Date:         Tue, 23 May 2006 13:13:35 -0500
Reply-To:     Discussion of Topics for Soccer Referees
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Sender:       Discussion of Topics for Soccer Referees
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From:         Thomas Ryer <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:      Re: Weekend wierdness in potato land
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Go to usyouthsoccer.org.  Under the Coaches link click on Small Sided Games. 
  Those are the official rules for small sided soccer U12 and younger.  
Unlimited substitutions at any stoppage.  Since they play on such a small 
field they added to punt rule so the game wouldn't degenerate into the two 
keepers punting the ball back and forth.

Thom Ryer
Waukesha, WI




Last weekend I attended the President's cup in beautiful Twin Falls
Idaho. The Pres. cup is a tourney for competitive teams that are not
bound for State cup. This is the first time the folks in Twin have ever
hosted a major (for Idaho anyway) tourney. These folks really knocked
themselves out. Games were held on four beautiful, groomed sites
including a brand new eight field soccer complex. Hat's off to the folks
in Twin. They put on a great tournament.

However, a bit of local weirdness crept into the tourney rules. For U11
games only, subs on any stoppage, unlimited reentry. Additionally, if
the keeper kicks or punts the ball from his penalty area to the opposing
penalty area the referee is to award an indirect kick to the opponents
from the center circle. I think these are local rec rules. The vast
majority of U11 teams were from out of town.

Well I worked a couple of these games (they finally found my level) and
the first stop for sub following OS brought a howl from the parents. I
turned to the parents and told them that today U11's could sub on any
stoppage. A parent then asked "Even on offsideS". Yes, even on offside.
I turned to the subbing player and went through exactly the same
exchange with the coach. Injury, corner kicks, drop balls, you name it,
I was a substitution machine!

For both my U11 matches, every time the keeper kicked the ball I was
thinking "please, oh please, oh please" just so I could make the utterly
bizarre call and bring the ball to the center circle for an IDFK. Never
happened. Very disappointing. However, a good friend who coaches a U11
team said it happened to him twice! And both times the ref ignored it.
Sigh.

-- davek