A&H

Standing water - abandonment

kasharic

New Member
Level 9 Referee
Hi all.
Due to ref a senior's Sunday league match this morning (1st season ref). The pitch we were due to play on: I noticed that one goal area was very muddy and soft underground. I was able to ask the opinion of a more experienced ref, who was due to ref on a neighbouring pitch, who agreed with my initial judgement that it should not be played (the ball failing to bounce in several places).
I then agreed to check the adjacent pitch, should that be an improvement (would you have done this also, or just the original pitch?).
Whilst probably not as bad overall, there were several small patches of standing water, in particular one in the 6-yard box - see the attached photo. I then took the decision to call the match off. I appreciate it's hard to tell from a photo, but would this sort of water-area cause you concern, or was I being overly officious?
The rain had pretty much stopped (was mostly yesterday), bar light drizzle with a clear forecast.
Cheers.
 

Attachments

  • 20171112_110400.jpg
    20171112_110400.jpg
    138.6 KB · Views: 76
The Referee Store
From that pic and that pic alone and all I can see in the pic I would have no issues with game being on
Bear in mind its impossible to see the foot conditions, slippy, feet stick in mud, ball travels through ok....
I would advise if there was to be a warm up as such, that the teams stayed away from that area
I would also make it clear that if during the game, that area, or any other area, worsened that you reserve the right to terminate the game
it would be hard to criticise a referee for putting the game off also, just my take on that pic I would play
 
I agree, on that picture alone it looks playable.
Again there is another 80-90 yards we cant see but if thats the worst of it I'd be happy to play I think given all other considerations were of similar merit. That looks like it could have been spiked away or brushed out in truth.
 
Cheers for the replies.
It was the worst puddle, but looking back I was concerned by the mud, which covered the whole pitch, being especially sticky? Not sure if that makes much sense, but it seemed sticky to walk on. The foot didn't submerge much, but I'm not sure why this mud seemed extra sticky.
 
Definitely fine to check the adjacent pitch, assuming the home team has permission to use it...

But in agreement with @Ciley Myrus and @JamesL about the pitches, looks fine with the caveat that we don't know the underfoot conditions! Standing water doesn't necessarily = dangerous conditions, especially if it' such a small patch.
 
If you, on the day, felt it was a safety risk, then nobody can argue.

Just bear in mind you are never gonna get perfection. (edit, at grass roots level on a Sunday morning after a dodgy nights weather on council parks)
 
It looks OK on the picture, but really you need to stand in it and see what happens. If your foot sinks down to ankle level then you obviously have a problem, but if not it should be playable.
 
looks like my pitch from yesterday! lol

seems fine to me, but obviously, as others have said, still 80 yards of pitch to see
 
A little puddle like that in each goalmouth wouldn't bother me particularly, but if that kind of thing extended across the pitch, I'd definitely consider calling it off.
 
While we're on the topic of game abandonment, could someone explain to me how they pitch check an astro park and what conditions would have the game to be abandoned?

I see a lot of youth and amateur games being abandoned on astro pitches even though the pitch itself has no standing water (obviously - they're designed to do that).
 
While we're on the topic of game abandonment, could someone explain to me how they pitch check an astro park and what conditions would have the game to be abandoned?

I see a lot of youth and amateur games being abandoned on astro pitches even though the pitch itself has no standing water (obviously - they're designed to do that).
I do quite a lot of games on my local astro park. I've never been aware of any abandonments but certainly postponements due to lying snow or heavy frost.
 
While we're on the topic of game abandonment, could someone explain to me how they pitch check an astro park and what conditions would have the game to be abandoned?

I see a lot of youth and amateur games being abandoned on astro pitches even though the pitch itself has no standing water (obviously - they're designed to do that).

same as a normal pitch for me but just extreme - if too much water then it CAN sit on top and be like a mini swimming pool ...

but I haven't ever actually seen it, heard of it etc.
 
Today I’m reffing a game and there is snow on the pitch it’s a bit squelchy under foot and freezing cold

The sun is starting to come up but if it melts the bit of snow on the pitch before kick off it will be wetter should I call the game off

This is the first time Iv had to do this so advice would be nice
 
Today I’m reffing a game and there is snow on the pitch it’s a bit squelchy under foot and freezing cold

The sun is starting to come up but if it melts the bit of snow on the pitch before kick off it will be wetter should I call the game off

This is the first time Iv had to do this so advice would be nice

Difficult to say without seeing it, but the thing to remember is it isn't likely to get any drier. A squelchy pitch is generally playable, what you need to look at is are there any areas where the ball won't roll or bounce. Or any areas where players will sink further than their studs.
 
Don't be afraid to ask the home team to find a groundsman or help sweep standing water away.

It looks like a bit of sand and sweeping and the pitch would be playable.

If the pitch couldn't be made playable then fair enough, but it never hurts to try.
 
  • Like
Reactions: one
I was refereeing a local game after a day’s rain the field had a few small puddles in it in the outer areas but clearly playable. The home team was a man short. The captain didn’t want to play with the excuse of the field is too wet. I said we are playing. I toss the coin, home team wins and the cheeky b@5t@rd says “we will take the shallow end”.

EDIT: Somehow I have attached an unrelated pic I can't get rid of :(
 

Attachments

  • upload_2017-11-27_11-5-2.png
    upload_2017-11-27_11-5-2.png
    294.5 KB · Views: 7
Back
Top