Q: Our GU12 tied game went to penalty kicks. With the girls we had on the field, we selected our GK and first 5 kickers. After the other team took 4 of their kick, our team asked to change goalies with another girl on the field and the Center Ref denied our request. Can you switch GK in the middle of PK's?

A: Yes, the team may change the GK with another field player. Sorry....the referee got this wrong (we're human, too!).

Q: if a goal keeper takes a goal kick and it blows back into the net without anyone touching it , what is the outcome ?

A: This is a very interesting question! As you probably know, once the ball travels outside the penalty area on a goal kick (either on the ground or in the air), it is now in play. You would think that if the wind blew in back into the defender's goal (where the goal kick was taken), it would be a goal, right? However, this is not the case. Law 16 specifically states "A goal may be scored directly from a goal kick, but only against the opposing team." Therefore, if the ball wasn't touched, there cannot be a direct score against the team taking the goal kick. So, what's the restart? If the ball goes over the goal line, without scoring a goal, and last touched by a defender, the result is a CORNER KICK by the attacking team.

Q: An attacking player, in an offside position, intercepts a pass from a defender intended for that defenders goalkeeper.

A: ...but, is it an offside infraction? The attacker is in an offside position, but the key is the fact that the pass came from a DEFENDER, not a teammate. Therefore, keep you whistle in your pocket - there is no offside.

Q: A player taking a throw-in throws the ball directly toward his/her own goal. The goalkeeper handles the ball briefly in an attempt to prevent the ball from entering the goal. The ball enters the goal in spite of this.

A: It is specifically stated in Law 15: "A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in." The condition you describe has a couple of elements that need to be addressed to figure out whether a goal has been scored (or not!). First, the GK "handles the ball briefly" - the ball has no longer been thrown DIRECTLY into the goal; it has been played by the GK. Another factor: as you know, the GK CANNOT handle a throw-in from a teammate - if the GK does handle the ball, an IFK can be awarded to the opposing team. However, then the ball went into the goal! So, applying the advantage clause, the correct call would be to not stop play for the GK infraction of handling the ball but to allow the goal to score. Short and sweet: GOAL.

Q: I was coaching a GU12 game this weekend. A corner kick for the opposing team was called. The opposing player taking the corner placed the ball correctly, stepped back, ran up, and kicked the ball immediately over the goal line. The ball went out-of-play without touching any other player. The referee called for the player to re-kick the corner which resulted in a goal for her team. It is my understanding that, in a corner kick, the ball is in play once the ball is kicked (assuming that it was placed correctly). Therefore, the restart after the 1st kick should have been a goal kick for the defending team. At half-time, the referee explained to me that his decision was based on an issue that came up during a tournament match in Glendale last year. The coaches/referees at that tournament game decided that a corner kick that goes immediately out-of-play over the goal line without touching any other player will be re-kicked, because it was never in play. What is the correct call?

A: At the taking of the corner kick (CK), the ball is placed on the field in the corner arc; the ball is on the field of play. The ball is in play when it is kicked. Since it is on the field of play when kicked, if it goes over the goal line without being touched, the correct restart is a goal kick (GK) for the defending team.�(I'm not sure how this decision at the "Glendale tournament" came about. The only thing that comes close would be if a GK is taken and does not clear the penalty area, it must be retaken)��REMEMBER: Referees, like players & coaches, are humans and make mistakes, even when well-intended.�

Q: I was an AR last weekend at a Girls U10 game when the following situation occured. The Vistiting Team kicked the ball from their defensive end to the Home Team's defensive end. The Home Goalie came out of the penalty area to retrieve the ball with her feet and dribbled the ball back into the area and picked it up with her hands. The Center Ref called an infraction on the Goalie and gave the Visiting Team an Indirect Free Kick just outside the penalty area. Was this the correct call?!?

A: IF the ball had been kicked back to the GK by a teammate, the GK is not allowed to pick up the ball with his/her hands - this would be an infraction and result in an indirect free kick (IFK). HOWEVER, as you describe the play, the ball was played by an opponent; therefore, the GK is allowed to bring the ball into the penalty area (with her feet, as you describe) and then pick it up in her hands. This is not an infraction.

Q: What is everything referees need for a game?

A: Minimum requirements for younger divisions:� Referee uniform with badge Whistle Watch Coin� Pen/pencil Flags for Assistant Referees�For older/competitive divisions add... Yellow/red cards�

Q: At what age level do we start adding extra time for wasted time during the game?

A: It is the responsibility of the referee to keep the game moving and discourage time wasting at all age levels. First, the referee has to determine if the "time wasting" is deliberate - with younger players, this is usually not the case. In the non-competitive divisions (U8 and below), there is no advantage to wasting time. The referee should encourage the players to put the ball into play; be vocal. Also, the game times for younger divisions are usually very close together...adding time is usually not an option.In the competitive divisions (U10 and above), there could be an advantage to wasting time. Again, it is up to the referee to prohibit this activity. The Laws allow for adding time for deliberate time wasting and activities outside the normal flow of play: injuries, cautions/send offs, stoppage for weather, substitutions, etc. �Barring something unusual, the referee can keep the stoppages to a minimum and not have to add time.

Q: Situation: In a Boys U12 game, attacking Player A is making a run towards the opposing goal while in possession of the ball. Defender A is moving stride for stride with Attack Player A. Attacking Player A extends his arm and pushes Defender A away. Although Defender A does not fall, his stride is broken, separation is achieved and a goal is scored. Is this a violation of Law 12? I was told by a referee that unless the push was done in a careless or reckless manner, there is no foul. I disagree. Who is right?

A: Merely having hands on another player is not a foul. However, if the player extended his arm to intimidate an opponent or gain an unfair advantage, this could be considered reckless and a pushing foul. The referee ON THE FIELD would have to make this determination.

Q: Can the ref stop the game and decide that one of the teams loses? if yes, what are the conditions, if no, how the team should dispute it?

A: Can the referee stop the game? YES �Can the referee decide who wins or loses? NO �(the game cannot continue if one team cannot field the minimum number of players, through ejection, injury, etc.) �The referee can suspend the game for several reasons: safety due to field conditions/weather/lighting, etc. or any other reason he/she feels requires the game to be suspended. EXAMPLES: a fight breaks out that cannot be contained, the officials safety is threatened, a fire breaks out next to the field, swarms of bees attack everyone, spectators refuse to cooperate, etc. If the game is suspended, it is the responsibility of the league officials to determine whether the game will be replayed, the score stands where the game was suspended, whatever.

Q: A player has the ball and is dribbling through the opposing team. He comes across the last defender while he has a teammate of his to the right of him and up a little bit in an offside position. The player dribbling "fakes out" the last defender. He gets called for offsides because he "faked out" the defender in the direction of the teammate of his that was in the offside position. Was this the right call?

A: If you are saying that the attacker with the ball "faked" a pass to his teammate (who was in an offside position)....the only possible offside infraction would be if the teammate in the offside position was interpreted as "interfering with play". This would have to be direct interference, not just being in an offside position. When you say "he gets called for offside", it sounds like you are referring to the attacker dribbling the ball for "faking the pass" - there is absolutely no way the attacker dribbling the ball can be called for offside.

Q: Hello, another offside question. This is for U-10. Attacker A is driving toward goal with ball. Attacker B is in offside position, also moving forward. He does not realize he is offside and is ready to shoot if ball comes to him. Now defender moves away from ball to cover attacker B. I did not call offside because I thought defender is responsible to understand offside rule and ignore attacker B. After the game, the AR said I should have called it, because attacker B influenced play. Is that right? AR is much more experienced than I am. thanks!

A: Without actually being on the field, it's difficult for me to determine if there was an offside infraction or not. As you describe it, I'm not sure that B actually interfered with play by being in an offside position; it is the defender's responsibility to go to the attack, which was A. Only if A then passed the ball to B would I whistle offside.�It is very difficult to interfere with play without being actively involved. If B were standing next to the GK at the goal, he might be close enough to distract the GK. Again, you usually need active involvement, not just mere presence.�Keep up the good work!�

Q: Joe, I was referee in a U10 game last weekend. At one point, the striker kicked the ball toward the goal and it glanced off the defender's leg. As the goalie went to pick up the ball, his coach was screaming "don't pick it up with your hands", so the goalie kicked the ball away. I think it would have been OK for the goalie to pick the ball up, right?

A: You must have paid attention in referee class! The Laws stipulate that if a defender KICKS the ball back to the goalkeeper, the GK may not use his/her hands to pick up the ball. This Law change was made to discourage defenders from using this tactic to stop scoring opportunities. In the situation you describe, the defender did not deliberately kick the ball to his GK...therefore, the GK could have picked up the ball.

Q: Can the goalkeeper bounce the ball prior to punting or throwing the ball? Or is this consider a second touch?

A: Yes, the GK can bounce the ball and, no, it's not considered a second touch. This is a liberal interpretation of "gaining control of the ball" - kids see this on TV all the time. It's one of those "trivial offences" (spelled the English way!) that isn't worth making a fuss over. The problem occurs when younger players, who aren't as coordinated yet, bounce the ball and then mishandle it. Once it lands on the ground out of their control, they CANNOT pick it up again.

Q: "Pass back" to GK, followup Joe, as another follow-up to a defender passing to the Goalkeeper, the GK knowingly does not use his hands. He attempts to play the ball with his feet, mishandles the ball or misses altogether, and the ball rolls into the net. Goal for the other team or corner kick? (Yes. Younger players).

A: Well, if the ball was in play at the time (not, say, a free kick being taken in the Penalty Area that did not leave the area) and goes into the net, it would be a goal - in fact, it would be the dreaded "own goal". It's not as unusual as it seems...this happens with younger players who try to kick the ball and end up kicking it into their own net. If handled properly by the coach ("great idea, Jimmy; that's OK), it's not too traumatic on younger players. Older players (and coaches) don't usually view this with the same understanding, however!

Q: Hi Joe, Red player 1 is in an offside position. Red player 2 is not and runs onto ball from a pass from one of his players. Red Player 1 begins to follow Red Player 2 towards the goal, he is behind the ball and the only defender is the keeper. I flagged him as he approached the ball as he was, in my judgment interferring with play and had gained an advantage by starting in an offside postion. Coach was yelling the offside line had re-set as soon as Player 2 and the ball had past him up. Can you help me with this one?

A: OK....a player can only violate the offside law (Law 11) if he/she is in an offside position at the time of the offense. Once Red 2 carried the ball past Red 1, Red 1 is no longer in an offside position and cannot violate Law 11. Red 1 only became involved in active play when he/she was behind the ball and, therefore, not offside.

Q: Offside. Blue is on attack, blue player #1 dribbles the ball deep behind the second to last defender. He then passes back to blue player #2. Blue player #2 starts to drive forward, and red defender #1 is running to cover where he thinks Blue #2 is headed. Blue player #1 is now in an offside position and is in the path that Red defender #1 is taking. Should offside be called?

A: Whew...!!! A very detailed scenario. Blue #1 is in an offside position in the path of the Red defender. Is he involved in active play by interfering with an opponent? You, as the referee, would have to interpret that Blue #1 was actively interfering, not merely being present at that location. The same would be said if a ball was passed through the defenders and an attacker in an offside position made no attempt to play the ball; therefore, not an offside infraction. Unless I felt Blue #1 was actively involved in play, I'd leave the whistle in my pocket.

Q: I have a question in regards to throw-ins. I am seeing inconsistent calls when a player picks up the ball to throw-in and another player on his teams wants to throw it in so the player that has the ball in his hands out of bounds tosses it to his teammate on the field who wants to throw it in. I've seen ref's call this as a bad throw in and it is the other teams ball. Now in BU12 a few ref's call this and some don't. In All Stars other Regions do not call this and when asked by a Region 2 coach why not, the response by the center ref for another Region responds, "ah, come on, really?" I feel our Region 2 coaches have done a good job to teach the kids to set the ball down, but very frustrating when playing other Regions. (this did get called at the Thanksgiving Tournament) I guess my question is, is this a rule to be called?

A: I guess you could technically call this an improper throw-in. However, if the intent of the player was to give the ball to a teammate to take the throw-in and NOT to put the ball into play, I would NEVER call this. While there is the "letter of the Law", it's the "spirit of the Law" that must be considered. An example would be a ball that takes a crazy bounce and hits a player on the arm without any deliberate attempt from the player...is that a "hand ball"? No way.... Referees are there to enforce deliberate breaches of the Laws, not trifling offenses.

Q: At a throw-in, the player on the blue team who takes the throw-in lifted her leg, but the ball did not enter the field of play. What is the proper restart?

A: Until the ball enters the field, play has not restarted. Therefore, a foul could not have occured. The proper restart would be a throw-in for the blue team.

Q: How much reffing from the sidelines by the coaches or parents should the CR put up with in a U10 game? The coach/parent keeps yelling his/her opinion on every call made or not made.

A: As a referee, you have to recognize that every time you blow the whistle (or not blow it!), one sideline or the other is going to be less than satisfied. Each side is looking at the game through their own perspective and would like to have all the calls go their way. As long as it's not abusive, a little grumbling and groaning is OK. But, I'll let them question my calls but NEVER my character. The referee is neutral, calls what he/she sees, and does not play favorites. In U10, you're pretty close to the sidelines and can use your voice to help explain your calls/no calls. For example, if a ball bounces off a player's arm and the sidelines start yelling "hand ball", you might say "play on......the ball was not handled deliberately". This tells everyone you saw what happened and why you didn't blow the whistle. If a coach or parent becomes abusive, you'll have to handle that directly.

Q: How many captains can a team have?

A: In AYSO, the team captain is a ceremonial position who's primary purpose is to choose direction of play after the coin toss. Usually there are one or two team captains for each team. With older players, referees will typically have the team captains�calm down teammates�or send a message (i.e. "the ref says he's really going to start calling it tight until the fouling stops", etc.). There is no restriction on the number of team captains....some of the younger teams may have 3 or 4. This doesn't need to be a problem; if�it becomes an issue (like, there's just too many "captains" there for the coin toss), the referee should�have players step back until it's manageable.�

Q: A goalkeeper has the ball and is ready to punt the ball and a player on the opposing team jumps up in front of the keeper to try and block the punt. Is this allowed in U12 or any division? I've seen it many times in BU12.

A: Whoa, whoa, whoa!!!� Not only does this sound wrong, it's against the Laws of the Game (LOTG). Law 12 specifically defines cites "prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands" as a foul that results in an indirect free kick. If this persists, it could also be a cautionable offense. The referee should instruct players to "back off" if they see this behavior and caution older players (U12 and up) who continue this type of play.

Q: Joe, I just reffed my first game yesterday and it went OK. But, one thing bothered me. Everytime the ball hit a player's arm, all of the people were yelling "handball". I only blew the whistle if I thought the player had handled the ball intentionally; if it wasn't intentional, I didn't do anything. Was this correct?

A: It sounds like you paid attention in your referee class! An infraction only occurs when the ball is handled deliberately - the simple reminder of "did the hand/arm hit the ball? (foul), or did the ball hit the hand/arm? (no foul)"� Unfortunately, many people who are unfamiliar with the game only know that the ball and the hand/are aren't supposed to come together and think it deserves a whistle every time.� Hang in there, you're doing great!

Q: A team has a throw-in in their own half and the throw-in taker delivers the throw to the keeper who knowing he/she cannot handle the ball opts not to play the ball with his/her feet as a player from the other team is running toward him/her and the ball goes in to the goal without anyone touching it. Is the goal disallowed since a goal cannot be scored from a throw-in and does that include own goals?

A: I'm pretty sure you know the answer....there is NO GOAL. In fact, this is addressed directly in the "Intepretation" section of the Law book:� If the ball enters the opponents’ goal directly from a throw-in, the referee must award a goal kick. If the ball enters the thrower’s own goal directly from a throw-in, the referee must award a corner kick.

Q: My sons team had to do penalty kicks to decide a game. How does the ref have to signal that it is OK to take the kick. I have found various information and I just want to make sure i have it right. Is it a whistle or can it be something else.

A: According to Law 14, the referee "signals" for the kick to be taken - it doesn't specifically say "whistle". In the Interpretation of the Laws, however, procedures are discussed that take place "after the whistle and before the ball is in play".....The universal signal is to whistle for the kick to be taken. We even go so far as to tell the players not to move on the whistle, only when the ball has been kicked. Stick with the whistle !

Q: When I'm getting ready for an important game (they're all important actually) and want to be sure I'm ready to do my best as CR I sit down and re-read your very thoughtful, helpful Q & A's. They are a great help! Thank you!

A: Thanks for your comments - I'm feelin' the love! A couple of thoughts... yes, they are all important. Just when you start to feel a little TOO comfortable, something will come up to bite you in the behind! Sometimes a player will just go off, a wacky parent jumps in, whatever. So, keep your wits about you, even in the blowout games. Second, your desire to excel will serve you well. All of us keep learning, it doesn't matter how many games you have whistled. However, 99% of the time your initial reaction is the correct one - if it looks like a foul, it probably is. So, trust your gut... Good luck!�Joe

Q: A play occured in my game on Sunday that has me concerned. One of my players pushed the ball past the last defender and made a run on the ball in the 4th quarter. The defender tripped my player and he went down hard and had the wind knocked out of him. We got a shot but the player did not get a card. Why?

A: There are several factors at play in deciding if it's warranted (or necessary) to "card" a player. Was the foul delivered recklessly or with excessive force...or, was the defender making an attempt to stop the play and resulted in tripping the attacker? In the first case, a caution might be awarded (in fact, if the foul was REALLY excessive, a send off might be in order for serious foul play). In the second case, no further action is required other than awarding the penalty kick. The cards are to be used to control the actions (and future actions) of players and should be dispensed with careful consideration. Another factor that hasn't been addressed the the age and ability of the players involved. Young players seldom foul with the intent to harm the opponent - they're just trying to get the ball. These situations should be handled with words rather than cards.

Q: Joe, Can a defensive player on the field switch positions with the goalie (position) during a re-start or injury break by requesting a position change from the referee?

A: Good question that sometimes causes confusion... Law 3 addresses this specific issue and states: "any other player (this means a player on the field at the time) may change places with the goalkeeper provided that 1)the referee is informed before the change is made and 2) the change is made during a stoppage in the match. The "stoppage" is misunderstood; this would be when the ball is not in play. Examples would be during a throw in, corner kick, goal kick, penalty kick, or (as you mentioned) a stoppage for injury. The change cannot occur during a free kick - the team taking the kick is permitted to take it immediately.

Q: On an indirect kick, the offensive player kicks the ball directly to the goal. The keeper tries to block the shot but it goes off her fingertips and in to the goal. Does this goal count?

A: As has been said in the past, there are many "offensive" players but only attackers and defenders on the field! This sounds like one of those test questions and I think you probably know the right answer. A goal cannot be scored by an indirect kick�without first being played (or touched) by another player (either a teammate or an opponent). In the situation you describe, when the ball glanced off of the GK's fingertips, this�allows a goal to be scored.� GOAL!!!�

Q: If the goal keeper recovers the ball inside the penalty box,and he goes to kick the ball to put it back into play, but at the same time the other teams player crosses his path as the GK is kicking the ball, and the ball hits the player's back and it bounces back and it goes inside of the goal, what is the right call?

A: The old "rebounded goal trick", huh??? Most likely, what we have here is covered in Law 11, which states that an indirect free kick (IFK) will be awarded if the opponent "prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball with his hands". This is assuming the GK was trying to kick the ball and the opponent ran in front of him/her. NO GOAL is awarded, the referee should blow the whistle, award the IFK, and (perhaps) tell the player not to interfere with the GK (had the interference been flagrant, the player could be cautioned/yellow card for Unsporting Behavior).���� There is a less evil (but more interesting!) possibility here: if the GK was kicking the ball and didn't see the opponent (OR, even a higher level of evil-ness...may have aimed at the opponent!) and it rebounded into the goal: GOAL!!

Q: Can the Jersey and ball be the same color. A team used the same color ball as the uniform and it seems like it would create problems. My team has given up a few goals on corner kicks under these circumstances

A: There is nothing in the Laws of the Game that address this situation. Frankly, any confusion created by ball/jersey colors would be fairly equal for both teams. To avoid this possibility, I would suggest you ask the referee to change�to a different ball....a reasonable request that will most likely be accepted.�

Q: Is the coach allowed to change (not substitute) the goalie with another player on the field after a penalty kick has been called?

A: Yes, with the permission of the referee (who is supposed to grant this request). The GK can be replaced by any of his/her teammates on the field; no substitutes are allowed. After the penalty kick has been taken, the GK cannot be changed until there is a stoppage of play and, again, with the permission of the referee. (Joe Ref has always wondered about this strategy....the "regular" GK plays the whole game and stops all the shots and is pulled for a penalty kick?)

Q: Joe, I was watching a game (BU12) this weekend and a player made a terrific (correctly done) slide tackle, potentially saving a goal. The CR allowed play to continue, but the coach of the player who lost the ball gave the ref an earful, saying slide tackles are not allowed this year. I have heard this from more than one source, but I also see at the top of this page that they are allowed. What is the rule?

A: There is nothing in the Laws that prohibit a "slide tackle". However, ANY tackle must be done without being careless, reckless, or played in a dangerous manner. Slide tackles can be done safely. However, this is a somewhat risky maneuver - if not done properly, the risk of fouling your opponent is great. So we are clear: there is NO prohibition against slide tackles, as long as they are perfomed safely.

Q: Blue team is attacking/Red team defending. Blue last touches the ball and it goes over the goal line of the red team without going into the goal. A goal kick is signaled by both AR and the CR. Meanwhile - a Red player quickly taps the ball back onto the pitch, then kicks it down field. It's almost as play never stopped. All players and several coaches are yelling "It's a Goal KICK!". But the CR signals to play on. When the Red player put the ball back onto the field - the ball was then in the goal area. And - his subsequent kick cleared the penalty area before being touched by another player. While the Red player did appear to continue playing the ball after the goal kick was called, his actions were judged to demonstrate a legal goal kick. Your thoughts?

A: Well, if the referee signaled to "play on", then it was (obviously) a correctly played goal kick! ('cause, as we all know, the referee is ALWAYS right!). From your description, everything about the kick was correct: ball in goal area, left the penalty area before being played, etc.). The only thing that might be in question was whether the ball was stationary at the time it was kicked.�There is nothing formal or ceremonial about the taking of a goal kick - the kicking team can put the ball back into play as soon as they like.

Q: Joe, I thought I had offside figured out but still have a question. When does offside occur? I thought once the ball passed the last defender (except the goalkeeper), an offensive player could then run offside; is that right?

A: Well, not exactly correct. The moment of judgement for offside is determined by the attacking player's position at the time the ball is played by a teammate. (By the way, there are many "offensive" players, but only attacking and defending players on the field!) So, if a player is even with, or behind, two defenders at the time the ball is played (typically, the GK and one other defender), that attacker is NOT in an offside position and can race up past the defender(s) to the ball without penalty. If, however, an attacker is in an offside position and subsequently becomes involved in play/gains an advantage/etc. at the time the ball is played, an offside infraction occurs, even if the attacker moved behind the defender ("on side") before going for the ball. Hopefully, this second part of the answer didn't add to your confusion (it's much easier to explain visually!).

Q: On a direct kick the defending teams last defender went behind the keeper past the goal line inside the goal posts in case keeper missed ball. I think they would clear it. Could any of the attackers have played as deep as her and not have been offside? Or because she was off the field of play not the last defender any more?

A: Definitely a thought-provoking situation! Here's what FIFA says in it's advice to referees: "If a defending player steps behind his own goal line in order to placean opponent in an offside position, the referee must allow play tocontinue and caution the defender for deliberately leaving the fi eldof play without the referee’s permission when the ball is next out ofplay". It's somewhat unclear as to what "...the referee must allow play to continue..." means. Is the player now in an offside position? I think NO. A player should not be penalized for the misconduct of another. In your specific case, it doesn't appear the player was trying to place her opponent offside; she really wanted to protect her goal. And, some part of the player's body (probably her arms/hands) are still in the field and, therefore, part of the field. I would only caution if you felt the player had left the field in an attempt to trap her opponent offside.

Q: Hey Joe, The Goalkeeper carries the ball outside the penalty area before releasing. My understanding was that once the Keeper leaves the penalty area they are like any other player, and that the keeper can't be handling the ball once the ball crosses the 18 yard line. Put the two together and you have a hand ball with a direct kick, right? I've seen this go both ways so just trying to get clarity.

A: You are correct on several counts, although there are some considerations to be judged. First, if the GK handles the ball outside of the Penalty Area, that constitutes "deliberately handling the ball" which would result in a direct free kick (DFK) at the point of the infraction. And, the GK doesn't have to leave the Penalty Area - if the ball is outside and they reach outside, that's an infraction. But, one of the considerations to be made would be the age of the players....if this happens in U16, you might�blow the whistle. If it happened in U8, I doubt you'd make the same call (a verbal correction is more likely the correct course of action). For U10 and above, I typically give a verbal warning to the GK before blowing the whistle unless they are flagrantly outside the Penalty Area.

Q: Player A has a breakaway that is stopped by the keeper. The keeper then throws the ball out to his own player (B). Player A is now in the offsides position, but his team doesn't actually have possession of the ball. Player B now attempts to pass back to his keeper not realizing Player A is in the area. Player A intercepts the pass and scores, what is the call?

A: The restart would be a kick off for B's team (after the goal has been awarded to A's team). It is not an infraction to be in an offside position. And, since the ball was not played by A's teammate, no offside infraction has taken place.

Q: Joe, what is the ruling if time expires (half time or end of game) while the ball is being retrieved to take a corner kick? Is time up and no corner kick taken, or do you allow the corner? And if it is allowed, how much longer do you let the clock run (how much time do you give the team taking the corner to score)?

A: Once time has expired, play ceases. This covers everything: ball dribbling, ball being kicked, ball in the air, ball out of play, corner kicks, everything. (as an aside....my clock has NEVER run out while the ball is in the air and on it's way to score a�goal!)�So, to answer your question, NO...DO NOT ALLOW THE CK.� The only instance whereby time would be extended would be to take a Penalty Kick. If a PK has been awarded and time expires, the referee will add time to allow the PK to be taken at the end of the half or end of the game.

Q: I'm sure you saw the recent email sent out regarding protecting the goalie. Can you please define when a goalie technically has "possession", especially when they are on the ground. My understanding is that if any part of their hand is on the ball, then they have "possession" and no one should be trying to kick the ball away from the goalie. Please clarify.

A: By it's nature, goalkeeping is a somewhat dangerous job. As such, GKs are afforded protection under the Laws....most specifically, they cannot be charged when they are in possession of the ball. Possession is defined has having control of the ball. Since GKs are exposed to physical danger, control is fairly liberally awarded. If the GK was on the ground and had one finger controlling the ball, that could be deemed as having possession. Player safety is paramount....that being said, the application will vary be age: younger players will get the most liberal interpretation of "possession" while older GK will face the most strict interpretation. Again, keeping the GK out of physical danger is the most important consideration.

Q: Joe, On Gu14 game and on a PK call, can the defending team switch goal keeper to defend a PK and then switch back after PK taken?

A: During a stoppage in play, the GK can be replaced by another player (a player on the field) with the permission of the referee. This requires the player assuming GK responsibilities to change into the GK jersey.After the PK is taken (and, during a stoppage in play & with permission of the referee), the original GK may switch back; again, the jersey must be exchanged.�

Q: Hey Joe!! I am new to soccer. I have nearly 10 years of high school coaching experience in basketball and baseball. My daughter is in the U6 division, so we are learning soccer together. Where can I get the rule book to learn the ins and outs of the game. Like a corner kick vs a goal kick. Ya know,,, that kind of stuff, Sincerely, "Joe Dad"

A: The best source for education, training, and materials is through the Referee Staff in Region 2. You can also download materials through the AYSO National site: http://soccer.org/home.aspx�There is a Basic Referee Course being held at the Arcadia Red Cross on Tues/Weds evening, 9/23-24. I'm sure if you came before 6pm, you could talk to the instructors and pick up some materials.

Q: When two player "shoulder up", but one is stronger than the other and is able to push the opposing player off of the ball, my understanding of the rule is that would be considered fair play. Most coaches tend to disagree with me, especially when it is their player being pushed off of the ball. If you watch any older division matches, play like that is never called. Am I wrong?

A: This is an excellent topic, one that is often misunderstood. Fair charges (shoulder to shoulder) are allowed under the Laws, specifically: "the act of charging is a challenge for space using physical contact within playing distance of the ball without using arms or elbows". It is only an offence if it is done in a careless manner, reckless manner, or using excessive force.When players are charging FAIRLY, the larger/stronger player will most often win that challenge. Typically, the greatest disparity in player size occurs in U14, both for boys and girls. You can have players that are a foot taller....! As long as they charge fairly, it is NOT a foul.

Q: Blue Team restarts with an Indirect Free Kick outside of the Penalty Area. The kicker shoots the ball directly toward the goal. Before the ball enters the goal, a Red Team defender (not the Goal Keeper) hits the ball over the cross bar with his hand, when there is no other player is the playing distance. The restart is a penalty kick. But shall the referee send off (Red Card) the Red defender? Since it is an IFK, if the ball enters the goal without touching any other player, it will not count as a goal. So, it may not fit the Send-Off condition: denying the goal by handling the ball delibrately.

A: Ahhh, someone's been up late thinking up interesting questions for Joe! Under Law 12, denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity is to be dealt with by sending off the offending player. Usually, a player (not the GK) who swats away a ball heading for the goal would see the red card. However, as you point out,�this shot came from an IFK and a goal would NOT have been scored had the ball continued on. Still, awarding the PK is correct (handles the ball deliberately in own penalty area). The referee would also want to consider a caution/yellow card for unsporting behavior - the intent to deny the goal was still there....even if mistaken.

Q: Joe, if a goal keeper gets the ball in his hands and a forward from the other team charges into the goal keeper, what is the penalty.

A: There's a couple of things that might happen. First, there will be a free kick for the GK's team, placed at the spot the GK was charged. Law 12 specifically states that an opponent may not prevent the GK from releasing the ball back into play. Additionally, the player MAY be cautioned (yellow card) if you felt the action was careless, reckless, or using excessive force. As with all referee judgements, the age of the players must be taken into consideration. If this involved younger players, you probably need to talk to that player to prevent future occurances....you shouldn't bring any cards into play.

Q: Joe, it seems like the referees in post-season allow the games to be rougher. There are many times when things that were fouls in the regular season seem to be ignored or the ref will just put his hands out instead of blowing the whistle. What's going on?

A: What you're probably seeing is the benefit of more experienced referees calling these games. What may be "fouls" to less-experienced refs (such as unintentional "hand balls", legal charging, etc.) are probably being whistled during the regular season are not being called or ADVANTAGE is being applied. Also, referees expect a higher level of play in the post season and allow the players to play hard (within limits of the Laws!). Many of these teams utilize offside traps - this must be recognized by the refs. Conversely, top teams teach their players to "go on the kick" to stay onside and try to beat the defense when the ball is played. Good play demands good refs!

Q: Hi Joe, We had an interesting call today that really needs clarification. A player was in what looked to be offside position, just over the mid-field line. The entire opposing team was well into attacking territory on the other side of the line. The defense managed to clear the ball out to the waiting player, who took the ball down and scored. The center ref allowed the goal, citing that there was no offside because there was no defender on their side of the field... in order to be offside, he said there must be at least one defender (beside the keeper) on or behind the line. What's the official call in this situation?

A: Let's call the goalkeeper's team the Blue team. OK, so all players except the one Red attacker and the opposing Blue goalkeeper are in Red side of the field.�Law 11 states that a player is in an offside position when�"he is nearer to his opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent." Since there was only one�opponent (the goalkeeper) in the Blue half of the field, the Red attacker is definitely in an offside position. Once the ball is passed to him by a teammate, an offside infraction has occured and the whistle should be blown. (What if the GK had come all the way up to the halfway line and the Red attacker stood in front of the open goal and received the pass....don't you think "Offside" would have been called?) �The referee had his/her facts mixed up regarding Law 11. (However, I'm sure there is SOMETHING in the Laws that says referees are allowed three or four mistakes each game......I'll have to get back to you on that!)

Q: Hello Joe, I have a question relating to U8 matches. If a defensive player, deliberately or intentionally, deflects the ball on the goal line from obvious goal opportunity, shouldn't the attacking team be awarded a PK or at least DFK rather than, an IFK from six-yard line? Thank you

A: When you talk about "deflects", I'm assuming you are referring to HANDLING THE BALL in some way, yes? While it may seem unfair, it's been decided that U8 is�a "non-competitive" division and does not allow penalty kicks (try telling the parents/coaches it's non-competitive!!!). This level is for teaching the game and the laws/rules - not about winning. That being said, however, there are still some things the referee can do....I would definitely talk with the offending player and tell him/her that this is not allowed. If the same player deliberately handled the ball again, I would have a conversation with his/her coach about changing positions or substituting the player until they had a better comprehension of the Laws. Have fun!

Q: Hey Joe. Thanks for answering these questions and providing this service. I have one for you. I know that parents are not allowed to ref their child's game, for obvious reasons. How do you feel about an older sibling reffing his/her younger sibling's game? This has happened twice to my child during indoor tournament, with the opposing team, and both times there were calls made that were questionable and directly had an impact on the outcome of the game. Can the region prevent this from happening, and still provide youth refs the experience of volunteering? Just wondering. Thanks.

A: When my daughter played in AYSO (many moons ago!), there were occasions when I would end up refereeing her game. I didn't like this for two reasons: one, people would think I would make calls in favor of her team and two, I was concerned I would "shade" my calls to prevent any appearance of impropriety - neither of these was a good situation. By their nature, referees NEVER favor one team (despite the frequent "call it both ways!" comments heard from the sidelines). I guess it's possible that less mature youth refs might favor their calls, but I doubt it. What I do know is that regardless of the experience and skill of the referee, it's better to NOT referee games where their integrity might be questioned. Remember, spectators often think the referee's call is wrong or questionable, regardless of his/her association with a team.Ref scheduling is a difficult task - we always need more refs. It's especially true for indoor: there's tons of games and referees tend to do several in succession. I'm not sure there is a practical way to schedule refs to avoid supposed "conflicts".

Q: Hi Joe: For an Indirect Free Kick, Law 13 states that a goal can be scored only if the ball is touched or played by another player "after it is kicked into play". Most refs that I have seen allow the ball to be simply touched by a first player before being kicked by a second player, without even requiring the ball to move. I disagree with this, as it effectively turns the Indirect Kick into a Direct Kick. Law 13 states the ball must be kicked into play first. What is your ruling?

A: First a clarification and then a little background. Actually, Law 13 says "the ball is in play when it is kicked and moves". Not long ago, the ball wasn't in play until it had moved "its circumference" - a somewhat dubious measurement during dynamic play (it's a couple of feet, unless you want to get into the "Pi times the diameter" deal....). Since this measuring-thing caused a lot of grief, FIFA decided to change the definition to its current form. It really doesn't turn an IFK into a DFK, as the ball must be played by another player before being played again by the original kicker. "Kicked and moves" is the law of the land!

Q: During a playoff game, the center referee announced two minutes left before the end of the game. Shortly after that announcement, a breakaway occured for the team that was winning, and a goal was clearly going to be scored because the goalie had already been beat. However, the Center blew his whistle signaling the end of the game, ending the play, within 45 seconds of his 2 minute announcement. In the spirit of the game, and in the more competitive semifinal round of playoffs, was ending the game when the team had an advantage to score the right call, in keeping the game in AYSO's philosophy of being FAIR?

A: Hmmmmm, this is ALMOST�a philosophical question, no? Since the time and stoppages are controlled by the referee, his watch is the only true source. If, for example, one team is leading by a goal and "strains" the limits of how long it takes to put the ball in play (throw-ins, free kicks, etc.), the referee may add time. On the other hand, if the game is a blow-out, the referee may not add time to make sure the game ends without more damage being inflicted. The error/mistake/whatever the referee made in the case you describe was to announce the remaining time and then end the game before that. Had no announcement been made, this question would not have been raised.

Q: Dear Joe Ref, I have two questions regarding U12 player's playing time and substitution during the play-offs. 1. If a U12 player is there at the start of the game and stays for the entire game, how many quarters must he/she play? 2. With the exception of replacing an injuried player, can a player be substituted during play or within a quarter? Thank you for your time and your help.

A: OK, by the numbers....� 1. All AYSO players shall play a minimum of half of each game (i.e., two quarters). Exceptions to this: a player is injured, needs to leave for some reason, a parent wants to hold the player out for some reason, etc.� 2. Generally, no. However, the above exceptions might apply. Also, if a player is out of control, his coach may consider him "injured".

Q: Joe: If a spectator runs onto field to stop an apparent goal by picking up the ball or kicking it out of play, can the center referee award a goal to attacking team?

A: Where was this game, in some football-crazed South American country??? To answer your question....NO, the referee cannot award a goal unless the ball goes into the goal properly as described in the Laws of the Game. So, what do you do? First, blow the whistle. Next, send the spectator off and don't restart the game until he/she is away from the playing area (as far as you think they need to be). Finally, restart play with a drop ball at the point of interference (I know, it seems very unfair to the attacking team but that's the restart. You'll find this answer on page 63 of the Laws describing "Outside Agents") Now, all of this will be indicated on your game report - League officials may invoke some action (forfeit, replay the game, etc.) but that's outside of your responsibilities.

Q: Hi Joe, The November 2007 "AYSO Shorts" newsletter had a quiz. I got this question wrong. Please clarify. "A red team player shoots at the blue team's goalkeeper who deliberately controls the ball by parrying it to the ground, then dribbles the ball with her feet to the top of the penalty area, picks the ball up and punts it up field. What should the referee do and how is play restarted?" My Answer: As long as goalkeeper picked up ball inside penalty area, play on. Correct Answer: Stop play and award an indirect free kick to the red team at the point where the blue team's goalkeeper picked up the ball.

A: Ahhh, those tricky AYSO questions! Actually, it's not so tricky - the focus is on the specific wording "...goalkeeper who DELIBERATELY controls the ball...". What this is saying is that the GK, instead of catching the ball, choose to control it to the ground. Once this is done, the GK cannot pick the ball up. Therefore, awarding an IFK for a "second touch" is the correct call. By the way, this is almost never done by younger players.

Q: Joe, I recently called a throw-in violation because the player tried to switch directions at the last second and did not deliver the ball completely from behind and over her head. For the rest of the game the coach pointed out that a player on the opposing team did the same thing. While the player's technique had a certain twist in her release, in my opinion the ball was delivered from behind and over her head. Are variations of the throw-in allowed?

A: Throw-ins should be a big deal, right? I mean, there's a specific Law (Law 15) dedicated just to throw-ins....and there's only 17 Laws! In actual practice, a throw-in is merely a simple way of putting the ball back into play (I know, sometimes an exceptionally long throw-in close to the goal can be used for the attack but, in reality, almost half of the throw-ins end up going to the other team, especially with younger players). Unfortunately, "bad" throw-ins are one of the few Laws most spectators and coaches really seize upon. To be correct, the player must face the field (which means they can turn one way or the other, as long as they face the field), come from behind the head, and use two hands. Sometimes when players turn, they end up coming from the side of the head....probably a no-no. If you felt the ball was delivered from behind and over her head, then it's a legal throw-in.

Q: Joe: If a goalie picks up a ball from a shot in penalty area and muff kicks it so it dribbles forward only a few feet (outside of penalty box), after seeing this she knows she cannot pick it up again and actually kicks it clear--- is this a double touch? and is an IFK awarded to attacking team?

A: This is sometimes confusing. Once the GK has possession of the ball (in her hands) and releases it, she cannot again pick up the ball with her hands - if she did, this would be the "double touch" you refer to. However, she can play it just like any other field player and dribble with her feet, kick it, head it, etc. (By the way, if she did pick up the ball a second time, you are correct in awarding an IFK�to the opposing team�at the point of the infraction)

Q: Hi Joe, Thanks for taking the questions...this is real helpful. Got a question with deliberate handling the ball and young players. If a player is shielding their head or chest with their arms and hands from an on-coming ball, and the ball hits their arms, is it a hand ball foul? I would say yes, but a friendly discussion with coaches at work say that is harsh, which makes me rethink this one. What is fair and safe here?

A: Glad you asked....this is often misunderstood. The age of the player is very important in making your decision. According to Law 12, the player must DELIBERATELY handle the ball. If, as you state, the player is just shielding/or protecting themselves, this is NOT "handling the ball". This is also true for older players, although we expect older players to take other actions to protect themselves, if possible (for example, turn their body, move away from the ball, etc.). Again, a simple way to help your decision would be: did the hand/arm strike the ball (FOUL) or did the ball strike the hand/arm (NO FOUL)?

Q: Joe: On a goal kick, the player taking the kick fails to get the ball out of the box. That same player kicks the ball a second time before anyone else touches the ball. Is it still a retake since the ball was never in play?

A: Exactly! Until the ball clears the penalty area it is not in play and cannot be played by the kicker or anyone else.

Q: Joe: If a foward gets by all the defenders including the goalkeeper except for one defender, is it an automatic sending off (red card) if the defender blocks the shot from the forward with his hands?

A: Ahhh, the idea of "automatic" as it applies to the Laws of the Game is an indefinable thing. A little history.....professional footballers used to stop shots with their hands�after the attacker had eluded the goalkeeper - at that time, the only recourse for the referee was to caution the player (known as "taking the yellow") and award a penalty kick. Since PK's are not a sure thing, the caution was a small price to pay to prevent a sure goal. FIFA recognized this and changed the Laws to increase the punishment to a sending off (red card), thereby invoking a serious penalty for such behavior. However, there are many factors to consider: did the player deliberately handle the ball (as opposed to a reflexive action, say), was a goal scored in spite of the deflection, what other factors should be considered (age of players, etc.)? Would you, for example, send off a six year old who reflexively deflected a shot on goal? I wouldn't.....� But, to answer your question, YES, a field player who uses his/her hands to prevent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity can certainly be sent off.

Q: Hey Joe, some penalty area questions. 1. Is there any limit to the number of times that a goal kick can be taken/re-taken if it does not go out of the penalty area because of being touched by another player. 2. What if the player kicking the ball accidentally nails their own defensive player in the back of the head...inside the penalty area? 3. Please confirm what "beyond the penalty area" means. I've seen players kick to the side vs. forward to other waiting players. Is this ok?

A: OK, I'm going to make a great leap and figure we're talking about younger players here, right? 1. No, there is no limit on the number of times the kick should be taken...it has to clear the penalty area to put the ball back into play. You, the referee, should "assist" in making this happen. If an attacker is rushing in to play the ball before it clears, verbally tell that player (using a loud voice so it also tells ALL the other players as well) that the ball needs to clear the area. If the same player did this again (in U12 or older) I would caution that player.� 2. The "head-whanging of teammate" issue: once the ball is touched by any player without clearing the area the kick must be retaken; painful but true.� 3. "Beyond the area" means outside of the penalty area: to the front or to either side. Yup, it's OK. (These are very good questions, by the way, and I'm glad you asked)

Q: Joe, I was center reffing a boys U 10 match when in the middle of the 3rd quarter I had the attacking team just outside the defending teams 18 yrd box take a shot on goal. This ball was heading straight for the goal when one of the defenders raised his arms up and blocked the ball which then rolled to the goalie who picked it up and was about to punt.( I knew that this was just a reaction from the defender but most likely not done on purpose) I blew the whistle because of the penalty. At this age level I know a red card is too harsh but I thought that the players need to be aware of the offense. I explained this to the players and awarded the PK for the attacking team. After the game I explained to both sides of the field the reasoning for the yellow and warning instead of the red. I only had one parent who thought that the was a little harsh. What is your opinion on this? Thanks for the great advice!!

A: This is a perfect example of the difference between the "letter of the Law" and the "spirit of the Law". Remember, the Laws of the Game are set down to control a match up to the professional level. When it was decided to send off (red card) a field player for deliberately handling the ball in an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, it was to discourage professional and/or experienced players (who would only receive a caution before the Law change). I definitely agree that a red card was not called for - and, if you didn't think the action was deliberate - you could have settled for a verbal warning for this young player. But, was it too harsh? Not really....and you had a chance to educate both players and spectators.� Good job!

Q: Joe, during games I have seen a goalkeeper kick the ball from outside the Penalty Area to himself inside the Penalty Area and then pick up the ball? I made no call, as I was unsure what the call was. Likewise, I have told my son a while back (when he is the keeper) to kick the ball slightly away from the attacker and then pick up the ball (in the penalty area), but I was a bit unsure later whether that was an indirect kick foul. Are these actions legal? This is not the same as a teammate kicking the ball to the keeper (for time wasting), right? Thanks.

A: These two issues are slightly different, so let's take them in order. Yes, it's perfectly legal for the GK to play a ball that's outside the Penalty Area...given certain conditions. If, for example, the attacking team plays a through ball past the defenders toward the goal. The GK could come outside of the Penalty Area, kick the ball into the Area, and then pick up the ball with his hands. If, however, a DEFENDER kicked the ball back, the GK could NOT do this; he would have to play it as a regular field player. The second question regarding playing the ball away from the attacker and then picking it up: this is also perfectly legal, assuming the GK stays within the Penalty Area. In fact, he could dribble it all over the Penalty Area and then pounce on it; it may be wasting time, but it's LEGAL time-wasting.

Q: Joe: Is there a non-verbal signal that the AR can give to the Center Ref if a goal was scored? Sometimes there is a moment of doubt if the ball crossed the goal line entirely, and the Center Ref needs to know what the AR sees, without publically showing their communication or indecision. I guess nodding for Goal may do, and this is part of the pre-game conversation among Refs.

A: This is a good question and an important part of referee coordination and control. As you stated, this is something that needs to be covered in the pre-game meeting among the refs. Most experienced referees will tell their AR's to indicate a goal has been scored by a) "immediately begin sprinting toward the halfway line" or b) "tuck the flag under your arm and begin sprinting toward the halfway line".��It's subtle, no crazy flag-waving, and leaves open the possibility for the referee to allow play to continue if he/she disagrees. It's all about teamwork....!

Q: Joe: I found a good interactive explanation of the Offsides rule...

A: Not really a question but I agree this is a very simple, complete explanation of Law 11...thanks to Ian Sitton for sending this in. This can be found at:��http://www.dynamic-thought.com/OffsideClicketteLo.html

Q: Joe: What is the penalty for the goalie using hands outside of the box?

A: Once the goalkeeper is outside of the penalty area he/she is like any other field player. Therefore, if the GK handles the ball, the referee blows the whistle and awards a direct free kick to the opposing team at the spot of the infraction. (if I were the opposition, I would spot the ball ASAP and try to kick it toward the goal before the GK gets back into position!)

Q: Joe: An attacking player carries the ball by dribble past the last defender. Driving to the endline, she crosses the ball toward the goal. A following attacking player, also past the last defender, but behind the ball when it is crossed, reaches and strikes the ball into the goal. Was the 2nd attacking player offside and the goal disallowed, or is the goal good ?

A: Easy as pie...!! In order to be in an offside position, the player MUST BE AHEAD OF THE BALL. A player who is behind the ball can NEVER be offside. Gooooool l l l l l l l l �!!

Q: Joe: A defending player attempts to clear a ball from her penalty area by kicking the ball over her head as she is facing her own goal. An attacking player runs from behind the defending player, past her shoulder attempting to block the ball, and runs into the defender's extended kicking leg/foot. Has there been a foul committed by either player, and if by the defender, is a PK to be awarded to the attacking team ?

A: Whew...this sounds a little complicated! I'm ASSUMING the defender was using a "bicycle" kick (back to the direction of the kick, kicking ball while in the air). There is really no way to answer this question definitively�without being the referee on the field. There are�factors to consider: Did the defender have room to perform this kick without endangering other players? Did the attacker put themself in harm's way by running�into an obvious kick?�Using the situation exactly as you describe, the resulting foul would probably be Dangerous Play (again, this could be called against the defender or the attacker...). I don't see a PK being awarded unless the referee determined the defender was attempting to kick the attacker and not the ball. If the kick was reckless, the ref might caution (yellow card) the defender (or attacker, for that matter).

Q: Joe: Where on a player's body does the torso end, and an arm begin ? OR, when does a legal chest/torso trap become an illegal hand/arm ball ?

A: Technically, the "arm" begins at the shoulder joint; a good�way to look at this is to stand with your arms at your side and draw an imaginary line up the side/torso vertically through the shoulder. Therefore, technically, the ball can be "handled" by a player above his/her bicep. Now, when does a chest trap evolve into handling the ball? Here's a couple of examples: the player holds his arms toward the front of his torso and controls the ball as it comes down his chest - or - the player uses her shoulder to direct the ball from a chest trap. The very difficult task for the ref is to determine intent, not just contact.

Q: Joe: A player attempting to complete a throw-in forward along the touchline fails to place the ball at any time within the field of play. What is the call, and what is the re-start ?

A: This is a very good question, one that's somewhat confusing to some. Some of the confusion may arise because there are different outcomes depending upon which set of rules is being used. "Why, Joe" you ask "I though everyone used the same Laws of the Game?" Not true. The Laws specify the size of the ball to be used and minimum field sizes - however, we in AYSO have a different set of specs for ball and field size depending up the age of the players. Now, back to your question....when a player takes a throw-in, the ball is in play the moment it enters the field of play, either on the ground or in the air. So, if the ball is thrown directly down the line it has to be determined if it entered the field; it could have crossed the invisible vertical line defining the field (touchline) and the wind may then push it back out of play to land outside the field. If that were the case, the ball would have entered the field with the throw-in by the Red player and then went out - therefore, the restart would be a throw-in for Blue. If, however, the ball NEVER enters the field of play, the restart is for Red to RETAKE the throw-in. (This is where the confusion comes in....under high school rules the restart is automatically a throw-in by the opposing team; it's viewed as time-wasting)�

Q: Joe: In BU10 is there a limit to how much a team can score against another team (mercy rule) and should we stop the game? If time ends and a team is ahead by more than a certain number of goals are they forced to forfeit? If so what number?

A: To the best of my knowledge (and, I'll stand corrected if I hear from the U10 coordinator) there is NO mercy rule. As referees, we are there to keep the game safe, fair, and fun. We should take a rather liberal interpretation of this mantra, especially as it affects younger players. If the score is lopsided (4 or 5+ goal differential), it's really not much fun...particularly if the goals are all being scored by a "mini-Pele". It would be advised to "suggest" to the coach that he, perhaps, shift his field lineup to move Pele to the back to give him/her some practice on defense and allow someone who doesn't often get a chance to score to the front line. Good coaches in this situation will often tell their players that they cannot shoot until the ball has been passed at least 3-4 times. Teaching good sportsmanship is also an important part of the game -�players need to learn to lose (and win) graciously.�All this being said, you CANNOT "shade" your calls to give an advantage to the team that's behind; that disrupts your "fairness" doctrine.

Q: Joe: I have a reoccuring memory of learning that a player remains offsides until a defender touches the ball or the ball goes out of play. Could you re-educate me on this matter?

A: Well....kind of. A player who is in an offside POSITION does not violate Law 11 UNTIL he/she: "is involved in active play by...interfering with play - or - interfering with an opponent - or - gains an advantage by being in that position." So, if the player is in an offside position and the ball is played past him/her, he/she stands still, and a teammate runs up from behind and plays the ball BACK to the player, he/she is not offside. (So, it's not totally dependant upon going out of play or being played by a defender). You are correct in thinking that if a defender played the ball or it went out of play, that attacker is no longer in an offside position.

Q: Joe: In our division, teams have to supply refs for the following game. I've been reffing for a couple of years now and sometimes the center ref is inexperienced. There's been times when I'm running a line and I'll raise my flag for a foul and he ignores me, even when I wave it back and forth. How should I make these new refs understand?

A: Understanding….that’s what we need here. Sure, you’ve got more experience than these newer refs you should share. But, what is your role as the Assistant Referee???� To ASSIST, not insist!! You’re part of a team and need to be “in sync”. Your job is to make that center ref look great! If he/she ignores (or doesn’t agree with) your flag, pull it down and this will be something you talk about at halftime or after the game. Before the game, make sure you have a good understanding of what the referee want’s from the AR’s. This is also a great time to gently “suggest” what’s worked for you in the past. “It is the wise AR who leads his Center Ref to greatness, grasshopper….”

Q: Joe, after a PK is taken, is the ball still in play, if, say, the GK deflects it back onto the field? Strange, but I'm not sure I've seen that happen.

A: Oh, yeah, it surely happens. And, yes, THE BALL IS STILL IN PLAY, available to be played by any player. The only time play would be halted after a deflection would be if the penalty kick (PK) were taken at the end of the first half or the end of the game as time expired. The PK would still be taken in these situations, but play ends when the ball is deflected away from the goal, the shot goes wide/over the goal, or scores.

Q: Joe, I think I'm clear on hand balls but got a lot of grief from the sidelines. Several times during the game the ball struck players on the arm. A couple of times the players put their arm out and I called a hand ball. But, the other times the ball just bounced off their arms and I didn't blow the whistle. Everyone started yelling. I shouldn't call these, right?

A: It sounds like you handled this properly. What you have to remember is that most spectators have just the barest understanding of the Laws - but, they do know that you can't play the ball with your hand/arm. So, every time the ball touches a player's arm they want the whistle to blow. NOT SO. Law 12 says it's a violation when the player "handles the ball deliberately". As you were taught in your referee course, the easiest way to judge this would be....did the ball strike the hand/arm or did the hand/arm strike the ball? You should only whistle the latter.

Q: Joe, What call should have been made if a player is being held around the neck area by a defender, in the 18 yard box, during a corner kick?

A: I'm going to assume the player being held is an attacker; another assumption would be that the player being held is INSIDE the Penalty Area (what you refer to as the "18 yard box"). WHEN this occurs would determine possible responses by the referee. If this holding is occuring BEFORE the kick is taken, the referee could caution (yellow card) the defender for unsporting behavior; the referee could also verbally warn the defender to stop holding (this could be done at all age levels and is especially recommended for younger players). If the attacker is held AFTER the corner kick is taken, inside the Penalty Area, then the ref would blow his/her whistle and award a penalty kick.

Q: Joe: What's the deal about jewelry, specifically earrings? I seem to always run across a player who just had their ears pierced and say they can't take out the studs.

A: I am amazed that these piercing places can stay open the rest of the year...they always seem to just pierce ears during soccer season! Here's the straight scoop from FIFA: "All items of jewellery (necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, leather bands, rubber bands etc.) are strictly forbidden and must be removed. Using tape to cover jewellery is not acceptable". (The English spell "jewelry" wrong, by the way). There is nothing ambiguous here - no jewelry! However, religious artifacts or medical alerts may be worn if they are completely covered (taped over, for example), but only if they are not a danger to the player or others. By the way, piercings in places you can't see and are covered (belly buttons or other places) are OK from a referee standpoint...no strip searches!

Q: Joe: A skilled defender plays the ball out of the air with a kick about shoulder height, under control. The ball lands where she intended it to go. NO OTHER PLAYER was within 30 feet of her at the time she played the ball. Should this be called "dangerous play"? If so, who was in danger?

A: Ahh, Dangerous Play....what exactly is it? Dangerous Play occurs IF, IN THE OPINION OF THE REFEREE (these are the seven magic words!) the player plays in a dangerous manner. A common misconception is that "high kicks" are automatically Dangerous Play - not so. If there are no defenders or opponents threatened by a "high kick" then what's the danger? I guess it could be considered dangerous if some eight-year old tries a bicycle kick and lands on top of his head; that would be danger to himself. In the situation you describe, I would not consider that Dangerous Play. I should say, however, that I wasn't officiating this game....only the referee on the field can make that judgement.

Q: Joe, a follow-up on the Keeper taking a pass back to the GK (foot pass) from a teammate inside the goal area. This is a non-penal foul and should be awarded an indirect kick on the 6 yard line and not a PK (penalty kick) - correct?

A: Absolutely correct! Now, so we don't confuse anyone, there are two areas: the large, Penalty Area (that some refer to as the 18-yard box) and the smaller Goal Area, which is the six-yard line/area in front of the goal (where Goal Kicks are taken from). If the pass back occurs within the Penalty Area, an indirect free kick (IFK) is taken at the spot of the infraction. If, however, the GK touches the ball within the Goal Area, the ball is placed on the six-yard goal area line.

Q: Joe,with regard to the breakaway offsides call, if the 2nd player is trailing the ball and the player who takes the initial shot, is it offside if the 2nd player then plays the ball from the goalkeeper deflection?

A: Again, the same rule applies: was the 2nd player ahead of the ball with less than two defenders at the time of the kick? If the player is BEHIND the ball, he/she can NEVER be Offside.

Q: Joe, Player A receives a pass on a breakaway and was not in an offside position. Player B on the opposite side of the pitch was in an offside position at the time of the original pass (no offside call yet). Player A now carries the ball ahead of player B, then makes a pass to player B. Is player B still considered offside? In this case player B does eventually participate in the play after being in the offside position. At what point does player B's status change back to being in the onside position?

A: Yikes....Player A/Player B, "onside/offside"....and who wonders why Law 11 seems confusing?! Although it sounds complicated, Offside is essentially simple: was player B in the opponent's half of the field (YES, I'm assuming), was he ahead of the ball (NO, after player A has carried the ball by him) - at this point player B CANNOT be offside, as he is not ahead of the ball. Once his teammate carries the ball past him, player B is back "onside". I think the most difficult thing to understand is that the "onside/offside" judgement is constantly changing as a result of the position of the ball and the defenders.

Q: Joe, I had two players attacking on a breakaway. Both ran past the second-to-last defender. The player with the ball took the shot. It rebounded off the keeper, and was picked up by the second player, still in offside position. I called the offsides, and caught an ear-full from the coach. Did I make the right call?

A: I'm sure what the coach meant to say was "Thank you, ref, for making the right call. I realize it was difficult for you to make this call with the breakaway and all, but since my second player was in an offside position at the time of the kick and gained an advantage, I know you had to whistle this for a violation of Law 11". Now, maybe he was thinking that since the ball touched the goalkeeper (GK), it wasn't played directly by a teammate. What if the attacker took the shot from 20 yards and the GK was just one yard inside the Penalty Area... it glances off his hand and goes to the attacker's teammate, who is leaning against the goalpost all by himself? Would that be an offside infraction? You betcha!

Q: Joe: During the equipment inspection, one of the players had a cast on his wrist that was wrapped in foam and covered with an Ace bandage. The player said the wrist was healed but they haven't been back to the doctor to have it removed. I said the kid couldn't play. Now I'm having second thoughts; since it was fully wrapped and padded, should I have?

A: You handled this exactly has you should have. According to the AYSO National Guidelines, “Team members shall not be allowed to practice or participate in any game with any type of cast or splint. Removal of any type of cast or splint at the field or surrounding area in order to participate shall disqualify the team member from practice or game participation”. It further states “Players shall not wear anything that is dangerous to either themselves or other players”.

Q: Joe: If a free kick hits the referee without touching another player, can the player who took the kick play the ball again after it deflects off the ref? What if this happens during a throw-in?

A: Boy, if you referee long enough this is sure to happen to you. Despite our exhaulted status, referees are merely part of the field as far as the Laws are concerned, kind of like a large clump of grass. According to Law 13, the kicker cannot play the ball a second time until it has been touched by another PLAYER. So, if the player taking the free kick happens to whang the ball off the back of the ref's head, he/she better not play the ball again or it will result in an indirect free kick (IFK) for the opponents. Same thing for throw-ins, by the way.

Q: Joe: During a Penalty Kick (PK), can the player taking the PK kick the ball a second time if the ball bounces back to him from the cross bar?

A: Well, he can......BUT, the player would be in violation of Law 14 which says "The kicker touches the ball a second time (except with his hands) before it has touched another player: an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team, the kickto be taken from the place where the infringement occurred". Since the ball didn't touch another player (usually the goalkeeper), the player taking the kick cannot kick it again.

Q: Joe: Before the coin toss, I like talk to the players and coaches to go over the things I’ll be looking for during the game. Sometimes, I’ll get into an “argument/discussion” with one of the coaches about my interpretation of the rules. How should I handle this?

A: There’s a very simple way to handle these situations…..DON’T HAVE AN “ARGUMENT/DISCUSSION” !! The pre-game coin toss is just a place to point out any “local” rules (a tree that hangs over the field, all games will end at 5 minutes before the hour, etc.) and find out what side the teams will line up on. Frankly, the coaches and players aren’t really listening to you; they just want to get the game going. So, don’t try to impress anyone with your Law knowledge – start the game!

Q: Joe, How many yellow cards can be given to one player before he receives a red card?

A: If a player receives a second Caution (Yellow Card) during the game, the Referee will then show the player his Red Card and send him/her from the field. The second Caution can be an entirely different misconduct from the first Caution. Example, you may have issued the first Caution for Unsporting Behavior and the second Caution for Delays the Restart of Play. After the second Caution, out comes the red card.

Q: Joe, What does the law say about a Keeper taking a pass from a teammate inside the box with his hands?

A: Great question! There are a couple of things to consider on the "pass back" to the goalkeeper: First (and most importantly!), did the teammate INTEND to pass the ball to his GK? If he DID NOT deliberately pass the ball to the GK, there is no infraction. Second, did this "pass back" to the GK come from a kick? A teammate can pass the ball to the GK by other methods (typically, his head or chest) and the GK can pick the ball up with his hands without penalty. The reason this was added to the Laws was to prevent time-wasting and to make it more difficult for the defense to "kill" the attack. The age of the players is a key element here....younger players almost never do this intentionally.