Why You Can't Say 'Mine' in Football (Explained)










From an early age, we all learn the basics of how to communicate on the football field, as it is one of the most important ways to create a great team that will win matches.

While there are many great ways to communicate with your teammates, there are also some ways that should be avoided. One of the most common mistakes soccer players make is shouting 'mine' when receiving the ball.

This might not seem like a problem as the player can still shout the word loud enough for his teammates and opponents to hear, but there are actually several reasons why you can't say mine on the football field.

Football players cannot say 'mine' because that can verbally distract their opponents during the game and therefore give them an advantage. If it doesn't distract your opponents, it's permissible to say 'mine'.

Today we're going to let you know why this is the case, so you don't make the same mistake as thousands of other players the next time you step onto the football field.

It's against the rules

As we briefly mentioned earlier, the use of phrases like 'my' or 'leave' is often used as a form of play by non-sports players and teams.

Because of this, FIFA banned players from using words as a kind of distraction tactic on the pitch. The referee is legally permitted to caution a player if he deliberately attempts to distract an opponent.

As with any foul committed in football, this can result in yellow or red cards, depending on the seriousness of the offence.

This rule is somewhat confusing, although nowhere in the game's rules does it explicitly say you can't say mine in a football game, but the rules are much clearer about using distraction tactics.

The most common way of dealing with this type of foul is by taking an indirect free kick, meaning a player cannot shoot or score with it.

The debate between the game and cheating will be an eternal one, as teams who believe that a little carefree distraction or wasting time is just part of the game's clash with those who believe it should be banned altogether under threat of severe sanctions.

For me, a balance between the two needs to be struck. The reason for this is that some gameplay techniques can be beneficial to the overall atmosphere and appeal of the game, as nobody wants the game to be squeaky clean for eternity.

That said, safety should always be at the forefront of any decision government bodies make, so if that means a complete ban on the word 'my' then so be it.

can be dangerous

While most of the time miscommunication on the football pitch only results in trivial misfortunes, such as a defensive error leading to an opposition goal, there can be dangerous consequences if your players fail to behave effectively during a match.

If some players (or more) shout 'mine' instead of their own names when the ball is contested, there could be problems, especially for younger players.

At a young age players are much less aware of their surroundings and can become transfixed on the ball, turn this up a few times and you have a group of young people claiming the ball is theirs without properly communicating with each other. the others.

This can result in head clashes that can cause players serious injuries such as concussions, the same can occur when making a slide tackle.

This is not to say that this will occur every time a player makes the mistake of shouting 'mine' because it won't, this type of event is very rare, but it can still happen if your players don't learn the correct way to communicate on the pitch. soccer.

If you notice that your child's team (or yours) is not using the correct terms when challenging for possession, it may be a good idea to raise the issue with the coach or team manager so that the issue can be properly resolved.

it is unclear

When you're passing or receiving the ball to your feet (or anywhere else you can control a football), being clear is one of the most important things to consider.

This can come about in many ways, such as speaking loudly and confidently when claiming possession of the ball. This is important as it instills confidence in you and your teammates that you aren't afraid to get caught up in the action.

Screaming 'mine' is something many players try to do, but it doesn't make sense to do that.

The main reason for this is that anyone can shout 'mine' when they want to get the ball and this can cause confusion in their ranks.

It is also common for opposing players to shout the word out loud to steal the ball from you (this is frowned upon as a game, but still somewhat common).

The best way to avoid this is to clearly shout your last name as loud as you can when claiming the ball, eg 'Smith's'!

You might be wondering why it's better to shout out your last name instead of your first name, and the reason is that multiple players on your team can have the same name, but it's unlikely that two players will have the same last name (if they do, your side may have to figure out a different system).

It can take some time to lose some of the habits players have picked up over the years, so I advise practicing the new words or phrases your team will use during matches when you conduct training, as this will familiarize your players with their names and voices. teammates, making communication much easier.

I hope this little guide has helped you understand why you can't say 'mine' in football. It can be a confusing rule that goes unnoticed, so the next time you're in football training, check to see if your teammates use the word to communicate and speak to your coach if you have any concerns about this.