Question Number: 16587

Law 1- The Field 9/7/2007

RE: AYSO Under 16

David Miller of Valencia, CA USA asks...

Assuming that the goal lines are wider than the goal posts, what is the proper positioning of the posts? Should the non-field side of the post line up with the non-field side of the goal line to facilitate deciding when the ball crosses the goal line?

Thanks for your comments.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Assuming that aliens swoop down and abduct the goalkeeper, should he be cautioned for leaving the field without permission?

There is no real answer to your question, because you present a case that should not happen. IFAB writes the Laws considering the international and professional game, and the lines will be the same width as the goalpost.

Nonetheless, we know that youth games are often played in sub-optimal conditions. So we do the best we can. Since a goal is scored when all of the ball passes over all of the line, inside the goalposts/crossbar, the goal should be positioned so that the back edge of the post lines up with the back edge of the line. If that cannot be done, the referee will make up her mind as to just what is going to be considered a goal that day - will she be looking at the line or the post? The answer to that question will depend on why there was a mismatch of goal and line. I went to one field and found the groundskeeper must have thought it too much trouble to paint the line inside the fixed goalpost. It wandered out onto the field in front of the goal! We used the goalpost, which was in line with the rest of the endline, as determining the goal.

Irregularities in fields should be noted in the referee's game report. Perhaps if the league gets enough reports, they may do something to fix it.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

So many times the fields upon which we wield our craft are wanting - so the referee must adjust for the good of the game and the enjoyment of the players. If we refused to referee every game where field conditions weren't World Cup perfect, nobody would get to play. So we deal with issues like the one you mention, or goal posts that are set awry (don't line up from the corner view or one side is higher than the other), lines that are faint, nonexistent, too wide, too narrow, drawn by a drunken sailor, or sprinkler heads, holes, ants, and the list is endless. The only time we cannot adjust is when the goals themselves are not anchored suffienciently to prevent them from tipping over onto a player - that will cause a game to not begin. Other things can be adjusted for with a little forethought and always with the agreement of the referee crew as to how we will deal with the problem(s) - please do a thorough pregame! Make sure the coaches know you are aware of any issues on the fields, and that you are making adjustments so the game will go forward. Remind them each team has to deal with the issue in their half on that side. If the team decides not to play, that is a league issue. The referee can abandon the game if the field is unsafe, of course - that is not what I'm discussing here. We are talking about minor problems - the players want to play in spite of them, and if we can safely allow it, we should.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

In the entry level class referees are told to line the post up with the back of the goal line and sitting on the goal line. This is given in Law 1 and few student referees are listening at that time.

Regards,