Question Number: 14018

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/2/2006

RE: Rec Under 11

Brian Bergin of Boone, NC USA asks...

On a recent game day the other team's players consistently would kick at the ball and our goalie while she already was lying on the ground with her arms around the ball pulled into her chest. The ref refused to call it all game until the very end after I, along with enough parents, had finally yelled at him long enough. My understanding is a goalie has clear possession by touching the ball with his arm or hand, though not just deflected like in a diving save, and that the goalie cannot be touched inside the penalty box once possession is established.

I've played goalie myself off and on since I was 7 or 8 (I'm almost 39) and have never seen a referee allow this type of abuse.

Would you please comment on goalie safety in this situation.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

It should not be allowed, if what you observed was the same as the referee observed.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

The players may not challenge keeper when he has clear possession of the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Debbie Hoelscher

Ref Fleischer and Mueller have commented on keeper possession. I would only add that yelling at the referee is equally unacceptable. If you think the referee is in need of additional training, you can call the assignor and ask that the referee be assessed. Spectator assessments don't count, and usually either scare the b'jesus out of a young or inexperienced referee, and irritate to no end us "older" refs.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 14041