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Standard of PlayRon Kramer, sports rules and officiating expert
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Soccer injury expert witness

Analysis of tackles, fouls, referee decisions and coaching duties for attorneys handling soccer injury cases, from youth recreational play to adult leagues.

A soccer injury expert witness explains to counsel, and later to a jury, whether a tackle or challenge broke the Laws of the Game as adopted by that competition, whether the referee controlled the match, and whether coaches and the league met the standard for that age and level. Ron Kramer provides this analysis for attorneys in any state.

What a soccer case usually turns on

Most soccer injury cases come down to one question: was the play within the rules in force for that match, and did the people responsible respond the way a reasonable referee, coach or league would? Ron reviews the play against the Laws of the Game as adopted by the competition, including the youth modifications many leagues use.

  • Tackles and challenges. Whether a challenge was careless, reckless or used excessive force under Law 12, Fouls and Misconduct, and how the referee should have sanctioned it.
  • Referee game control. Whether the referee managed escalating play, issued cautions and send-offs consistently, and stopped play for an injured player.
  • Heading rules. U.S. Soccer's 2015 youth initiative bars heading for players 10 and under and limits heading in practice for ages 11 to 13. Did the league and coaches follow it?
  • Movable goals. The Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that unanchored movable goals tip over and have killed and injured children. ASTM F2950 is the U.S. safety specification for movable soccer goals. Who was responsible for anchoring?
  • Fields. Surface conditions and the duties of the club or facility.
  • Coaching and practice. Drill design, supervision and how a reasonable coach handles a player showing signs of a head injury.

Records Ron typically asks for

Match video, the referee's match report, the competition's rules and any league modifications for that season, team and club policies, incident reports and witness statements.

How engagement works

Ron works only through the attorney on the case. A first call covers the incident, the level of play and your deadlines, at no cost. Ron then reviews the records, gives a verbal assessment, writes a report if you want one, and testifies at deposition and trial in any state.

Common questions

Can youth soccer players head the ball?

Under U.S. Soccer's 2015 youth initiative, players 10 and under should not head the ball, and heading in practice is limited for ages 11 to 13. Leagues may adopt their own rules.

Who is responsible when a soccer goal tips over?

That depends on who owned, placed and was supposed to anchor the goal. The Consumer Product Safety Commission's guidance and the ASTM F2950 specification are the usual starting points.

Do I need a soccer expert witness for a slide tackle injury?

Often, yes. Whether a tackle was careless, reckless or excessive under the Laws of the Game is a technical question, and a jury usually needs someone who has applied those standards from the field to explain it.

Can Ron review a youth soccer injury case?

Yes. Youth cases often involve league modifications to the Laws of the Game, coaching supervision and club policies, all of which Ron reviews.

Last updated November 5, 2026 · Reviewed by Ron Kramer

Have a soccer case? Send the sport, level of play, incident date and deadlines.

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Other areas Ron reviews

Contact Ron about a case

Send the sport, the level of play, the date of the incident and your deadlines. Ron will reply to set up a short call. Please do not send confidential documents until a conflict check is done.

Emailron@standardofplay.com