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FIFA ANNOUNCE NEW LAWS FOR GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL

By Patrick Morrissey
President   AFA (Amateur Football Alliance) Referees' Society
Appeared in the 2004 Feb Argus Magazine 

Following extensive consultation with the key participants (managers and players) in the grassroots game, the International Football Association Board has decided to recognise best custom and practice in a new set of Laws, which are to be implemented with immediate effect.

New Laws of Association Football -

Prepared by Managers and Players as a Guide for Referees - February 2004

Law 1. - The Field of Play

The field of play shall be on or below the minimum dimensions specified by the competition. All field markings shall be at the discretion of the groundsman. Neither he nor his equipment will be available on a match day. Goalkeepers may add whatever markings within the goal area and penalty area that they feel necessary. Flagposts are discretionary. Any adjustment requested by the referee to pitch, markings, goals or nets before the game is unreasonable.

Law 2. - The Ball

Goalkeepers have the right to inspect and veto any the match ball. If the referee asks for the match ball before the game, it is his responsibility to remove any mud and inflate the ball. Otherwise, the match ball and spare are to be used for the pre-match warm up. Players are then allowed to appeal that the ball is under/over-inflated after 5 minutes play, whereupon the referee is required to produce a pump. Substitutes have the right to use the match ball for a kick-about at halftime.

Law 3 - Number of Players

If we arrive late, no more than 6 players will go out on the pitch until all are ready. It is unreasonable to expect manager's/captains to know substitutes' surnames or how to spell them. When we want to make a substitution and the referee stops play, the substitute shall ignore the referee or assistant and run on the field to take up his position. Where substitutes' names do not match those given to the referee before the game, the referee will immediately tell them what their names should be. Any substitutions made at half time need not be advised to the referee.

Law 4 - Players Equipment

The player who is late shall always be the one with the team kit. Goalkeepers are allowed to wear all black, or the colour of the opposing team. The referee will change shirt colour in event of a colour clash. Where numbers on shirts are compulsory, they need not necessarily be different. Players' rings, necklaces, and jewellery noticed by the referee after kick-off must be carried and safeguarded by the referee for the rest of the game.

Law 5 - Referee

Referee/assistants will be allocated a separate broom cupboard/storeroom in which to change. The referee will start, stop, suspend or terminate the match as soon as players appeal or at the discretion of the technical areas. Any referee bleeding from a wound may only leave the field to receive treatment on a signal from the technical area of the team responsible. The referee will allow play to continue when the offending team will gain an advantage from the offence they have committed. The referee will take disciplinary action against opposition players guilty of cautionable or sending-off offences. A referee wishing to obtain a reasonable club mark and receive a match fee must ignore all offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures directed at him or his assistants by players or technical areas. In all other instances the referee must respond to calls/appeals immediately. The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play are appalling.

Law 6 - Assistant Referees

Assistant referees are an expensive and error prone luxury. Assistants (as the name suggests) are not to be regarded as proper referees, since they cannot caution/send off. It follows therefore that abuse directed at Assistants (in lieu of the referee) cannot attract disciplinary action. When the other team is offside, our defenders will shout, stand still and raise one arm, and then the assistant shall stand still and put his flag up. At a penalty kick, the assistant shall not signal that the goalkeeper has moved forward off his line as long as he remains inside the goal area, or the kick is wide or over the goal.

Law 7 - Duration of the Game

All players and the technical area are entitled to an immediate answer from the referee on how long to go after 20 minutes of the first half and after 10 minutes of the second half. The duration of the half time interval may be altered only with the consent of the tea lady. Allowance for time lost is at the discretion of the respective technical areas, who will advise the referee and nearest assistant or Fourth Official at regular intervals.

Law 8 - The Start and Restart of Play

As soon as the referee blows the whistle for the toss-up, both teams will immediately start their pre-match briefing. At the kick-off the player receiving the ball must stand one yard into the opponent's half.

Law 9 - Ball In and Out of Play

Managers and substitutes are permitted to stand on the touch line in order to advise referee and assistants when the ball goes near the line.

Law 10 - Method of Scoring

A goal is scored if the ball approaches the goal line. A player will signal a goal by taking off his shirt, and leaving the pitch. Other players will run after the 'scorer' and jump on him until he falls to the ground.

Law 11-Offside

Any opposing attacker who is faster than our defenders, or is unmarked at any time is, by definition offside. As covered in Law 6, defenders will stand still, shout and raise one arm to indicate when offside is to be given. An attacker cannot be given offside if the defending side does not appeal. Free kicks for offside will be taken from where the second last defender was at the time, and may be moved forward if the referee turns his back. Referees must be advised when opponents are offside from a goal kick.

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct

No action shall be considered a foul or misconduct unless the referee hears an appeal. A player shall not be sent off for handball if it was a genuine attempt to stop a goal. A tackle shall not be given as a foul if the player wins the ball. When a goalkeeper catches the ball, any nearby attacker shall run up to the goalkeeper and stand directly in front of him, within one yard, and shall stare at him. A tackle from behind that endangers the safety of an opponent but wins the ball must be regarded as seriously effective play. Any simulating action anywhere on the field that is intended to deceive the referee must be regarded as a tribute to the coaching staff. Referees must ignore the first volley of abuse where players disagree with a decision. Mere words or actions cannot be considered grounds for dissent.

No caution shall be given in the first 5 minutes of play or for a player's first foul. Players being cautioned by the referee shall, after delivering the customary and acceptable first volley of abuse, shake their heads, shrug their shoulders, bend down to pull up their socks, and then turn and run away before the referee shows the yellow card. A player who denies an obvious goalscoring opportunity to an opponent by an offence punishable by a free kick or penalty kick will be nominated for man of the match.

Law 13 - Free Kicks

As soon as a free kick is given against his team a player shall run immediately to stand in front of the ball. A player shall be allowed to kick, throw or carry the ball away if he feels that his defence is not ready for the attacker's free kick. If a team take the option of a quick free kick and it goes wrong, or they lose possession to an opponent who was within 10 yards, then play shall be stopped and the kick is retaken. The referee will raise his arm above his head at free kicks as a signal to stop the kick being taken.

Law 14 - Penalty Kick

A penalty kick may only be awarded against a team committing an offence inside its own penalty area if the referee hears an appeal and the ball is in the penalty area. The defending goalkeeper remains on his goal line, facing the kicker, between the goalposts until the ball is placed on the penalty mark. Players other than the kicker are located at least 9.15m (10 yards) from the penalty mark when the kicker begins his run up.

Law 15-Throw-In

A throw-in is method of delaying play. A goal cannot be scored while a throw-in is being taken. Throw-ins taken by a team in the lead will take three times as long as when a team is losing. A throw-in is awarded when the ball touches the touch line. To assist the referee, both teams shall shout 'our ball'. Throw-ins may be taken from the point where they will do most damage to the opponents. Referees will make allowance for long throw specialists where the spin on the ball is caused by one arm being shorter than the other.

Law 16-Goal Kick

Goal kicks are a method of delaying play. As with throw-ins, goal kicks taken by teams in the lead will take 3 times as long as when a team is losing. A goal kick may be taken from any point within 3 yards of the goal area, and with a moving ball in order to speed up play, if a team is losing.

Law 17-Comer Kick

A corner kick is a method of delaying play, where the kicker realises the corner flag is in his way. Procedure: While the flag is being restored to its proper position, up to 20 players may practice holding and wrestling. One attacker must be designated to impede the goalkeeper. A defender need not be 10 yards from the ball at a corner kick if a colleague of the player taking the kick is within 10 yards of the ball.

The Technical Area.

The Technical Area extends up to 1m (1yd) inside the playing area all around the pitch. Competition Rules will ensure that there are always more technical staff/substitutes permitted in the technical areas than there are spectators at the game.

The Fourth Official.

The fourth official assists with any administrative duties before, during and after the match as required by the Technical Area. The Technical area, however, retains the authority to decide on all points connected with play.