collision on the sideline

[njref]

Last week I was doing a line for -12s. The ball is being played quickly down my sideline near midfield. I am running down the line to keep up with the 2d to last defender, head turned back to watch the ball. Boom, I collide with a coach. Never saw him with my head turned to watch play behind me.

Is there some way to avoid this in the future? I had already yelled at the coach to stay off the line once before. I was thinking about running with my flag held out straight in front of me at eye level, like a lance....

[billf]

Last week I was doing a line for -12s. The ball is being played quickly down my sideline near midfield. I am running down the line to keep up with the 2d to last defender, head turned back to watch the ball. Boom, I collide with a coach. Never saw him with my head turned to watch play behind me.

Is there some way to avoid this in the future? I had already yelled at the coach to stay off the line once before. I was thinking about running with my flag held out straight in front of me at eye level, like a lance....

I think running him over pretty much set that guy straight from this point on. :)

As for future games, I haven't found anything that works other than being a pest and constantly reminding the coaches to get out of the way.

[PirateJohn]

Is there some way to avoid this in the future?The only way to avoid it is to quit refereeing...

I've had that happen so often I've lost count. Some people just won't listen until they do get bowled over. And since I'm 6'1", 270, I teach a lesson not soon forgotten.

[NHRef]

If the field folks would actually paint lines for the technical area, some of this might be avoided. It gives the coach a line to watch and not cross.

[intechpc]

What would you guys think of a caution in this situation? If you've already warned the coach and now he causes this interference with play (or officiating of the play to be more specific) I'd think that would be enough. I'm I just overzealous here?

Personally for me as I'm running down the line, I usually take a quick glance or two to make sure the line is clear. I've had a couple close calls but never actually a collision. I'm sure it's coming though.

[HeadHunter]

If you have repeatedly warned to the point where it is destracting I have considered, though never done it, simply lowering my shoulder and bowling the guy over.

The real solution of course is to paint and enforce technical areas, in which case the ability to warn and if the violation is repeated and serious enough eventually eject him for- this probably won't help in the lower level park youth stuff though.

[Gary V]

If the field folks would actually paint lines for the technical area, some of this might be avoided. It gives the coach a line to watch and not cross.We have lines painted about 2-3 yards back from the touchline, extending about 10 yards either side of the center. It's supposed to be a technical area; in practice the parents use it to line up the legs of their lawn chairs.

If I have problems with teams or coaches getting in the way, I point out the line to them. Usually the coach tells the players to get behind the line, then resumes pacing along the touchline. << sigh >>

If a coach continues to get in your way, yell loud enough for the center to hear, "Move back, out of the way!" If it still continues, call the center over to deal with the misconduct.

[NHRef]

What would you guys think of a caution in this situation? If you've already warned the coach and now he causes this interference with play (or officiating of the play to be more specific) I'd think that would be enough. I'm I just overzealous here?



Who are you going to caution? Coaches cannot receive cards. You could eventually treat it as coach miss-conduct I guess and remove him from the game, but this might be a stretch.

Aside from running into him, you also need to be able to see down the line, into the CR quadrant to help out with close in/out of touch balls.

[Gary V]

Who are you going to caution? Coaches cannot receive cards.OK, so use the word "warned" to replace "caution". And it is reported in exactly the same manner as a player caution. The only difference is not showing the card to the coach.

I'd submit that if the AR had already told the coach to stay out of the way, and there's a collision anyway, the coach can be dismissed immediately. Certainly if the center ref already had to speak to the coach.

[intechpc]

Who are you going to caution? Coaches cannot receive cards.

Well I can't speak for USSF or FIFA, but NCAA and I'm pretty sure NFHS (I'll have to check my rule book when I get home) state that a coach can be cautioned or dismissed. Also what about a yellow card to the bench, isn't that a valid scenario.

I could be way off so please let me know if I'm misunderstanding something. I definitely agree that dismissing him might be a bit too much but something more formal than a simple verbal warning seems needed if he repeatedly fails to follow the instructions.

[Ref Flunkie]

Well I can't speak for USSF or FIFA, but NCAA and I'm pretty sure NFHS (I'll have to check my rule book when I get home) state that a coach can be cautioned or dismissed. Also what about a yellow card to the bench, isn't that a valid scenario.


Also, most youth leagues allow coaches to be cautioned/sent off.

[chrisrun]

Also, most youth leagues allow coaches to be cautioned/sent off.
You can warn or dismiss coaches in USSF, but you still don't show them a card.

[kevbrunton]

OK, so use the word "warned" to replace "caution". And it is reported in exactly the same manner as a player caution. The only difference is not showing the card to the coach.

I'd submit that if the AR had already told the coach to stay out of the way, and there's a collision anyway, the coach can be dismissed immediately. Certainly if the center ref already had to speak to the coach.
Actually, I use the word "caution" with a coach just so he is clear on what I am meaning - you just don't show the card. A warning is more of a "talking to" without the fact that you're going to be reported in the game report and without carrying the stigma that if I come over to "caution" you (again), you're gone.

For coaches, I have run into them / run them down - particularly the annoying ones. Kids I do my best to avoid - I don't want to hurt one of them. I am 6'3" and 240. Played a little linebacker in high school and strong safety in college.

Having said that, when there is a CLEAR facility problem where it is just a difficult situation with fields too close together or various other reasons, I have often run my line just ON the field. I only swing back off the touch line when the ball is coming right up the line.

[Ref Flunkie]

You can warn or dismiss coaches in USSF, but you still don't show them a card.


Unless my league tells me to :). I understand your point though.

[chrisrun]

Unless my league tells me to :). I understand your point though.
Then the league is wrong, along with the leagues and tournaments that still use "golden goal" to determine a winner.

I know, you're just doing what you are told, but some one needs to tell them that what they are doing is not allowed under the Laws of the Game. There are only certain Laws that can be modified by the league, and these Laws are not ones that can be modified.

[Ref Flunkie]

Then the league is wrong, along with the leagues and tournaments that still use "golden goal" to determine a winner.

I know, you're just doing what you are told, but some one needs to tell them that what they are doing is not allowed under the Laws of the Game. There are only certain Laws that can be modified by the league, and these Laws are not ones that can be modified.


Actually even our recert clinics told us most leagues allow you to card coaches, but that the correct "book" answer on the test is that you can not card coaches. They did not think it was a big deal, nor do I. We make plenty of alterations at local levels, so I'm not going to worry too much about it. But hey, I understand you wanting to do this exactly by the book.

[GlennAA11]

As for showing cards to coaches, the youth leagues in this area require it. I think it's either the SRA website or maybe the assignors' website that explicitly deals with this issue, and it says you enforce the rules of the league no matter what, and if you have a problem with them then don't officiate for those leagues. I think the leagues in question here have gone to the VYSA and received some sort of dispensation on this question. Believe me they know what the Law says and they know they want to "violate" it.

As to the subject of the thread, it is hard. I generally try to politely ask them to step back. I think that can work better than yelling at people. Sometimes I will brush by them to send the message. Other times I may run on or just inside the line the avoid the contact. If there's no technical area it's virtually impossible to make them stay back. Those of you who are bigger can likely get away with lowering the boom, but little guys like me can't really risk that sort of collision. As frustrating as it is I think crashing into the coaches on purpose when you are able to avoid the contact is not the best option.

[wwdudley]

I had a very similar incident over the weekend in a U13 girls game. The assistant coach for the team was constantly right on the touchline all along my half yelling instructions to his players. I asked him politely three times to give me at least a yard to run my line, then finally told him if he got in my way again he would need to stay on the bench with his players. At the next stoppage I spoke with the CR about the discourse; he thought it was reasonable and would happily back it up if it came down to it. I didn't have a problem the rest of the game.

[macheath]

Actually even our recert clinics told us most leagues allow you to card coaches, but that the correct "book" answer on the test is that you can not card coaches. They did not think it was a big deal, nor do I. We make plenty of alterations at local levels, so I'm not going to worry too much about it. But hey, I understand you wanting to do this exactly by the book.

Card or no card to a coach isn't a big deal. The bigger issue is dismissal of coaches, the card is simply a means of communication to those watching (that's why they were invented). Be sure you've warned them first, unless it is a really severe rules violation. (Getting in your way on the sideline doesn't reach that standard, tripping you would.)But if it bothers you when a league's rules of competition require cards to coaches, don't work there.

[intechpc]

For the record, straight from the 2005-2006 NFHS Rules Book:

Rule 12, Section 8, Article 1:

"A player, coach or bench personnel shall be cautioned (Yellow card) for:
a. Entering or leaving the field of play without the permission of an official
b. Persistent infringement of any of the rules of the game
c. objecting by word or mouth or action to any decision given by the official
d. any incidental use of vulgar or profane language
e. any use of video replays..........
f. unsporting conduct including, but not limited to:
1. coaching outside the team area
2. unecessary delay
3. holding a shirt, short, etc.
4. deliberate verbal tactics
5. encroachment
6. deliberate handball to stop an attack
7. deliberate tactical foul
8. faking an injury
9. simulating a foul"

IMO, given some of the more major rule changes made by NFHS, the question of whether or not you show a card for a caution to a coach seems pretty trivial to me. I actually like the idea of showing a card better as it makes it clear and formal. I understand the desire to do everything by the official USSF (or even FIFA) LOTG, but at the same time I can understand why leagues change rules beyond what is "allowable".