Question Number: 15589

Law 1- The Field 5/24/2007

RE: Co-ed Semi-competitive (volunteer ref) under 11 Under 11

Rick Fokkens of Port Colborne, Ontario Canada asks...

The youth soccer association where I referee has made its fields out of former farmland. As such, the field conditions are generally poor to say the least, especially the lines, which are mostly just dirt(no chalk, no paint, etc). My question is, when it comes to goalies handling the ball outside of the penalty box, how much leaway should they be given before I should call a direct kick for the opposing team? The penalty box lines are fairly difficult to see, even close up. Should I just avoid making this call altogether or only if it's blatant, ie over five yards outside the box? Or should I just tell the coaches before the game to inform the goalies to kick the ball wherever they receive it, instead of running up to the 18 yard line before kicking it out of their hands?

I'm planning on bringing some orange spray paint with me tonight!!

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Many times when paint begins to fade, even on grass, it is nearly impossible to see lines as you approach them. You must be right on top of them or looking along them lengthwise.

When I encounter conditions like that, I tell my AR's we're going to be a little more lenient on calling keepers going out of the penalty area. From the sideline you can see the 18-yard-line just fine, because you're looking down the length of it, but the players on the field can't see it as well. I will also tell the keepers to do the best they can with the lines they have been given - but I won't tell them that we're being lenient, because then they'll push it.

When you bring out your spraypaint, just be sure to put down as straight a line as possible. You wouldn't want to have to figure out which side of a wavy line was inside or outside.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Rick. This time of year our fields are in the same terrible condition. I tell the keepers before the game that if the carry the ball over a little, I'll not penalize and will tell them if they've gone over. If they go 4-5 yards over, that's a problem.