Question Number: 12612

Other 4/21/2006

RE: High School Soccer High School

Duane Clark of Enola, PA Cumberland asks...

My daughter is a goalie for her high school soccer team. In 3 out of the last 5 games:
1) She has been kicked in the chest after diving on a loose ball in the box.
2) She was hit in the head with another girls head after getting to a loose ball bouncing in the box.
3) She was kneed in the face after diving on a loose ball in the box, chipping one of her teeth and causing her to spit blood the remainder of the game because of a cut lip.

In all the above incidents, no yellow card was given and no penalty kick was awarded to my daughter's team.
Needless to say, I'm a little torqued off. Here are my questions:
1) Why do the referees do nothing and allow this type of thing to continue to occur?
2) Are there any rules in place to protect the goalies that should have been enforced in these incidents?

Thanks in advance for your answer and also allowing me to vent some frustation.

Thanks.

Duane Clark

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Duane I was not there to judge what happened though I can infer from how you write each of the three incidents she chose to put herself in harm's way. She dove on two loose balls and collected one and on each she paid a heavy price. That happens to keepers all the time and there is no foul play. But, I was not there to judge; the match referee was and apparently he saw nothing.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Duane, something you need to remember is players may be injured and no foul occurs. Keeper is a tough,demanding position. I firmly believe all keepers should wear mouthpieces. That said, I think most referees would agree that we go out of our way to protect youth keepers. Wasn't there to see the games you mention but if your daughter was going for 50/50 balls, there's always an element of danger even if no foul. I hope she recovered from her injuries.