Question Number: 20366

Law 18 - Common Sense 10/26/2008

RE: 3 High School

scott Reiner of eliot, me usa asks...

Why can't a player play a ball of the corner flag and score of the rebound

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Under FIFA laws In active play the ball can deflect back into play off a corner flag just not sure such a tactic is going to work as the skinny pole and the way a ball might react is not consistant. If you are talking about a restart like a corner kick the ball must touch another player before you could play it . I see absolutely no reason to even consider what you are asking? Either I have somehow misinterpreted what you seek or there is a high shool rule change of which I am unaware
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Who said it couldn't be done?

The flag, if properly placed on the outside edge of the corner and struck by a ball, would keep the ball on the field, and thus in play.

If the ball struck the corner flag from a restart, then whoever kicked the restart cannot touch it again until another player has done so.

Most corner flags are a bit flimsy. It is possible, I suppose, for a ball to hit the flag, bend it enough so that the AR can see the whole ball has left the field, in which case the ball is out of play. The restart will depend on whether or not the ball exited over the goal line or the touchline.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

They could do this...

What they cannot do is take a free kick, penalty kick, kick-off, throw-in, goal kick, or corner kick, which rebounds off the flag, and THEN subsequenlty touch the ball BEFORE it has touched any other player or gone out of play. If that were to happen, then it would be illegal.