Question for Refs who do Youth Games and Tournaments

[Bill Archer]

I would like some opinions about those "E-Z-Up" type of canopy deals that teams like to drag around with them.

Although they've been around tournaments for years, it seems to me that they're becoming more and more common. Particularly on a sunny day, and particularly with girl's teams, more and more teams seem to want to drag them over and set them up on the sideline in the team area so that the little darlings don't end up sitting in the sun.

Now I don't give a fig if they set them up over by the parking lots or whatever. Knock yourself out.

But particularly at tournaments where there is often limited space between the fields, these thigs end up no more than a couple of feet from the touchline. As such, and particularly since they're in the technical or team area, I think they become my problem, and frankly I think they're potentially dangerous.

We put the corner flags and halfway flags on little springs so they bend if you run into them, and they're nothing but thin plastic shafts.

Most of the tents, particularly the better ones, have one inch square steel posts. And if some kid chasing a ball or going for a tackle slides just a little bit over the line he/she is going to smack into it, and could be seriously injured.

Now I'm all for players on a hot sunny day getting under some cover. But I am very much opposed to people blithly constructing safety hazards along my touchlines.

And from time to time I have told whatever father-types who were busily erecting one of these things smack-dab next to one of my fields to take it away. Needless to say, this creates a good deal of consternation.

Now I'm the first to admit that I can be a bit curmudgeonly about some things, and flat-out arrogant when it comes to my perogatives, and I don't apologize for it. Assigners who know me know how I am and keep calling anyway.

But I'd be interested to hear what some of you guys think. Does it bother you to have these rigid structures hard by the pitch? Have you ever asked that it be moved away or not put up at all? And are they really, really necessary in the first place?

[usatowin]

If in the opinion of the referee something makes the field unsafe, the game is not played until it's fixed. This includes the immediate surroundings that a player could hit coming of the field at full speed.

[IASocFan]

On numerous times, I've had teams move canopies back from the field. I don't recall having an issue with having the fields so close together that they couldn't be used safely.

[nonya]

They are ok, unless there is wind. I cant tell u how many of those things have blown over because people were to lazy to secure them.

[NHRef]

What's the difference between these and a bench? Assuming they are far enough from the field edge, no problem with them, what "far enough" is, is up to you, the ref, but I would say if they set it up over an existing bench and there's room for throwins and players "normally" leaving the field, they are fine.

[Statesman]

I've not seen a structure as described with legs so rigid they could hurt somebody. I've run full into one of these portable canopies playing pickup football (American) at full speed and did more damage to it than it did to me (don't ask!). They seem to crumble pretty easily.

Granted I'd push them away from the sideline a good 2 yards or so regardless of safety issues just to keep it from being in the way. Use your judgement - if you think it'll interfere then move it. If you're still worried about player safety and the canopy is a few yards back from the pitch, don't worry about it!

[david58]

I try to move them back. They are kinda flimsy, and striking one will leave a mark, but probably not too bad. UNLESS they are secured to the ground - then they don't move. I figure if I can get them as far back as the spectators and benches, they're ok. A slam into a lawn chair that's occupied by an overweight soccer parent would cause some kind of hurt - so I just get everything like that moved back 6 feet and call it good.

[refontherun]

I've not seen a structure as described with legs so rigid they could hurt somebody. I've run full into one of these portable canopies playing pickup football (American) at full speed and did more damage to it than it did to me (don't ask!). They seem to crumble pretty easily.

Granted I'd push them away from the sideline a good 2 yards or so regardless of safety issues just to keep it from being in the way. Use your judgement - if you think it'll interfere then move it. If you're still worried about player safety and the canopy is a few yards back from the pitch, don't worry about it!

I have only really seen these things during tounaments where players are playing two games a day in very hot/humid conditions (and believe me, central Georgia will give you plenty of both).

I recall a couple of times having to tell teams to move them back to make a clear lane outside the touch line, but as long as they comply with that, I'm fine with it. I might even ask to borrow some shade during half-time.

[Wahoos1]

On a h0t august day where players are doing two a days, some shade is perfectly reasonable for the welfare of the youth. Heat stroke is a real thing, and heat exhuastion hapens to youth easily.

One tourney, during the second game, with the index at about 100 degrees, I allowed a REALLY slow restart. So slow that the kids were all able to get water (as prescribed in the rules...) at the sidelines. Sixty seconds later everyone was saftely hydrated and the throw in occured.

[KCbus]

Heck... safety aside -- if you think it's close enough to interfere with play, it doesn't belong there.

I applaud the idea to do something to make young kids playing the game a little more comfortable under tough conditions. But you can't just do whatever you want if it can have adverse effects.

[USSF REF]

I know what you're talking about. Actually, at a big youth tournament that I refereed at - I was standing on the bench side, waiting for the game to end so my crew could go on.

A gust of wind blew through the cannopie and litterally picked it up and caused it to start to hover out onto the pitch! :eek:

SO, a few of us caught it, brought it back and staked it down. Suffice it to say that these things are designed to be light for travel, and considering the way they are engineered, they can easily create a pocket for air to move the thing.

So if you're going to have it on the touchline, be sure that it is steaked or weighted down PROPERLY so something like this doesn't happen.

[blech]

The only other thing I'd add would be to check the tournament rules. I've been to more than a couple where it has been specifically stated that they are not allowed near the fields and are limited to areas near the side, typically closest to the parking lot. Obviously, if nothing is stated, you need to make your best judgment about the safety of the players and your ref crew.

The only other thing I'd add is if there is room, I can certainly see where having some shade could make a big difference for someone suffering from heat issues. I was playing recently and upon coming off the field fortunate to find a small tree with a little shade and it made a world of difference. At most of these tournaments, there are no trees. I suppose a parent could hold an umbrella over them in an emergency, but certainly some shade on a hot day can have safety value in itself.

[gosellit]

At Southern Regionals, there 3 of these tents at every field. One for each team and one for the time keeper/field marshall. They were all anchored.

I did see a tent on the parents side lift off when a good gust of wind caught it.