"High kicking Ref!" "He can’t play the ball when he’s on the ground"! How many times have we heard these authoritative but misguided words from players, spectators and coaches alike, in an attempt to either inform the referee on the Laws of the Game or gain a favorable decision? Unfortunately, soccer being the game it is, the appeal is frequently ignored by the referee, we all go home after the game, none the wiser, and apt to repeat the same error at next weekend’s game. The last time I looked at Law 12 on Fouls and Misconduct, neither the so-called "High-Kicking" or "playing the ball when on the ground " is a foul. What Law 12 clearly says is that a player who plays "in a dangerous manner in the opinion of the referee" is guilty of dangerous play and an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team. Regrettably, in a sincere effort to simplify the application of the Law, some coaches have impressed on players that, whenever there is a "high-kick" or an attempt to play the ball while lying on the ground, there must be an offense. Unfortunately and not suprisingly then, some players have come to accept these events as an infringement of the Law. In other words, they have associated the circumstances of a situation with the actual offense against the Law. Nothing can be further from the truth. Not every high kick is dangerous play and not every dangerous play is a high kick. Consider the following situations: A striker collects a long through pass in full stride jumping 2 or 3 feet off the ground and with an outstretched leg brings the ball down for a shot at goal. In these circumstances, was this high-kicking ? Sure, his leg was clearly upraised at least 5 feet off the ground. Was it dangerous? Hardly so! Not if the defenders were nowhere around him. Now consider the same situation, with a defender around the same striker, whose outstretched leg forces the defender to flinch or hold back on his play in fear of getting hurt. Clearly, this is dangerous play against the attacking team. Or think of a low cross comes from the left wing in which a defender dives two feet off and parallel to the ground and tries to make a clearance from his goal with a header. At the same time an attacker rushes in and tries to flick the ball on to a teammate for goal opportunity. Clearly there is no "high kicking" but surely we have a defender playing in a dangerous manner, carelessly putting himself in danger of getting hurt unless the attacker pulls back and does not follow through on his legitimate play of the ball. Consider also, when the goalkeeper punts the ball into play and the ball bounces from the ground 4 feet into the air and two opponents, with upraised legs try to win possession of the ball. Clearly they are kicking high off the ground, but are they playing in a dangerous manner? Hardly so and no more dangerous than if the ball were on the ground and at their feet. In this situation, there is no danger to either player, although both have upraised legs and are kicking high off the ground. This brings me to "playing the ball while lying on the ground" which presents its own particular challenges. There is nothing inherently dangerous in a player kicking at the ball with his feet while sitting, or even lying, on the ground. It is certainly no more dangerous than if (s) he were standing up and playing with his feet, provided the player does not carelessly expose himself to danger of injury in a way that adversely affects an opponent’s play. Consider the following situations: A defender and attacker are contesting for the ball and running stride for stride, when the attacker trips over the ball and falls to the ground. The ball is rolling a couple feet from him and while still on the ground he flicks the ball to a nearby teammate. The fact that he played the ball while on the ground is irrelevant. What really matters is, did the attacker play in a dangerous manner exposing himself carelessly to injury? This is hardly the case in this situation. But consider in the same situation, where the attacker covers up the ball under his knees while sitting on the ground. Clearly he is not only preventing his opponent from playing the ball, but is doing so in a dangerous manner and carelessly exposing himself to injury. This is "playing in a dangerous manner" as envisaged under Law XII. Finally, the six magical words are always there – "in the opinion of the referee". Remember, the decision is not in the opinion of the players, or coaches or spectators sitting on the hill 40 yards away or even the assistant referees. The referee is the sole judge of the circumstances of the particular situation and who is right up with the play!