Refs need to know the Laws of the Game!
Posted by Administrator (admin) on Mar 17 2009 at 10:50 PM
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First off, let me say there is a difference between a judgment call and an incorrect call because of a lack of knowledge of the Laws of the Game. Players and coaches always like to argue judgment calls with the referee.  I usually preface my response with, "in my opinion..."  Law 5 clearly states that "the decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match are final."

That being said,  a referee friend of mine recently observed a new referee working a Girls Under 10 match.  A goalkeeper came outside her penalty area and kicked the ball.  The referee awarded a direct free kick that also resulted in a goal. The referee justified the decision "because she left her area to play the ball." 

Now this is frustrating on a few levels.  One, the defending team didn't do anything wrong.  A goalkeeper may play the ball with her feet anywhere on the field.  A goalkeeper can take a corner kick, a penalty kick, any free kick on the field as well as leave the penalty area whenever she desires to play the ball with her feet.  The boundary of the penalty area for the goalkeeper merely defines where the goalkeeper may play the ball with her hands, with the exception being when it is kicked to her by a teammate or received directly from a throw-in by a teammate.

Secondly, I'm sure it confused the goalkeeper.  She probably came away from the match being understandably confused by her actions.

Thirdly, it's frustrating to witness from a spectator point of view.  The referee made a mistake, a big one, because of the referee's lack of knowledge of the Laws of the Game.  Whenever you referee, YOU are the representation of the Laws to the players, coaches, and the spectators.  Now a new referee is going to make mistakes, we all do at times, but the more time you spend as a new referee going over the basics like Law 12, Fouls and Misconduct, Law 1, the Field of Play, and Law 8, Starts and Restarts, the more confidence you'll have as a referee to make the right call in the game.  I feel bad for this ref because he/she probably got an earful from the defending team's touchline.  But hopefully, he/she will realize the mistake, and I can guarantee you, won't make it again. We've all learned from those moments.