I have an argument going with one of my friends that I play soccer with that trying to block a keeper's punt is and not allowed. I tried to look it up in the LOTG and I can't find a specific reference to the offense. If a player tries to block a keeper's punt which rule does this violate? Is it an automatic yellow card? Thanks for the help.
I consider it Unsporting Behaviour. I haven't had a successful punt block for years. Any attempt to distract or hinder the keeper results in a few words of warning.
Is there a case where you would give a card for doing something like that before giving a word of warning?
From the Advice to Referees... 12.17 PREVENTING THE GOALKEEPER FROM RELEASING THE BALL INTO PLAY An opponent may not prevent the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands. While players have a right to maintain a position achieved during the normal course of play, they may not try to block the goalkeeper's movement while he is holding the ball or do anything which hinders, interferes with, or blocks the goalkeeper who is throwing or punting the ball back into play. An opponent does not violate the Law, however, if he takes advantage of a ball released by the goalkeeper directly to him, in his direction, or even deflecting off him nonviolently. Plus... 12.23 CHARGING THE GOALKEEPER Referees must carefully observe any charge against the goalkeeper and call as an infringement of Law 12 only those charges which are performed carelessly, recklessly, or with excessive force (direct free kick), are performed in a dangerous manner (indirect free kick), or prevent the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands (indirect free kick). Charging the keeper who is in possession of the ball must be considered an offense because, by definition, the charge cannot be for the purpose of challenging for control of the ball (see Advice 12.16). So these two address that it is in fact against the laws to interfere as you've described. As for the punishment... Under section 12.28 CAUTIONABLE OFFENSES, paragraph 12.28.1 UNSPORTING BEHAVIOR, one of the bulleted items is "• Interferes with or prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands into play". So the result of such an infraction would be a caution to your friend.
Absolutely. This is not a gray area, or a question of degree; it is a clear rule and the LOTG does not grant me discretion. If a player doesn't know or understand the rules, then it's his problem, not mine. Now if, as happens occasionally, a player seems to be hanging a little too close to the Keeper but not, at the moment, interfering per se but rather implying that he MIGHT do so, I will quite clearly indicate to him that he is to back off and not screw around.
If it isnt in the list of MANDATORY cautions or send offs it is most definately a gray area in which you have many ways to handle the incident and I would encourage you not to caution too quickly for petty crimes.
Seems to me that every player has a right to be anywhere on the field that player wants to be. So if a player stands in front of the goal keeper this is legal. But, if the player moves around to intentionally block a kick, then it is illegal.
IF the player was there when the keeper picked up the ball and just stood there rather than retreating upfield, then you're right. And that's not the situation being discussed. We're talking about a player attempting to "play" the keeper. This is one of the bulleted items from the ATR for which there should be a caution along with things like Fouls in a reckless manner, Handles ball deliberately to score a goal, Tactical foul, Fakes an injury, fakes a foul (dives), etc.
i'm a new ref and all, but when i was at certification the instructer said the player could do that as long as he diddt move around
If you give a yellow card for EVERYTHING that happens that you CAN give a card for you must wear your card out every year!
Last May in the US-Uruguay friendly, Recoba jumped in to block one of Friedel's punts and received a yellow card. Amazingly enough, he tried it again later.
Not everything they tell you in certification is true, you just have to pretend it is until the test is over. Bill Archer, above, had a good point: That recognizing the impending (potential) foul/misconduct and taking verbal steps to prevent it occuring, go a lot longer way than punishing the act after it occurs. The key is recognition, and reading player psychology. In the situation you cite, the defender never simply stands his ground: As soon as the keeper moves to the side to punt, the defender moves too. That is hindering, and a a quick word ought to take care of it.