U-13 Keeper posession

[timothy.stadler]

Did an U13 REC game last night and had a bit of a run in with the parents. I wasn't fast enough off the field. The keeper caught the ball and bobled it chest high the ball never dropped below his waist. One of the strikers swiped at the ball. I spoke with the player about the goalie being in posession of the ball and explained that he couldn't do that. After the parents vented on me saying the keeper wasn't in posession I explained my view that at 13 if the goalie has the ball in his hands bobbling it he is in posession. The only way the other player could have gotten the ball is to run over the keeper. As an interesting side note they said I didn't call a fair game. They were actually counting the fouls I called. 10 against red and 3 against yellow. I thought in my head well of course its not fair your team commited more fouls therefore they got called for more fouls. DUH

[NHRef]

He does not have possession if he is bobbling the ball. However since you say it never went below his waist how can a player swipe at it, assuming with his foot, and not be nailed for playing in a dangerous manner?

As for more fouls one way than the other, if that's the way the teams played, then that's the way they played.

[Ref Flunkie]

He does not have possession if he is bobbling the ball. However since you say it never went below his waist how can a player swipe at it, assuming with his foot, and not be nailed for playing in a dangerous manner?

As for more fouls one way than the other, if that's the way the teams played, then that's the way they played.


Agreed on both counts. Technically he isn't in possession, but it does sound like a PIDM. As for the counting fouls, this is why I love parents, and find myself getting into verbal battles sometimes with them. Simply ask them where in the rules of soccer it is written that each team should be called for the same # of fouls.

[Wreave]

The younger rec ages are the hardest to be a referee for in terms of dealing with unknowledgable parents and/or coaches.

It looks to be unanimous that the bobbling keeper is not in possession (at age 13 or any age), but that doesn't permit the attacker to kick the ball out of his hands (PIADM). He could attempt to play it with the chest or head, if he could do so without unfairly charging the keeper.

The foul count thing is the worst. There is just no good way to respond. You could say, "I'm really sorry... that your team fouled more than the other team," but that's just inviting further idiocy. Remember - never argue with a fool, people might not be able to tell the difference. The smart thing to do is probably thank them for having their kid involved in soccer, and walk away knowing that anyone knowledgable to whom they complain is just going to share your same feeling of incredulity.

[intechpc]

I guess I'm lucky that our league seems to do a pretty good job of controling parents. While I'll hear them yelling on the sidelines from time to time, I'll also hear coaches telling them to stop arguing calls. I've never had a parent approach me at any point to argue a call. Generally I don't respond to parents at all. I have no authority over them (other than indirectly through the coach) and therefore have no reason to talk to them.

If I do have parents that are particularly unruly, I will talk to the coach. Sometimes, as happened this past weekend, I'll ask the coach to explain a rule to the parent so they don't get so frustrated. I had a dad this weekend who was just going nuts over offside calls and at halftime I asked the coach to explain some specific points to the guy. The dad didn't complain about another off-side call (or non-call) the rest of the game.

[refmike]

I'll ask the coach to explain a rule to the parent so they don't get so frustrated.
What makes you think the coaches know the rules?

[Wreave]

Did an U13 REC game last night and had a bit of a run in with the parents.

As an interesting side note they said I didn't call a fair game. They were actually counting the fouls I called. 10 against red and 3 against yellow. I thought in my head well of course its not fair your team commited more fouls therefore they got called for more fouls. DUH

OK. I finally figured out the response to this one:

"Yes ma'am, you're right. I'm sorry I wasn't able to get my quota of ten fouls against yellow. I tried really hard, but could hardly ever catch them breaking the laws."

:D :D :D

[whitehound]

He does not have possession if he is bobbling the ball. However since you say it never went below his waist how can a player swipe at it, assuming with his foot, and not be nailed for playing in a dangerous manner?

As for more fouls one way than the other, if that's the way the teams played, then that's the way they played.
It is problematic to make a blanket statement about bobbling the ball when the ATR says that a single finger on the ball constitutes possession. You can NEVER go wrong by calling a conserative foul to protect a keeper. Just make sure you are consistant on both ends.