Referee's Corner

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since
January 19, 1999

Dryden Soccer Club
PO Box 277
Dryden, NY 13053

Referee's Corner

Common Rules Misinterpretations - USSF/FIFA Rules (not High School)

Hand Balls - the ball must be deliberately handled by the player. To simplify, ask the questions "did the ball play the player" or "did the player play the ball"? If the answer is yes to the first question, it is not a hand ball . . . if the answer to the second is yes . . . it is a hand ball. If the player makes a reflex action to protect themselves from an onrushing ball, the action is not deliberate handing UNLESS the player makes contact with the ball and redirects it as opposed to the player allowing the ball to just hit the hand or arm.
Offside - is determined by player positions when the ball is kicked . . . a common scenario that fans fall into . . . we are watching the player with the ball . . . then when he/she kicks it . . . we swing our heads and look at the players near the offside line . . . and many times at that point it appears that a player is offside . . . but he/she may not have been when the ball was kicked!
Obstruction/Shielding - by rule, obstruction is really called "impedance" . . . there is a very fine line between "impedance" which is a rule violation, and "shielding" which is not.
Field Lines and Ball - the ball must be completely over the end line to be a goal/corner/goal kick or the touch line to be considered out of play.
Indirect Kick - the ball must be touched by another player before it can be considered a goal . . . that includes the defending keeper!

Last modified on August 13, 2004 by Peggy Westerling