[ayso45-refs] question about un-tied shoes

[Scott Chan]

Simple.  I tell the player to tie his/her own shoe, or go to the 
sideline to get help.  I've done it many, many times, and
it's no big deal.  I've seen a coach run onto the field and demand a 
stoppage... that's unfair to the all the other kids on
the field.  And sometimes kids gotta go, but I ain't gonna stop the game 
while they find a tree.

--Scott Chan

David Luskin wrote:

>The problem is, due to the wonders of Velcro, many children do not know how
>to tie their own shoes.  I believe they figure it out before they graduate
>from High School, but whereas in the old days every child knew by 5 years
>old, even at the U9 level a significant number of children do not know how.
>
>So it is not a matter of simply telling/yelling to the child to tie his
>shoes when he has a chance.  Rather an adult is needed.  A referee can't ref
>while he is tying a shoe.  Further, if a ref decides to risk ignoring play
>for a minute to tie a players shoe while play is away from the child, while
>you are in the middle of tying play can return to the player.  This then has
>the effect of putting the players team down a person as the player is rooted
>in place while their shoe is being tied.  Plus the risk and problems
>associated with ref being unavailable for a minute or so.
>
>Another option is to send the child to the sideline for a coach or parent to
>tie their shoe while play continues.  This has the unfortunate effect of
>putting the team down by one player.  And if the child happens to be a
>critical defender, it might end up being the reason another team scores a
>goal.
>
>Of course, one can reason that if the opposing team scores a goal because a
>child is involved in having their shoes tied that is their penalty for not
>taking care of it properly in the first place.  But, as the child is likely
>not who tied their shoe in the first place, this does not seem to conform to
>"safe, fun, and fair".  In particular, not fair, as well as not fun.
>
>So, with lots of ignorance, I would suggest that for some age groups
>(perhaps U9 and below) that some stop of play be allowed for tying of laces.
>If the problem seems out of control, such as maybe more than one or two
>stoppages in a half, then the ref could tell the coaches that the next time
>it occurs a player will be sent to the sideline for a coach or parent to
>handle the problem and play will not be stopped.
>
>Regards,
>David Luskin
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: ayso45-refs-bounces at ayso45.org [mailto:ayso45-refs-bounces at ayso45.org]
>On Behalf Of Robert L. Henderson
>Sent: Saturday, September 30, 2006 8:29 PM
>To: thad at yahoo.com; ayso45-refs
>Subject: Re: [ayso45-refs] question about un-tied shoes
>
>Generally, there is no need to stop play unless you feel the player is 
>in immediate risk.    The player should be told to tie the shoe and can 
>do this while play is away from that player, such as at the other end of 
>the field.   If play has stopped (for a throw-in, free kick, etc),  you 
>may hold up the restart to allow the player to deal with the shoe.
>
>Thad White wrote:
>  
>
>>Hi Bob, 
>>
>>I have another question about stopping the game for untied shoes.  I
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>assume
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>
>>that this is ok since it is an unsafe condition.  But I don't remember any
>>specific training on this.  Could you just confirm that this is reason for
>>stopping play and then resuming with a no-fault drop ball?  
>>
>>Thanks, 
>>Thad 
>>
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