The Laws of the Game indicate that a charge is only a foul when it is done carelessly (foul), recklessly (foul+yellow card), or with excessive force (foul+red card). A charge, when done fairly, is not a foul. So, what’s a fair charge? What is allowable in a soccer match?
The answer, as often happens, is that “it depends”. It depends on the skill and age of the players, both generally in the match overall and specifically for the two players involved in contesting for the ball. It also depends on what’s happening in that particular match, and what level of contact is appropriate, in the referee’s judgment, to keep the match Safe, Fair, and Fun. What might be considered a careless charge (and thus a foul) in a U12 match often won’t be called in a U16 or U19 match. Particularly in an older match, one player may wind up on the ground as a result of a fair charge.
A recent Ask A Soccer Referee column discusses charging, and it’s a good read. The key points are that the players have to be contesting for the ball, the contact should be shoulder to shoulder (as much as the players sizes allow), and the players should each have one foot on the ground. Lowering the shoulder, playing the other player (instead of playing the ball), launching oneself at another player, throwing a hip (instead of using the shoulder), contacting another player in the spinal area, and pushing out with the arms are common signs that the contact was not a fair charge.
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