The RSA has teamed up with the Regina Soccer Referee Association to offer . . .

Ask a Referee! 

Here’s your chance to ask those questions that have puzzled you about the rules of soccer.  What a great opportunity to investigate the subtle application of the “Laws of the Game” in particular situations. The referees will open up their case books and share their knowledge with you.  So . . . click the email link and let your fingers go to work.  Questions and answers will be posted for the benefit of all so please be brief and to the point.

Submissions may be edited for clarity and length. Please direct your questions to general play. This is not a forum to discuss specific games or individuals.

CLICK HERE to Ask a Referee!

Questions:

Added August 23, 10 -

At a game I saw two similar looking players on a team switching jersey numbers back and forth several times.  It looks like they were trying to confuse their identity to the other team. I know they have unlimited substitution and neither of them had any cards or penalties at the game. Is that allowed?

Added June 28, 10 -

If an attacker (A) has the ball and goes on a breakaway and there are no defenders between the attacker who has the ball and the goal.

Another attacker (B) runs up from an onside position, runs past the ball carrier so that attacker (B) is closer to the goal then attacker (A) (both [attackers] are closer to the goal than the last defender) and then (A) passes to (B), is this considered offside?

Added Nov. 18,08 -

In indoor, is it a goal if one goalkeeper throws the ball directly into the opposing net? (no deflections off any other players on the field)

Added Nov. 4th,08 -

If a defensive player prevents a ball from entering their net by jumping up and kicking the ball well above his/her waist, is a penalty shot or a direct kick to be awarded? If it’s a direct kick, where in the box would the shot be taken from if the infraction were to occur right on the goal line?

Can a players from the other team sub even though you have the throw in and are ready to do so?

What are the real rules on a off side.  Is it once the ball is kicked you can go for it or once the ball has gone past the last player.  Nobody seem to be calling the same and people are getting confused?

Could you clarify when a handball is a foul?  My understanding is that it is only for deliberately playing the ball with he hand/arm, i.e moving your arm to the ball.  Recently I was given the explanation that "yes it was accidental, but he gained an advantage from it".

At a game I saw two similar looking players on a team switching jersey numbers back and forth several times.
It looks like they were trying to confuse their identity to the other team. I know they have unlimited substitution and neither of them had any cards or penalties at the game. Is that allowed?

If the referee was to see the two players switching jerseys on the teams then he/she would caution both players for unsporting behaviour.  Each player is identified by a number on the game sheet and when they switch jerseys and numbers this information is no longer correct and is not allowed to happen during the game.

If an attacker (A) has the ball and goes on a breakaway and there are no defenders between the attacker who has the ball and the goal.

Another attacker (B) runs up from an onside position, runs past the ball carrier so that attacker (B) is closer to the goal then attacker (A) (both [attackers] are closer to the goal than the last defender) and then (A) passes to (B), is this considered offside?

Yes, this is considered to be a situation where the player is in an offside position. 

As per the FIFA Laws of the Game:

A player is in an offside position if:

• he/she is nearer to his opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent
 
Since Player B moved ahead of Player A and then the ball was passed forward that puts Player B into an offside position as the second last opponent would have been trailing the breakaway.  Therefore the flag goes up and the offside is called.

If Player A would have held on to the ball and shot then Player B would be in an offside position however being in the position in itself is not an offence.  No offside call is necessary on this play.
 
If Player B would have been behind or in line with Player A when the ball was played then play would have been allowed to continue as then Player B would not be considered to be offside.  No offside call is necessary on this play

The situation that is described is not a foul.
 
If the defensive player plays the ball in a dangerous manner (with opponents around) without making contact with anyone then the restart for this would be an indirect free kick.  If this occurs on the goal line then the ball is moved out to the top of the goal area parallel to where the infraction occurs.  Also during the restart since it is at the top of the goal area, the players are not required to be the 9.15m  (30ft) away from the ball and can stand on the goal line.
 
Now if the defensive player plays the ball in a dangerous manner (with opponents around) and makes contact with an opponent then the restart would no longer be for dangerous play and it would be for pushing, tripping, kicking etc.  That would make it a penalty kick as there is no direct free kick in the penalty area.

Can a players from the other team sub even though you have the throw in and are ready to do so?

A substitute can replace a player at any stoppage at the referees discretion.  There is nothing to do with possession however this is why it is at the referees discretion as to when a substitute is able to enter the field of play.

What are the real rules on a off side.  Is it once the ball is kicked you can go for it or once the ball has gone past the last player.  Nobody seem to be calling the same and people are getting confused?

When referring to offside you must remember that it is not an offense to be offside in itself but in an offside position.  A player is in an offside position if he is nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent.  So to clearly answer your question, a player is penalised for being in an offside position when the ball has been touched and the player is closer to the goal line than the second last opponent. 

Another important point with offside is that the player in an offside position is only penalised if, at the moment oft he ball touches or is played by one of his team, he is, in the opinion of the referee, involved in active play by:

* Interfering with play or

* Interfering with an opponent or

* Gaining an advantage by being in that position

Could you clarify when a handball is a foul?  My understanding is that it is only for deliberately playing the ball with he hand/arm, i.e moving your arm to the ball.  Recently I was given the explanation that "yes it was accidental, but he gained an advantage from it".

A hand ball is a foul when a player deliberately handles the ball (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area).
 
A player can gain an advantage from a ball hitting his hand only because it was not deliberate and therefore is not a foul.