Fouls and Misconduct (12)
U.S. Soccer Federation Referee Program
Grade 9 Referee Course
Small Sided and Recreational Youth Training
Fouls – CRITICAL INFO
oCommitted by a player
oAgainst the opposing team
oOn the field of play
oWhile the ball is in play
Types
o Direct free kick fouls
o Result in a DFK (or PK)
o Indirect free kick fouls
o Result in IFK
10 Direct Free Kick Fouls
Two “Groups” of DFK Fouls
Careless, Reckless or with Excessive
Force
These are DFK Fouls any time
they happen
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• Holds …
• Spits at …
• Deliberately handles the
ball
Kicks or attempts to kick …
Strikes or attempts to strike …
Trips or attempts to trip …
Charges …
Jumps at …
Pushes …
Tackles …
Note: … means “an opponent”
Direct Free Kick
o Careless
o Most common
o Reckless
o Less common
o Yellow card and/or warning
o Excessive force
o Rarely seen
o Red card
Infringements
o Direct Free Kick to opponent
o At the location of the offense
o DFK by defense in penalty area = PK
8 Indirect Free Kick Fouls
Two Categories of IFK Fouls
IFK Fouls by goalkeeper
• Release of ball within 6
seconds
• Release ball from hands
then use hands again
• Use hands when ball kicked
by teammate
• Use hands when ball
thrown in by teammate
IFK fouls by any player
• Dangerous Play
• Impeding the progress of an
opponent
• Preventing goalkeeper from
releasing the ball
• Play stopped for misconduct
Infringements
• IFK to opponent
• At location of offense
• Subject to special rules in goal area
Misconduct
Caution - Yellow Card
o Unsporting behavior
o Dissent
o Persistent infringement
o Delaying the restart of play
o Failure to respect required distance
o Entering or reentering without permission
o Deliberately leaving without permission
Send Off - Red Card
o Serious foul play
o Violent conduct
o Abusive language
o Spitting
o Denying goal scoring opportunity with hand
o Denying goal scoring opportunity with foul
o Receiving second yellow card in same game
Dealing with Coaches
Review Question
What are the requirements of a foul?
o Action committed by a player against an
opponent or opposing team
o Action committed on the field of play
o Action committed while the ball is in play
o All of the above
Review Question
What is the correct restart if a player trips an
opponent?
o Indirect free kick
o Direct free kick
Review Question
What is the correct restart if a player kicks an
opponent?
o Indirect free kick
o Direct free kick
Review Question
What is the correct restart if a player pushes an
opponent?
o Indirect free kick
o Direct free kick
Review Question
What is the correct restart if a player commits
dangerous play?
o Indirect free kick
o Direct free kick