Question Number: 12309

Law 1- The Field 3/6/2006

RE: Competive Under 13

Paul of Dartford, Kent England asks...

Hi, My son plays in goal and when he takes a goal kick he tends to make a small mound and place the ball on top of this mound to kick it, he has done this since the age 0f nine and was coached by a professional club to do this, how ever in our last game the referee told him that he would book him if he did it again, is this correct ? and is it also against the law to mark your area out (ie goal posts etc).

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Yes the referee is correct. Players may not modify the ground in any way.

The goalkeeper most often marks the centre of the goal area so he may locate the center of his goal. This is a booking, indeed! He must train himself to kick the ball and leave the castle building for the seaside.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Amazing how little professional clubs know about actual law. Unfortunately, this is yet another information of the pros giuving a youngster bad information. The keeper may no make marks on the field. If caught, he will be cautioned and shown the yellow card.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Paul,
tee building is not part of the manditory abilities a keeper must have! As my colleagues correctly state to disturb the pitch is simply NOT permitted. If your son was to do so as a youth he could get a warning to desist. If he to continued? A caution and shown a yellow card is a heavy price to pay rather than learn to kick the ball on the ground like everyone else. Cheers