Graham Poll sets the record straight for Club House readers

Graham Poll is back in The Club House to set the record straight on your grassroots refereeing queries.

If you've been left confused by a decision in one of your matches or have been arguing the toss with your team mates over what was the right call, then let Graham Poll and Club Website clear up the issue for you. Who better to settle a debate than this UK's top referee of the last decade!

To ask Graham a question, email grahampoll@clubwebsite.co.uk. All emails are put into a draw for a Club Website football, won this month by William McIntyre of Young Falkirk 1996 FC. Congratulations William!

The best questions are answered by Graham right here in The Club House each month, while the 'Question of the Month', as chosen by Graham himself, wins a personal signed copy of his bestselling book, 'Seeing Red'.

So here we go - this month's six of the best. Thanks for all the entries that you have sent in and don't despair if your query didn't make it in this month. Please keep them coming!

Graham's Question of the Month - submitted by Steve Prout

In a recent Sunday League game, a player nowhere near any action pulled up with a calf strain and, like most teams, the opposition put the ball out of play so that the player could receive treatment. The player then left the field of play.

The resulting throw-in was thrown with some force to the goalkeeper who lost concentration and let the ball slip through his legs and into the goal. Whilst everyone thought this was amusing, we - being quite a friendly team - requested to the referee that we retake the throw-in.

The referee said we could not do this and that the goal would stand. My question is why did the goal have to stand when the scoring team were quite willing to just let it go?

Just a footnote but at the restart we allowed the opposition to run up the field and score into an empty net.

Graham’s verdict: The referee has to apply Law and as long as the GK touched the ball then the goal was valid and had to be awarded in Law. At local park level a lot of referees would have applied common sense and allowed the throw to be retaken claiming that he was not ready for the first throw.

Well done for allowing the opposition to score from the restart – what a pity Reading did not do this at Watford earlier this season!

Congratulations to Steve who wins a personal signed copy of Graham's bestselling book, 'Seeing Red'.

This month's other top questions

I was refereeing a mini soccer under 11 girls’ game when an attacking player crossed the ball into the box and a defender stopped the ball by putting her foot on it. She then left it for the goalkeeper to pick up. Is this a back pass or not?

Graham’s verdict: In Law this is classified as a back pass the way you describe it. Whether or not you have to give a free kick in mini soccer I am not sure. I know when I do my son’s under 10 games I don’t award free kicks in these situations.

Thanks to Graham Riley for submitting this question.

I refereed a 7-a-side primary school game for 9 year olds recently. During the game one of the red team ended up on the ground on his back with the ball at his feet. He then gripped the ball between his feet and flipped it over his head to a team mate who had a shot at goal.

The coach of the blue team protested that the red team player was not allowed to do this, but I saw nothing wrong in the incident. Was I right to allow this?

Graham’s verdict: As you were the referee it is your opinion that matters. You did not feel that this was unsporting and so allowed it – well done for stepping up and reffing the game.

Thanks to Brian Carrigan for sending in this question.

On a wet and muddy pitch, four players slide in for the ball on the touchline right smack-bang on the halfway line. The ball goes out of play but with eight legs looking as though they all got the final touch, the truth is you have no idea who kicked it out. What should you do?

Graham’s verdict: In such a situation I always awarded the throw to the defending side – nothing in Law tells me to do this but if applied consistently caused few problems. If the ball were to out exactly on the halfway line, there is no answer other than award the decision to whoever you want. Maybe support your assistant if they have already indicated, otherwise it does not matter just be decisive.

Thanks to Jack Longhurst of Brandhall Colts in the Stourport League for sending in this question.

Firstly, Graham, I would like to say that your autobiography was the best read ever! I learned a lot about refereeing - I am 15 years old and a Level 8 referee.

I have been picked to be a fourth official in an Under 14s shield final. It is my first time in this role so I’d be grateful for some advice on what I need to do.

Graham’s verdict: James, I am glad you enjoyed my autobiography and well done on your appointment to a final.
The role of 4th official is relatively straight forward and you should look in the back of the Laws of the Game which defines the role and it’s duties.

Basically, you are there to support the other officials in whatever way you can but, with regard to on field offences, you can only become involved in cases of mistaken identity, at a caution or dismissal, and violent conduct which occurs outside the view of the other officials.

Of course, the referee will ask you to keep a record of the game, help with substitutions and perhaps timing the game if there are boards to show how much time is allowed for time lost during normal time.

Finally, you need to control/calm/manage the technical areas. This is probably the toughest part as the manager might try and draw you into criticising the referee which you must never do. Good luck.

Thanks to James Cottee, a referee from Nottingham for submitting this question.

If the ball hits the referee straight from a corner and goes into the goal, would a goal be awarded?

Graham’s verdict: Yes the goal would be awarded as the referee is a neutral part of the pitch and a goal can be scored direct from a corner.

Thanks to Gary (no surname given) for this question.

Ask Graham a question for your chance to win a prize!

Think you can come up with better than the questions you've read here? Fancy your chances of setting Graham a tougher test? Well here's your chance!

Email your questions to grahampoll@clubwebsite.co.uk with all relevant information about the incident. All entries are put into a prize draw for a Club Website football, while Graham's 'Question of the Month' wins a personal signed copy of 'Seeing Red'.

The fully updated paperback edition of 'Seeing Red' - a Sunday Times bestseller - is available in all good bookshops or online at www.harpercollins.co.uk.

FourFourTwo magazine: "Poll's fascinating response to years of criticism as one of England's top officials is far more interesting than the standard fare trotted out by most players these days - it also evokes the rarest of things in a football fan: sympathy for the referee."

Daily Mail: "England’s number one match official has lifted the lid on the disillusionment shared by many colleagues."

Graham Poll images courtesy of the Daily Mail. Graham Poll's 'Official Line' column appears in the Daily Mail every Saturday. He also appears as a pundit on BBC Radio Five Live, Setanta Sports and the New Football Pools podcast.