This actually happened a while back at the tail end of the season, but I thought I might share it.
Green 7 on a breakaway down the right wing, Green 10 lagging behind her in the centre, all of the Red team lagging way behind these two. Green 7 centres ball to her team mate, who is some yards further from line (and so easily onside). As she is doing so, Green 10 unnecessarily shouts "MY BALL" at the top of her lungs. No red player is anywhere near her. Green 10 now has the ball and bearing down on a 1 to 1 with the red keeper. The red goalkeeper immediately stops and yells: "No name ref". I wave play on, and before the red keeper has re-adjusted, Green 10 slots ball past her.
I am surrounded by Red players claiming the free kick for no name. Usually I just sigh and wearily explain the myth of there being a Law against not calling a name (unless it is done to verbally distract, not the case here). It never goes down well, and I am usually met with utter disbelief. This time I tried a new tack, focusing on the red keeper, I looked very serious:
ME What did you say she did?
KEEP She shouted "My ball"
ME Are you sure?
KEEP (looking hopeful) Absolutely.
ME Hang on. Are you sure it wasn't somebody on your own team?
KEEP (looking more confident) Yep. I was looking right at her as she spoke.
ME And you're absolutely certain.
KEEP (smiling broadly) Yes!
ME Thanks for clearing that up.. If there was any chance you'd been confused I might have
had to take the goal off. But now.... (point to centre and run back for kick off)
None of this actually made any difference. Before kick off I still had to explain the Law, and was greeted with the usual disbelief. But I felt SO much better....
Green 7 on a breakaway down the right wing, Green 10 lagging behind her in the centre, all of the Red team lagging way behind these two. Green 7 centres ball to her team mate, who is some yards further from line (and so easily onside). As she is doing so, Green 10 unnecessarily shouts "MY BALL" at the top of her lungs. No red player is anywhere near her. Green 10 now has the ball and bearing down on a 1 to 1 with the red keeper. The red goalkeeper immediately stops and yells: "No name ref". I wave play on, and before the red keeper has re-adjusted, Green 10 slots ball past her.
I am surrounded by Red players claiming the free kick for no name. Usually I just sigh and wearily explain the myth of there being a Law against not calling a name (unless it is done to verbally distract, not the case here). It never goes down well, and I am usually met with utter disbelief. This time I tried a new tack, focusing on the red keeper, I looked very serious:
ME What did you say she did?
KEEP She shouted "My ball"
ME Are you sure?
KEEP (looking hopeful) Absolutely.
ME Hang on. Are you sure it wasn't somebody on your own team?
KEEP (looking more confident) Yep. I was looking right at her as she spoke.
ME And you're absolutely certain.
KEEP (smiling broadly) Yes!
ME Thanks for clearing that up.. If there was any chance you'd been confused I might have
had to take the goal off. But now.... (point to centre and run back for kick off)
None of this actually made any difference. Before kick off I still had to explain the Law, and was greeted with the usual disbelief. But I felt SO much better....