Law Updates

There are a few updates to the laws for 2023/2024.  As a reminder, you can see the laws at theifab.com.  To see updates for this season (or last season), go to Law Changes (at theifab.com) in the left column menu.

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Law 3. The Players

• Clarification relating to extra person(s) on the field of play when a goal is scored

  • Clarification that the referee should take action against an extra person on the field of play when a goal is scored only if the person affected the play, e.g. the Law does not expect the referee to penalise encroachment onto the field of play if it does not impact the play.​

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Law 7. The Duration of the Match

• ‘Goal celebrations’ to become a separate bullet point in the list of causes of time lost for which the referee makes allowance

  • Goal celebrations will henceforth be listed separately to emphasis that they often result in a significant amount of time being lost, for which the referee makes allowance.​

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Law 10. Determining the Outcome of a Match

• ‘The term ‘kicks from the penalty mark’ to be replaced by ‘penalties (penalty shoot-out)’

  • The term ‘kicks from the penalty mark’ is outdated and rarely used. Most people refer to ‘penalties’ or a ‘penalty shoot-out’.​

• Clarification that warnings and cautions for team officials, as well as for players, are not carried forward into penalties (penalty shoot-out)

  • Clarification that warnings and cautions for team officials, as well as for players, are not carried forward into penalties (penalty shoot-out)

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Law 11. Offside

‘The term ‘kicks from the penalty mark’ to be replaced by ‘penalties (penalty shoot-out)’Clarification of guidelines to distinguish between ‘deliberate play’ and ‘deflection’, as outlined in circular 26 (July 2022)

• A player in an offside position receiving the ball from an opponent who deliberately plays played* the ball, including by deliberate handball, is not considered to have gained an advantage, unless it was a deliberate save by any opponent.

• *‘Deliberate play’ (excluding deliberate handball) is when a player has control of the ball with the possibility of:

  • passing the ball to a team-mate;​

  • gaining possession of the ball; or

  • clearing the ball (e.g. by kicking or heading it)

If the pass, attempt to gain possession or clearance by the player in control of the ball is inaccurate or unsuccessful, this does not negate the fact that the player ‘deliberately played’ the ball.​

• The following criteria should be used, as appropriate, as indicators that a player was in control of the ball and, as a result, can be considered to have ‘deliberately played’ the ball:

  • The ball travelled from distance and the player had a clear view of it​

  • The ball was not moving quickly

  • The direction of the ball was not unexpected

  • The player had time to coordinate their body movement, i.e. it was not a case of instinctive stretching or jumping, or a movement that achieved limited contact/control

  • A ball moving on the ground is easier to play than a ball in the air

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Law 12. Fouls and Misconduct

• Clarification that if the referee awards a penalty kick for an offence which involved a defending team player challenging an opponent for the ball (excluding holding, pulling, pushing, no possibility to play the ball etc.), the same sanction should be issued to the player as for an attempt to play the ball, i.e. if the offence stops or interferes with a promising attack – no caution (no yellow card); DOGSO offence – caution (yellow card)

  • ​It is not always clear whether an action was an attempt to play the ball or a challenge for the ball (or both). The same principle should apply for challenging for the ball as attempting to play the ball. Where the referee awards a penalty for a DOGSO offence, the offending player is only sent off if the offence was committed without the possibility to play the ball.

• Clarification that the senior team coach present in the technical area cannot be sanctioned for an offence committed by an ‘unidentified’ player

  • Clarification that the senior team official can be sanctioned only for an offence committed by an ‘unidentified offender’ who is in/from the technical area, i.e. this does not apply to an offence committed by an ‘unidentified player’.

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Law 14. The Penalty Kick

• The defending goalkeeper must remain on the goal line, facing the kicker, between the goalposts, until the ball is kicked. The goalkeeper must not behave in a way that unfairly distracts the kicker, e.g. delay the taking of the kick or touch the goalposts, crossbar or goal net.

  • Clarification that the goalkeeper must not behave in a manner that fails to show respect for the game and the opponent, i.e. by unfairly distracting the kicker.

As always, if you have any questions about any of the law changes, feel free to reach out to us at refereetraining@ayso-cr.org for further clarification.

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Referee Kits

Please email me at refereeadmin@ayso-cr.org if you have not received a ref kit or if you are in need of any supplies.

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Mentors

If you would like to have a mentor for a match or if you would like to volunteer to assist as a mentor, please reach out to Mark Holt at refereementor@ayso-cr.org; he will get you set up with all your mentoring needs!

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Incentives - Help Needed

I am looking for some additional help with handling referee incentives. The referee incentive program is a program I have been trying to get off the ground but just haven't had the time to do. If you would be interested in helping out with this, please contact me at refereeadmin@ayso-cr.org

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Thank YOU

As always, thank you for volunteering your time out on the pitch! This program could not exist without all of you. If there is ever anything I can do to help make your lives as referees easier, please do not hesitate to reach out to me! Thank you for all that you do!

Regards,
David Hagen
Referee Administrator
Region 1112

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