Question Number: 13722

Character, Attitude and Control 9/10/2006

RE: Recreation Under 15

Dave of Palatine, Illinois Cook asks...

I wanted to know if a player trips on the ball, by himself, and I get the ball, shoot, and score before the whistle, isn't it a goal. The ref at my game said it was not a goal.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Dave this sounds more like a war story towards the referee of your game than a question. If the referee notices a foul and the ball is kicked in the goal before he can get the whistle to his mouth, we go with the foul. All that matters is that the foul occurred. Obviously the quicker the whistle, the better at selling the call, but the referee also needs to consider advantage. Next you and I both know that tripping over ball is not a foul and is a play on.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Dave, of course this would be a goal. However, I doubt the referee saw what you describe. If he waved off a goal he must have thought you tripped the opponent

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

You go with what the referee decides, we can't see what he saw and have to agree with what he did.