio
Education/Credentials
J.D.
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