WITH local football now getting underway, I thought it might be time to look at one change that is only applicable in what the game calls ‘grass roots’ football.

This is the introduction of ‘temporary dismissals’, or as we know them, ‘sin-bins’.

Followers of professional football will not see this, as it is restricted to those competitions in the lower levels of the game as dictated by the FA.

Although the International FA Board have permitted sin-bins for any yellow card offence, the FA has limited it to dissent only.

So, what will happen? If a player is guilty of dissent by word or action as outlined in the Laws of the Game, the referee will take the players name and show a yellow card.

The referee will then point with both arms to the temporary dismissal area, preferably the technical area if the game has such a thing.

Here comes the referee's first challenge.

The player must remain there for 10 minutes (or in youth games lasting 80 minutes, eight minutes).

So, who is going to do the timing?

The lawmakers suggest the fourth official or senior assistant referee, but of course you are unlikely to find either on most park grounds.

It is thought the club officials might help, but it’s more likely to be another duty for the referee.

The next challenge for the referee is any of the combinations which might follow.

The sin-binned player can return after the temporary dismissal or be substituted (but not until the full period is up).

If the player shows dissent again, he will serve a second sin-bin spell and then will take no further part in the game, but can be substituted when the suspension is up.

A player who has been sin-binned and then receives a yellow card for a foul can continue to play.

Any player who receives two temporary dismissals and a yellow card for a foul, in any order, is dismissed from the game and cannot be replaced.

Referees have received a sin-bin memory card.