Question Number: 18331

Law 16 - Goal Kick 2/4/2008

RE: Ref Rec and High School, Coach Rec. Adult

Peter Rye of Keller, TX USA asks...

When taking a goal kick in a U10 game, the goalie kicked the ball to his defender who was still inside the Penalty area. As the defender was attempting to control the ball, the ball struck his hand.

The referee of the day immediately awarded a Penalty Kick for the Hand Ball.

Shouldn't this be a retake of the goal kick because the ball is not in play until the ball leaves the penalty area?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Peter,
you are spot on mate. ANY free kick not just a goal kick, taken by the defenders from within their own penalty area MUST completely leave the confines of the PA boundry lines to be in play.
This was a retake situation with a word to the wise, let that ball come out before you touch it!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Obviously the referee was incorrect in his application of Law 16 and Law 13, take your choice. Reason? The ball is not in play until it is kicked directly beyond the penalty area into the outfield. What the referee should have done is whistle to stop things and return to the goal kick. If this was a match meaning something it must be protested because the Law was applied incorrectly.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Most likely this was the brain-fart of the day for a relatively rookie referee. U10 games don't usually get the highest ranking referees.

I can understand the confusion. The referee applied the principle, "Punish the most severe infraction." But he forgot the principle, "There are no fouls until the ball is in play."

Please report this incident to the league assignor, so the referee can get his thinking straight next time.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Unfortunately, you're likely to have very inexperienced referees at the U10 level. You are, of course, correct this should have been a retake of the goal kick as it never left the penalty area so never was in play.

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

See Question: 18745