please define tackle

[dolphinscoach]

I would like your expertise and opinions on something that occurred in a game in which I was playing this afternoon (not a ref myself). The league is a co-ed adult league (men over 30, women over 25) that has a series of league-specific rules (by which I mean rules that have been modified or derived from other leagues and applied to our league). One of these rules is no slide tackling.

During the game today, two players were going for a pass that had turned into a 50/50 ball. The player for whom the pass was intended slid in and knocked the ball away, and the defender tried to pull up to keep from colliding with the sliding player. The play was close enough that the defender was clipped on the ankle, but only barely and not really noticeable to ref or others (i.e., the defender felt it, but most thought no contact had occurred--which doesn't really matter, just trying to be specific). When the defender asked about the slide, the ref said the rules don't prohibit sliding to play the ball, only slide tackles, and that this was not a tackle so should be allowed. The defender disagreed (respectfully, and the ref agreed it was respectfully done) at the break, stating that this was a tackle in the 50/50 situation, and the ref said it was not a tackle since the other player did not have the ball.

I believe I have described it accurately. Since there was some disagreement, I mentioned to the ref that I would post it here for your analyses, and he was fine with that.

My two questions:
1) Was this a tackle? Or what differentiates a slide tackle from sliding in to play a 50/50, etc.?

2) Given that the league has modified rules each season, and that the slide tackle rule was introduced because too many of us old codgers were getting injured, what should the wording be to avoid sliding for 50/50 balls (if the league decides to go that way)? The defender tried to pull off to avoid contact, but if he'd gone in hard (or if he, too, had slid for a 50/50), there would have been the sort of crash that we've tried to eliminate.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[moejash]

i to play,played in no slide tackling indoor league ,feb 6th of this year this was happening in one of our games ,i broke my leg in 3 places now have a titanium rod and 4 screw in my right leg [recently repaird torn acl in the left,why i was playing in a no tackle league]but the ref would call it sometimes and not others?/idiots if u ask me,making a play for the ball lunging with your legs [sliding]is illeagal in this type league,but over and over again they would only call it if the guy with the ball fell or it wasnt clean. clean or not it shouldnt matter and some of these refs just dont get it..

[Statesman]

dolphin, the decisions made pertaining to your game are in the opinion of that referee, and the interpretations of what constitutes a slide tackle are league-specific. As such, unless there is a referee from your league that participates in this forum, we cannot provide clarification for your situation with any real authority.

I can tell you, however, that we do have coed leagues in my area that prohibit slide tackling. The understanding is that a player cannot go down to a knee or into a slide while challenging for the ball anywhere on the field, whether it is in the possession of an opponent or not. As soon as somebody goes to the ground, it is a violation punished with an indirect free kick. This also includes going low to the ground for a header. You either play on your feet, or you don't play the ball. Using this interpretation on your situation the act would be considered illegal. Whether your league shares the same interpretation or not is something you will have to research.

[Crowdie]

I referee alot of seven a side soccer in the off season and it has a no slide tackling rule as well. I have found that banning sliding when the ball is within playing distance of another player (including players from the same team) or where a slide causes another player to stop, jump or change direction to avoid contact (an issue on wet pitches) has worked well for us. I have sent off more than a few players for making contact with opponents while sliding and this certainly gets the point across :)

I agree with Statesman that you need to get clarification from the league that employs you/you are contracted to.

Crowdie

[kevbrunton]

Dolphin,

I agree with Stateman & Crowdie. Ask your league to define the illegal act as sliding to play or challenge the ball either outright or while within playing distance of anyone else. Defining the rule as "no slide tackling" leaves it too ambiguous.

[IASocFan]

I referee alot of seven a side soccer in the off season and it has a no slide tackling rule as well. I have found that banning sliding when the ball is within playing distance of another player (including players from the same team) or where a slide causes another player to stop, jump or change direction to avoid contact (an issue on wet pitches) has worked well for us...

This definition of slide tackle is consistent with what I use in indoor and our referees use in our coed and O40 leagues.

[Gary V]

We have "no slide tackling" for our u-littles, defining it as dangerous play. I interpret it the same as all other PIADM decisions - if there's no opponent nearby, there can't be a dangerous play call. Using that criteria, I would have called it in the original scenario, based on the description as posted.

I agree with the other posts that suggest getting a clarification from the league rules-makers.

[dolphinscoach]

Thank you all for your responses. I will share them with the league and with the ref. (I asked the ref if he minded if I solicited input on BigSoccer, and he said he would be interested in the responses.)

I knew that I could count on y'all for helpful answers. :)

[lmorin]

I played in an indoor league that simply barred any form of "sliding." Interpretational difficulties were minimized by declaring it illegal to play or attempt to play the ball while any part of body other than feet and hands was in contact with the pitch or came in contact with the pitch as an immediate result of such play/attempted play. This means that if you started to slide for the ball, kick it somewhere ending on your back, it is illegal. If you play the ball and trip, or lose your balance and fall over, onto the pitch, it is not illegal. This worked very well. My recommendation is to remove references specific to "tackles." There will always be disputes regarding what constitutes a tackle vs a blocked shot, etc.