Question Number: 12650

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 4/26/2006

RE: Rec, High School, and Adult Adult

Bill Mullikin of Aberdeen, Washington USA asks...

In High School ball, how tight do we hold the keeper to the 18 on the punts? The penalty seems so strong.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The first time the keeper has the ball in his hand outside the penalty area it is probably an accident but one of the referee crew is going to loudly mention his transgression. So too the second time. Third time and he should feel the strong penalty for cheating.

You are there to enforce the High School Rule, do so. If you don't it becomes harder for the next referee. Ever hear that before Bill?

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Bill,
the trivial nature of extending the hands and tossing the ball while POSSIBLY just outside the PA boundary lines is a big deal when a DFK is awarded for simply releasing the ball into play. As a single referee in many matches I am generally back-peddling in preparation for a punt out so the keeper would likely have to carry the ball WELL outside the lines before I could notice that it was blatantly a deliberate handling. Still if Ars are present and it is NOTICEABLE in that it is OBVIOUS, not a hand opening ball leaving as we pass the line where ONLY a slow motion camera could possibly detect. We could warn the keeper to be a bit LESS obvious,
If the keeper is unthinking or feels we are only talking to hear our voices and repeats the transgressions so as to make it a foolish thing instead of a trivial thing it would be at his peril to be so obtuse, never mind the the wrath of his teammates and coach to follow .