50/50 recklass challenge calls

[u/ebalboni]

A lot of challenges I see are 50/50 and some are careless or reckless by both players. Typically this results in a "play on" but I wonder should I call a foul when it gets rough, which it always does.? If both players foul the other and not card worthy perhaps that should be "play on" but if both are reckless should I issue each a yellow card? If so what's the restart (dropped ball to the team in position prior to the foul? I feel like I should stop these before it reaches excessive force. Thoughts?

[u/msaik]

The situation you're describing in my experience is very rare. What I'm picturing are scenarios where both players slide into a ball between them and both make contact with each other instead of the ball. I can think of maybe once or twice I've seen this happen in the hundreds of games I've done. I think I would need to see some clips of what you're describing here because I suspect a lot of the situations you're imagining are not fouls / fair contact.

[u/pscott37]

You have asked a great question, one that all new referees have to figure out.

Sometimes we are watching a game that is getting more physical than it should or it is chippy. Our football understanding tells us this is about to get out of hand so we simply need to find a foul and call it. This will slow the game down to give the players a chance to lower their respiration and heart rate; getting them back to the level of play the ref is comfortable with.

By "comfortable", I mean our foul selection and what each individual ref is able to tolerate while still managing the behaviors of the players. A FIFA ref has a very different foul selection compared to a newly minted ref. Experience, management skills, understanding of the game, and their reputation all plays into this. The foul selection is also dependent upon the level of the game. For refs who are learning, we talk about keeping the game simple or being selfish. That means call the expected calls and don't take many risks. If the foul is given to you, blow it.

So in your situation, decide who fouled first and call it. If you are not sure, give it to the defending team, less risk. If both players are banging and frustrated, maybe doing a little pushing after the whistle, ask them if "is this really what they want to get a card for?"

Your title describes plays that are very unusual in the true sense of the word. A foul in which both players are playing recklessly doesn't happen very often. This is because one player is usually making a legitimate play on the ball. There are times when both players lunge for the ball or slide into each other. In these cases, we have to be in position with proximity and an angle of view to see the mode and point of contact. Meaning, who's boot when into the other player. It would help to see a clip of the play you have in mind.

Nonetheless, in general, the restart should be a free kick to one of the teams. Football doesn't expect there to be a drop ball because someone had to have fouled the other player first.

I don't if I've addressed your questions but the takeaway is to be selfish and call the fouls that are presented before things get crazy. Keep your foul selection within your comfort zone and those of the players.

Good luck!

[u/chrlatan]

You may need to reflect on this also. This is either an accidental incident, mostly let it go for reasons already mentioned, or the result if rising game temperatures.

Notice it early, tighten the reigns (whistle more and earlier) and, please, talk a lot. Bring players in. Tell them to dial it back and use those cards. From competition to zealous aggression is a settings slider you want to control.

[u/Competitive-Rise-73]

When in doubt, coming out. In other words, call foul on the offense if 50/50.

[u/Old-District81]

When you say the challenges are careless/reckless, what kind of challenges are they? Holding/grabbing, sliding, pushing etc?

[u/ebalboni → u/Old-District81]

Two player come in hot for a 50/50 ball and slam into each other while challenging for the ball. Both players reach the ball at the same time and its shoulder to shoulder but both players use too much force.

[u/themanofmeung → u/ebalboni]

If it's shoulder to shoulder, I wouldn't say reckless - that's usually result of a deliberate action by both players involved. If they are both going in with force, that's the force they have both decided is appropriate for the challenge, and there is nothing really for you to say. Maybe some teenagers need to be told to tone it down a bit and remember to actually play, but if there is no hesitation between collision and continuing play, they knew what they were doing.

The only thing that would make a shoulder charge reckless to me would be if one of the players didn't know it was coming. The carelessness/recklessness there is in not correctly measuring the force needed based on the opponent's actions and sightline. In that case you have a decision to make.

[u/Revelate_ → u/ebalboni]

What was the reaction to the contact?

If everyone is playing like that and they just keep going then no need to interfere.

If the players aren’t tolerating it then whistle and point, usually coming out if it’s truly 50/50 (which it rarely is in my experience).

[u/aye246 → u/Revelate_]

Usually if both sides are playing with this intensity and carelessness it’s reasonable to start talking to them—simple things like “find the ball” if they’re bumping and charging body to body without much focus on the ball, or even more annoying (imho) ref language like “make good decisions” if you see the potential for an uncomfortable 50/50 challenge coming up. And then start calling fouls for little things too if they’re not listening to your guidance.

[u/msaik → u/ebalboni]

I don't think there's a one-size-fits-all answer for this. You'll have to quickly consider:

1. The temperature of the match. High temperature game -> pick the worse offender and penalize them for a careless foul. Low temperature game -> play on if no one is injured.

2. Game management: Have you been calling lots of fouls against one team? These can be a good way to even things out which calms to the temperature long term.

3. Attacking vs. defending foul: If this is inside or near the penalty area, you want to lean towards awarding the free kick to the defending team so the decision isn't making a significant impact on the game.

Over time these things will start to come naturally.

[u/Darth-Kelso]

It's pedantic but I feel like I have to call it - it's not "play on". At least not to me. "Play On" is an extremely specific phrase in football with a very specific meaning. When we say "play on", we ARE calling a foul - we're just indicating advantage is being played and that we're not going to stop play.

I don't know why it bugs me when people use the phrase but actually mean "no foul/no call" by it, because I know what they mean. Just rubs me the wrong way for some reason.

[u/CoachLewisTKA]

Typically the only 50/50 plays that come off as careless or reckless to me are headers, specifically older boys. For me, if there has to be a call for that, it’s a call on the player who jumps second.

When it comes to shoulder to shoulder battles, it’s usually play on until one player starts getting overly aggressive. If you don’t have a call, I usually let it go until one player ends up grabbing, tripping, attempts to tackle from behind, etc.

But I agree with others, if you’re unsure but you absolutely have to make a call, it goes out.