If someone can point me to where this has been posted please delete the thread. I guess people are bored with Covid so I’ve got some enterprising internet trolls wanting someone to prove that US Soccer made it clear that misconduct does not apply to the headers in U11 and below. I can’t find it but I’m almost positive I read it on an official document. Does someone have it? National level if possible, I have a feeling these people will be annoying and want to question me if the proof is just from a state level.
This is the only thing I've come across with regards to that directive, it doesn't mention misconduct at all. Perhaps there was some clarification that came out afterwards? https://www.ussoccer.com/coaching-education/resources/us-soccer-player-development-initiatives
Followup: Found this from OSSRC (pg 57 is the relevant one): http://www.ossrc.com/newrefreg/2017/law12F.pdf I don't know if they're using USSF slides and put their own logo on as well, or if that's a homegrown thing. AYSO has also taken the view that heading can never be a basis for misconduct. Minnesota and Georgia teaching the same... basically "It is a safety violation, not a violation of the LOTG."
I’ll see if I can pass this off as official. I knew I had read it somewhere but couldn’t find it now. Thanks.
The Player Development Initiative pdf under 7v7 games it reads "Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct*" and the asterisk says "*With the exception of deliberate heading and punting" under 9v9 games it reads "Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct*" and the asterisk says "*With the exception of deliberate heading in U11 games" Sorry, didn't see the first response
The USSF presentation says all headers at this age result in an indirect kick. Every other piece of guidance I've seen says if it's accidental, it's a dropped ball: http://vys.org/referees/laws-of-the-game https://loudounsoccerreferee.org/2016/05/01/heading-rule-u11-and-below/ http://www.novasc.org/referee/clari...cation---policies--rules-and-laws-of-the-game http://www.gcyouthsoccer.com/Default.aspx?tabid=1125012 Total of 168 references in this search: https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1...hUKEwjPw8nhlbLsAhWmg-AKHbwVAzwQ4dUDCA0&uact=5 Nothing more definitive? I did a dropped ball on Sunday, and a parent reacted as if I had replaced the ball with a badminton shuttlecock.
I know AYSO considers non-deliberate head contact as nothing--of course raising the possibility of stopping for injury, which would result in a DB. I *thought* that was consistent with what USSF was saying, but I don't really know. (Nor do I know why anyone wants to stop play for random, non-injurious, head/ball contact--the point of the rule is to not have players trying to head the ball.) Hmm, if you're stopping for an accidental head ball, is that the last touch that gets to receive the DB?
You have to remember the state ROC on heading. Something I, unfortunately, still struggle with. Alabama: No heading at U12 and below. Georgia: No heading at U11 and below Alabama: Only "purposeful" heading is an IFK for the other team Georgia: Both deliberate and accidental heading are IFK for the other team. Although once an accidental heading resulted in an injury in Georgia. Player was subbed out and I awarded a drop ball for the injury. Coach went nuts saying his team should get an IFK, not a drop ball. U9 game. Yes, she complained quite loudly. It wasn't even an old-style contested drop ball. It was dropped at the feet of her player.
I mean those are the standards laid out direct from US Soccer. So I’m not sure what more authoritative material there could be. There might be more APPLICABLE material, since like Covid every state seems to think their idea is the best idea and they make some modifications to that. Personally I think the no heading rules have done nothing but made it so players attempt to recreate scenes from Bloodsport with Kung Fu kicks near each other’s heads. So take it for what it’s worth.
I may be wrong on this, but I'm under the impression that the drop goes to the last team "in possession," so I've been giving it to the last team that *kicked* the ball.
Yup, mis-impression. Last touch, not last possession (Law 8). (Definitely creates some quirky results here and there, but at least we don't have to argue about what "possession" means.)
Hmmmm ... Now I'm racking my brain to see if I ever saw specific instructions about the U-10 heading rule, which isn't in the LOTG and could offer up an exception. I think a lot of the literature on the subject pre-dates the change in the drop ball Law. I may have to do a story on this.
I haven't done any U-littles since the no heading started. When was the first year of that? I think we're starting to see the results of that in HS JV matches. Other than the Kung FU kicks, they do every bizarre body contortion in the world in order to avoid heading the ball. SMH.
I don’t think you’re going to find a clear cut answer. You’re trying to fit a hexagonal plug in a round hole. It will probably fit but there will be gaps.
Your quest will end up empty handed. Every state has different guidelines based on the USSF guidelines. And on a local level, clubs don't always pay attention to their state guidelines. They do follow it more stringently for the heading rule, but build out line? There is no consistency from club to club. They scoff at the idea a state director of coaching understands player development better than the local DOC. Not that I care one way or the other, but it obviously makes things really difficult on the referees who work at different clubs.
You’re lucky if you’re that consistent. I have differences from one field next to another. Because I’m on the border of another state that differs from ours and plays their games here. Makes everything fun. They couldn’t even agree on Covid stuff much less this.
Any answer you give will be equally right and wrong. But my leaning is that the “illegal” touch wouldn’t count for anything.
Another one of those subtle but annoying verbiage differences that NFHS has. Another fun one. Did you know in NFHS the keeper can still score from their throw out of the PA? While IFAB thinks it’s a good idea to disallow that. Like you might as well provide a casket for that ref because wiping that goal off the board is a death sentence.
Thanks -- that's what I'm going with. The idea that a team can be rewarded with possession because a ball grazed a defender's head just doesn't sit right with me.