Question Number: 15659

Mechanics 5/31/2007

RE: Competitive & Tournament Under 19

Steve of Vero Beach, FL USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 15630

I had a very similar experience in a U-10 game. Both Keepers were taking increasing liberties with the PA line, so I called both to the center of the field at our FYSA mandated water break and gave them a simultaneous warning.

Home team keeper stepped over 1 more time and I called the infraction - goal for opponent on the DFK. Both Keepers respected the PA line after that.

Both coaches thought the action was fair and neither had a problem with what had happened.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Just be sure you were penalizing them for handling the ball outside the penalty area, not for having "stepped over" the line. If the ball is released before exiting the area, the kick or the follow-through can occur outside the PA.

Once you were sure there was an offense, you warned the players. Then it was still repeated. Repeats of niggling little offenses often combine themselves into no longer being trifling. Consider the player that is getting his ankles clipped by his opponent, just a little, not hard kicks, never putting him off the game. At first it's trifling, but as time goes on the player gets very tired of it and it's no longer trifling. The same could be said for the keepers repeatedly stretching the boundary of the penalty area.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Steve,
you set a standard that was consistant to both teams, you asked, then warned and eventually awarded a foul. As long as the ball was carried outside COMPLETELY and blatantly over the penalty area boundary lines while in the keeper's hands. As my colleague points out it is very possible to release the ball on or just inside the 18 yard line and wind up kicking the ball standing well outside the penalty area quite legally.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

The keeper must carry the ball completly over the line for this to be called. Feet have nothing to do with it. So watch the ball cross the top of the penalty area line.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

I'm not sure I would have called both goalkeepers out to the center of the field to deal with this and made a showing of it. I may have warned each keeper as they individually committed these infractions.

Ultimately though, the keeper is punting the ball to get it back into play - you might like to ask yourself if you were being overly picky. What effect did it have on play? Only you know the answer.

By the laws if you observed the goal keeper handle the ball completly outside the area then you are correct in awarded the free kick. I am just saying you might consider whether or not your standard was a bit draconian. If not, then that is your style and I respect it.

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

See Question: 15680