Wooaahh!

There's a high kick Ref!

Come On Ref!

You gotta call those!

Well actually the Ref doesn't have to call this!

At least, not against the goalkeeper! The red player could probably get called for something, but
that's another discussion.

There is no such thing in soccer as a 'high kick', at least not as a foul. There are, of course, lots of
'high kicks', and many people wonder why they are not being called when it is so obvious. A look
at the Laws of the Game will help with the answer. The closest thing you will find is under Law 12,

Under Technical Offences -

An indirect kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player, in the opinion of the referee:
• plays in a dangerous manner

Now that can cover an awful lot of things, including some 'high kicks', but not all of them.

One of the first things to consider is the phrase 'in the opinion of the referee'. We all have different
opinions on many things, and calls in a soccer game are no different in this respect. But, no matter
what the people on the side lines think or say, it is for the referee to decide what is dangerous,
'in his opinion.'

Which is all fine, you say, but how do they decide that? Isn't all play dangerous to
some degree? Yes, but here are some examples of things that are dangerous that
should not get called in a game:

• a goalkeeper dives to save the ball, and he collides with the foot of the goalpost
• a goalkeeper dives at the feet of an opponent who is about to take a powerful shot
• from a corner kick, a defender rushes towards the post to head the ball away, colliding
..with the goalpost as he does so
• a defender, anxious to clear the ball, follows through on his kick and almost connects with
a team mate's head in the process
• a forward dives to head the ball into the goal, colliding with the goalpost as he does so.

Why should these not be called? Simply put - they are not fouls, they are not unfair acts,
and they have had no effect on the opponent. Play should be stopped if a player got injured
doing any of these, of course, but no foul has been committed.

So, what is an example of 'plays in a dangerous manner'?



Both feet could be considered 'high' here, but which one looks to be the most dangerous?
Certainly the red player is coming in 'cleats up', and it would be hard to say that this was
not 'plays in a dangerous manner'.

Generally speaking, if playing in a dangerous manner results in contact with the opponent, then
a penal foul for kicking, tripping, charging, or any of the physical penal offences would be called.

Can dangerous play be called against a player who puts himself or a team mate in danger?
This will usually get a good debate going at your local referee meeting, but technically, the
answer is 'No!' Fouls are committed - on the field of play, while the ball is in play, against
an opponent. However, common sense should always prevail, especially at the younger
age levels. If a player is putting himself or team mates in danger, then the referee would be
well advised to stop play and suggest a different course of action to that player. And what
should the restart be in this case? Well, you are the ref, what do you think? (answer at the end)

If one player decides to head a ball, and the opponent decides to kick it, who is 'playing in a
dangerous manner' ?
Providing that both were reasonable methods of playing the ball, then the player who made the
first move has the 'right of way', so to speak. So if a ball is at chest height, and player 'A' attempts
to head the ball, and then player 'B' brings the foot up, then player 'B' is 'playing in a dangerous manner'.
However, if the foot was up first, and was not dangerous in itself, then that player has committed no
offence. If player 'A' now chooses to head the ball, then there is likely no offence. However, things can
change in an instant. If player 'B' is playing a ball with his foot not in a dangerous manner, and
player 'A' comes in with his head, causing player 'B' to pull his foot back to avoid removing his
opponent's nose, then player 'A' has committed an offence. By 'playing in a dangerous manner', and
unfairly affecting an opponent, then this becomes a foul.

What is the correct restart for 'plays in a dangerous manner'?
Indirect free kick to the opposing team from where the offence occured, (subject to special
circumstances in Law 8) - will get you full marks in the exam!

And the answer from above? If the referee stopped play to speak to a player who was putting
himself or team mates in danger - correct restart would be a 'dropped ball', unless the act was
considered 'unsporting behaviour', in which case it would be an indirect free kick to the opposing team.
Any debate on this should go to the Forum!

And hopefully, there endeth another 'Myth of the Game'