With the weather changing on a daily basis field of play (FOP) inspections are becoming normal practice, however, these can be difficult decisions for a referee to make.
The most important factors to consider when making the decision to play (or not) is to ensure that the surface is safe and that the weather conditions will not make the game farcical. If there is any doubt in the area of safety then the game must be postponed. Obviously there are always situations when one team is keener to play than another but the referee must make the decision in isolation and without the influence of team officials. Safety must be the number one priority when making your decision.
Here are some tips that may help you, as the referee, make that decision.
1. On the day before the game if there is any indication that the game maybe in doubt then contact the home club to see if there are any problems and, if necessary, arrange a suitable time on match day to undertake an inspection. Dependent on distance and competition rules this may be undertaken by another referee. Make arrangements to arrive early to do the inspection – the timing of this can be affected by how far the opposition have to travel because in an ideal world the decision should be made before they start to travel. Of course some decisions will not be made till very near kick off due to changing conditions such as thawing ice or persistent rain.
2. Some fields may be controlled by the council and they will have the first say on whether the game should be played. The majority of councils have a general update telephone line informing people whether the FOP is playable or not, make sure you know the number. Having said that just because the council say the FOP is available the final decision still remains with the referee and again weather conditions can change quite rapidly.
3. Before actually inspecting the FOP try and get a local weather forecast i.e. is there more rain due or is the temperature likely to rise or fall. Also you may be able to get some local tips from the groundsman; they generally know things that will affect the the FOP like wind direction and how quick a surface drains. Some groundsmen may try to protect their surface so remember no matter what they say the final decision is yours and your priority is player safety.
4. The actual inspection should be carried out with match footwear and track suit on, and take a ball with you, this will allow you to judge the safety of the FOP in conditions similar to playing, and it also helps maintain a professional image.
5. Inspect the playing area alone (or with your neutral assistants if you have any and they are there). Do not be influenced by comments or suggestions from anyone else.
6. Make sure you look at the whole of the field of play but particularly the penalty areas, the centre of the field of play and the touchlines as these are generally the main action areas. Stand in each goal area, what does it look like from your position? Can you physically see lots of surface water or are their just patches of water? This technique can also be applied for thick fog, can you clearly see the goal posts at the other end.
7. If you are inspecting due to wet weather then consider which way pitch slopes and are there any areas where water collects? Having a ball with you will allow you check how the ball rolls on the surface. If there is a lot of water and the ball stops in puddles then you might have a problem. Is there more rain forecasted and if so how heavy is it going to be?
8. If it is frosty, does the ball bounce too high? Is there a case of the surface just being too hard? Are there ruts or divots that will cause a problem for players’ control or, more importantly, cause potential danger if players fall on them? What time is the kick off, will there be time for a thaw or is it likely to get colder, is the sun shining on all areas or will there be areas in the shade that will not thaw i.e. near trees or buildings. Again a groundsman may offer some help on this.
9. Having considered the foregoing would a delay in the kick off help, would this give the groundsman enough time to make a difference through forking or sanding affected areas of the FOP. A delayed kick off could be dependent on the time of year and the light, also what do competition rules state with regard to kick off times.
10. Finally you and only you as the referee need to make a decision, this could mean another inspection closer to kick off. However, as previously stated, the most important considerations are player safety and would the game be a farce if played (this is especially applicable with strong winds). If there are any doubts then err on the side of caution and call the game off. The teams may be upset with this decision but they would be more upset if a player was seriously injured because of the surface.
NB In youth football you may need to make extra allowance for the age of the players as younger players will be effected more by cold and wet conditions and the welfare of the young players is crucial in making your decision.
11. Once you have made your decision it’s important you stick to it as you may come under pressure to change your mind. In this situation you will have the full backing of the OFA Referees Committee so stick with your decision (obviously if the conditions change very dramatically then a review maybe required). Communicate your decision to both teams, ideally in your changing room with just the manager and/or the captain – do not allow yourself to be surrounded by a number of players. Also check the competition rules in case there are other people you need to inform. On some leagues a postponement form will also need to be completed. Any expenses should be sorted out at this point.
There will be times when you start a game and the conditions deteriorate or it becomes apparent that there are additional safety concerns, and then abandonment is required. Do not be tempted to continue and hope things improve. It may be a temporary suspension is required, such as in the case of lightening, however, if there are any issues of player safety then abandon the game and report the situation to the appropriate authority.
Whilst these are some generic points on FOP inspections each case will need to be judged on its own merits however there are some constants which must be considered in the decision making process:
1. Carryout the inspection as early as practical which may avoid the need for the away team to travel
2. Player safety is paramount and if there is any doubt about this call the game off
3. The Referee alone should make the decision (obviously consultation with neutral assistants if present) and whilst some advice from groundsman may be taken there should be no interference from club officials or players
4. Check the whole playing surface, take a ball with you
5. The referees decision is final
6. Ensure all those who need to know are informed as soon as the decision is made
The key consideration throughout the whole process must be SAFETY, that of the players and yours!