A routine will help you cope during this sports-deprived lockdown

These are very challenging times for all concerned with sports – be it players, coaches, event organisers or just sports junkies like me.

And, like other challenges in the past, this too will pass. Of course, we don’t know when, but it will.

Keeping people active and involved is even more challenging, especially if you have a house full of young children.

My next-door neighbour has three girls and a boy, and they’re all younger than 10.

I listen to their chatter each day. Thankfully, it’s spring in this part of the world – Ireland – and we are having very good weather, so they are out in the back garden.

And they’re lucky to have a garden. Spare a thought for the people who live in high-rise flats – what can they do? There’s no place for the kids to run around.

With mum and dad off work because of the Covid-19 coronavirus restrictions, add the little ones into the mix. Well, I’m sure you know what a disaster that can be.

But we must remain positive.

As someone involved in psychology, I know how vital it is to remain positive and stay calm. It’s imperative to work out a daily routine and set about that task.

The worst type of behaviour is to have that extra lie-in in the morning – that is dynamite.

Get out of bed perhaps a little later, but get out of bed. Take a shower, then have a decent breakfast. And if you’re confined to your house, as my wife and I are, find something – anything – to do that’s productive and rewarding.

Do likewise with the children. They must be encouraged to do some studying.

Set a timetable as they would have in school and in a classroom environment, and encourage them to stick to it.

Routine is vital for children. No slouching around the house, watching TV and eating junk food. That’s a nightmare scenario.

It’s very easy for children, and adults for that matter, to settle into a rogue routine.

That will bring on despair and, eventually, mental illness problems. There’s an old saying: if you’re bored, you’re not learning.

Now, let’s go back to the new rule changes in football.

Law 13 – free kicks

This change of law concerns an indirect free kick.

When an indirect free kick is awarded, the referee will raise their arm over their head.

They keep it there until the kick has been taken and the ball touches another player or goes out of play.

Read: Hanging Judge: Continuing with the new law changes for 2021/22

What’s been added is the following: “... or it is clear that a goal cannot be scored directly”.

What has also been added is about players committing offences “off the field of play”.

In this instance, the game is restarted with a free kick taken on the boundary line nearest to where the offence occurred.

This is important

Where three or more defending team players form a “wall”, all attacking team players must remain at least a metre from that wall until the ball is in play.

Law 14 – the penalty kick

You know by now that the goalkeeper must remain on his goal line, but this is important – he must not touch the goalposts, crossbar or goal net until the kick is taken.

When the ball is kicked, the defending goalkeeper must have at least part of one foot touching, or in line with, the goal line.

Law 15 – the throw-in

Just a small change here.

All opponents must stand at least 2m from the point on the touchline where the throw-in is to be taken.

Law 16 – goal kick

A major change here.

In the past, the ball had to go outside the penalty area to be in play from a goal kick.

The new procedure is that the ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves.

That means that one or more defenders can now be inside the penalty area and play the ball before it moves outside the penalty area.

I’m sure you’ve witnessed this already. Attacking players still have to be outside the penalty area.

Stay safe and stay well. Keep your distance during this pandemic.

Please feel free to make comments or ask questions.

Happy whistling!

. sports@citypress.co.za

. thehangingjudge88@gmail.com

. Follow me on Twitter @dr_errol

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