Wheels on Goals!

[Mattybuz]

Hi all,

An unusual incident happened at my U12 game the other day. My position was outside the box facing the right hand post - diagonal view with some players obstructing my view. Ball gets fired from "my side" and it looked like it went off the right post. Ball deflected attacking player crosses low. Goal scored from left hand side. I gave the goal as I thought it went off the post. This made the game 3-2 to the attacking team. However there was a lot of noise from opposing coach and the wider touchline. It turned out the Ball hit the wheel and bounce back into play. (For clarity, the ball was out). I didn't hear appeals at the time of it "going out". However, the opposing manager went onto the pitch after the goal had scored and said it went off the wheel and wouldn't let it go. At this point I had a lot of uncertainty and doubt. I disallowed the goal to enable both teams to share the points. There wasn't any complaints from attacking coaches (they were very supportive), a few moans from the players and the lovely parents, which I expected. I'm aware this was probably a bad decision on my part. Has this ever happened in anyones games? Did you award the goal? How would you deal with the manager invading the pitch? I have felt bad about this since Sunday and has really knocked my confidence. I am an open age ref . Thanks for your help. Matt.

 

[Martiju]

If, in your opinion, it was a goal, then it was a goal.

You may doubt yourself, and we all do sometimes, but I suspect the reason your confidence feels low is because you allowed the manager to dictate the decision.

There will always be cases where the reaction of others makes you second guess a decision, but you have to trust that you made that based on what you could see/hear at the time. You can always reflect afterwards on how you might get in a better position in future, or if there was anything else you could have done to help yourself, but in the moment you have to go with it.

In this case, you needed to give the manager a clear instruction to leave the pitch, and - in law - a red card for coming onto the field to confront you. That would feel uncomfortable, but I suspect wouldn't dent the confidence in the same way.

Go out there and do it all again next week though, and everything will feel better again!

 

[markref]

I’ve had similar in a game where the ball apparently went in the goal, hit the wheel and then came back out again. The wheel was too close to the upright and from my position it looked like it had come back off the post.
Because I couldn’t see it go in I couldn’t give the goal. In my case it was a top of the table step 5 game, with Veo, and if I’d given the goal and been wrong it would have been a major error and my mark would have reflected that.
If you didn’t see the ball go out of play then you should give the goal. Then if the manager comes on then tell him that you didn’t / couldn’t see if it went out so have to give the goal. If he carries on then you get more assertive and insist he leaves. If he refuses then you should use the discipline process. You can show empathy while doing this, but his actions are a poor example to the players and he needs to understand that.

This is an occasion where a club assistant referee may have helped, because they may have seen it go out of play. Alternatively they are someone to help share the blame - “he didn’t see it either!”
Presumably the manager was some distance away so may not actually be sure, because you said no one else appealed at the time. He just thinks it went out of play and wants to get his own way.

Unfortunately by giving way to the manager he now thinks that he will always get his way - as do the players - but we all know it can be hard when you’re put on the spot by a character like this. Luckily the other team were understanding. Next time you’ll be aware and more able to deal with him.

Things like this happen. Forget about it and move on. You did what you thought was right at the time, so well done

 

[JamesL]

Then if the manager comes on then tell him that you didn’t / couldn’t see if it went out so have to give the goal. If he carries on then you get more assertive and insist he leaves. If he refuses then you should use the discipline process. You can show empathy while doing this, but his actions are a poor example to the players and he needs to understand that.

If the manager has deliberately entered the field of play, or left his TA to remonstrate with the official there's not really a world where we can manage that

It's discipline and is a red card offence. We cannot get into a debate with a manager who has entered and then insist he leaves with no sanction.

We communicate that his day is done by showing him a red card.

 

[Archer]

These... UGGGGGH.

 

[socal lurker]

Those aren’t as bad as some—at least on those the ball can’t hit a wheel until it is fully off the field. Some have wheels closer so that a ball can’t hit them while still in play. Those shouldn’t exist, but they do (at least in the US).

 

[Archer]

Those aren’t as bad as some—at least on those the ball can’t hit a wheel until it is fully off the field. Some have wheels closer so that a ball can’t hit them while still in play. Those shouldn’t exist, but they do (at least in the US).

Oh trust me, these are the same. The wheel isn’t deep enough.

 

[Samuel]

Why these goals haven't been banned by IFAB yet is beyond me as they have never been useful in a match situation. Only cause chaos for everyone involved.

 

[es1]

they're fine 95+% of the time? maybe more? A good solution to enable goals to be portable and pitches to be multi-use - something we have to live with I think

 

[Mattybuz]

Interesting feedback and comments about the goals themselves. Drawing on from the decision I made, I'd be damned if I allowed the goal, and damned if I didn't. Sadly one manager put me in a very difficult position. Still, I've learnt and sought advice after. That's all you can ask for I guess. I have a fixture this Sunday, with thise god awful goals so I'll be better prepared next time!