Retrieving a ball after scoring

[p_malinich]

I know of 2 examples on 2 different teams at 2 different age groups where a player was cautioned or warned this past weekend for retrieving a ball from the opponent's net after scoring.  In both cases the team retrieving the ball was in the lead & trying to increase their lead due to tiebreakers.  It wasn't delaying the game - it was actually speeding it up.

What am I missing?  Why the warning/card?

[justsayin]

I was also curious about this call. I witnessed the same caution a few months ago in a tournament, but the scoring and retrieving team was behind a goal in the second half and was trying to tie it up.

[time2retire]

Advice To Referees, Section 12.C.8:

12.C.8 Provoking Confrontation by Touching or Controlling the Ball at a Restart

Referees should take all appropriate actions to prevent this tactic from being attempted in the first place. It is often possible to anticipate such player behavior and to stop it.

Further, the specific situations which are of concern are those in which a player is seeking to gain control of a ball when one or more opponents, who have the restart, are also attempting to possess the ball—thus provoking a confrontation. Merely touching the ball after a stoppage is not an offense. The caution for delaying the restart of play should be reserved for those situations where a confrontation is actually provoked or is imminent or when a player persists in this behavior despite the referee's best efforts to prevent it.

Advice To Referees is free, available to anyone, and can be downloaded at ussoccer.app.box.com/s/ruqcsf0671k1bcf6dzwf/1/348010025/14809733210/1

[cardsinhand]

Paul, in simple terms, the team that was scored upon has possession of the ball for the restart. Just as with any other free kick, you wouldn't expect the team without possession of the ball to go get it and place it down for them. Team A just put the ball in Team B's goal. Don't go in Team B's goal to get the ball, you are just going to piss him off more!

So as we have learned this year, after a goal is scored, referees should address the ball and the player who scored the goal to prevent inappropriate behavior.

[Steven Gerrard]

Actually, if time is winding down, the team that is down a goal will want to avoid time wasting. So, they may run to get the ball for a restart, especially if the other team is walking to get the ball. As long as they are not fighting for the ball out of the hands of the other player, I don't have a problem with them getting the ball and putting it on the ground. Why would this be an issue?

[cardsinhand]

Jun 2, 2014 10:13:08 GMT -6 Steven Gerrard said:

Actually, if time is winding down, the team that is down a goal will want to avoid time wasting. So, they may run to get the ball for a restart, especially if the other team is walking to get the ball. As long as they are not fighting for the ball out of the hands of the other player, I don't have a problem with them getting the ball and putting it on the ground. Why would this be an issue?

Why don't you stop the potential madness and just add the time for it? Isn't that within your powers? Preventive refereeing 101.

As seen in the C2 Boys bracket game in Lake Charles, it invites trouble. Team A scores a goal and it's Team B's restart so they want the ball. So when they try to get the ball from Team A's scorer, the result is a violent two handed shove from Team B player leading to RC for violent conduct. Could it have been prevented? YES!

So, again referees, address the ball and the scorer to prevent unnecessary paper work and sendoffs, inappropriate behavior, and season ending suspensions for you and your referee crew! ;-)

[Steven Gerrard]

Yes, I agree, the ref should add time for it. And, he should also let both teams know that he is doing so. That would let one team know that their "slow walk" is for naught and let the other team know that they need not be anxious about it.

But, the problem is that too often refs do not do this. Too often they do not add time. So, as a player or coach, are you going to take that chance? If the ref is silent, as a player, I would grab that ball out of goal and run it to midfield so that there was no delay. The motivation is understandable. I would think that a caution against that player would be a bit too much.

Still, if you are going to shove someone because you are arguing over the ball? Sounds like a deserved red card.

[p_malinich]

This is helpful and at least explains the thinking around it.

Does it also apply to balls out of play? I've regularly seen teams (or parents), generally when needing a score, go chasing after the ball whether it is theirs or not. That rarely seems to get called (unless this approach is a new one).

In fact, I think the last card Andrew received was Freshman year in a club state semi-final. We had a solid lead. Ball is kicked out. He is jogging to get the ball. An opposing player (who actually is now on his team) goes sprinting past him to get the ball & bring it back. Andrew received a yellow card for what he thought was considered not jogging fast enough to get it. In the explanation you give, it seems like the opposing player should've steered clear of it. Right?

[cardsinhand]

Jun 2, 2014 10:46:52 GMT -6 p_malinich said:

This is helpful and at least explains the thinking around it.

Does it also apply to balls out of play? I've regularly seen teams (or parents), generally when needing a score, go chasing after the ball whether it is theirs or not. That rarely seems to get called (unless this approach is a new one).

In fact, I think the last card Andrew received was Freshman year in a club state semi-final. We had a solid lead. Ball is kicked out. He is jogging to get the ball. An opposing player (who actually is now on his team) goes sprinting past him to get the ball & bring it back. Andrew received a yellow card for what he thought was considered not jogging fast enough to get it. In the explanation you give, it seems like the opposing player should've steered clear of it. Right?

Based entirely on what you say, unwarranted caution. As long as he is making a reasonable effort to get the ball, no caution but maybe a warning and a point to the watch on the wrist. Powers and duties of the referee state we may add time for time wasting. Besides, those situations usually don't lead to a confrontation like emotionally charged events such as a goal, PK, or flagrant foul.

Let's remember the whole premise in a soccer match is players will fight over possession of the ball. WE just need to manage and control how they do it.

[p_malinich]

Good stuff, gentlemen. Thanks for taking time to explain so that I can understand & relay effectively.

[rlb2024]

I saw this situation handled extremely well during one of the championship games in Shreveport this weekend.  3 minutes remaining in first half, and the team that is leading inadvertently knocks the ball in for an own goal.  Player for the team that benefitted from the own goal runs into the goal to get the ball and starts sprinting back to midfield with the ball for the kickoff.  Center ref runs over to the player and has a quiet word, and the player drops the ball and jogs back to prepare for the kickoff.  Time was added to the half to compensate.  No controversy, no issues later on.

Well done, referee.