Sin Bins

Sin bins: encouraging respect and fair play

Temporary dismissals also known as 'sin bins' have been introduced across all levels of grassroots football to improve levels of respect and fair play in the game. Any player committing dissent will find themselves given a 10-minute temporary dismissal from the pitch.

Sin bins will apply to all levels of grassroots football

This positive rule change is currently implemented up to Step 5 of the National League System and Tier 3 and below in the women's football. 10-minute sin bin dismissals are issued at the discretion of referees as punishment for dissent, and apply to all levels of grassroots football, including youth, veterans and disability.

To download a handy infographic explaining sin bins and sin bin rules, click here.

WHY AND WHAT ARE SIN BINS?

In March 2017, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) gave all National Associations the ability to implement Temporary Dismissals – more commonly known as sin bins – at the grassroots level of the game. We chose to focus on matters of dissent to improve the match day experience and in support of the Respect programme.

In 2016/17 season there were over 73,000 cautions for dissent – making up around 25% of all cautions. With this in mind, we decided to pilot sin bins across all types of the game at Step 5 and below of the National League System and Tier 3 and below of the Women’s game in a bid to reduce levels of dissent. In total, 31 leagues have used the system over the past two seasons.

During this period, we saw a 38% reduction in dissent across the selected leagues. It also showed a reduction on dismissals for receiving a second caution in a game and abusive language. A survey carried out to obtain feedback from around 1,400 users showed that:

72% of players wanted to continue with sin bins

77% of managers/coaches wanted to continue with sin bins

84% of referees wanted to continue with sin bins

The pilot has shown that participant behaviour/match day experience has improved. It also showed players self-policing the game to prevent their colleagues from getting into trouble.

CARDS

TIMINGS

The referee will monitor these issues simultaneously. Our research of over 135,000 matches showed that less than 1% of matches have more than three cautions for dissent. The chances of those occurring in the same 10-minute period are remote. However, by following the correct caution procedure, the referee can manage multiple players in the sin bin.

PLAYERS RE-ENTERING AND LEAVING THE FIELD OF PLAY

Discipline AND FINES

Sin Bins

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Sin Bins

Why have we introduced sin bins?

Has it been trialled? Was it a success?

Are there plans to introduce sin bins to the professional game?

For what offences can I be sent to the sin bin for?

What is dissent?

Does a sin binned player still get shown a card?

If a substitute, substituted player or coach/manager commits an act of dissent, what happens?

How long are you sin binned for and how is it timed?

How do the timings work if multiple players are in the sin bin?

Where do sin binned players have to go?

How many players can be sin binned at once?

Can a sin binned player leave the sin bin area?

What happens if the player commits an offence while sin binned?

How and when does a player re-enter the field of play?

What happens if the goalkeeper commits an act of dissent?

Can I substitute a sin binned player while they are in the sin bin?

Can you be sin binned multiple times per match?

Does the sin bin yellow card count towards a player's season tally?

Does the player still have to pay the yellow card fine for being sin binned?

Related Content

Anti-Discrimination

Respect

Suggestions

No Results

0 Results

0 Results

0 Results

0 Results