Question Number: 20370

Law 5 - The Referee 10/26/2008

RE: AYSO Rec Under 11

Mike S. of Chino Hills, CA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 20351

Once again, your answers were very helpful. I have another question about trifling. In a U10 game, the keeper had control of the ball, and began to run to the penalty line for a throw. In route, she stumbled and fumbled the ball. It then took a bounce (or was it two) in front of her. She managed to collect it again as it bounced. The act was definitely a fumble and recovery, and not a parry. Seeing this, I whistled for second touch by the keeper, and awarded a IDFK.

At the same time, it did seem like a bit of a 'gotcha' call. Given that the keeper was not deliberately trying to waste time or deceive, I thought that this may have been a trifling foul that I should have let go. However, I also know that our league does enforce second touch for U10. Perhaps I should have just told myself that it was a parry, even though I knew it was a fumble.

Anyway, just curious whether trifling every applies to second touch by keeper.

Also, with regards to trifling. We talked about punting and throwing the ball by the keeper. Is the same true if a keeper collects the ball just outside of the penalty area line?

Thanks!!

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Consider that the keeper has 6 seconds to release the ball and that a SLIP is not a release but a delayed rebound or the ball is being inadvertently bounced a bit more than the keeper intended. This is an accident and just remind the keeper 6 seconds were still being counted and to release the ball tout suit!

I tend to think UNLESS the opposition is actually denied a challenge opportunity by the pick up to consider it trifling is well within the context of the laws. Not every thing is trifling just the same as not everything must be called. You need to think in the context of what is needed for FAIR PLAY.

A PARRY is a definite control then voluntarily release and an INDFK for a second touch would be more viable in the case of a TRUE parry. Now with 6 full seconds and the ability to run around ANYWHERE inside their area this rarely occurs anymore because they eliminated the four step rule which was reason it was done to gain a bit of time and distance.

Not true at all, a keeper a reaching out side to take the ball out of play is WAY different than a step out putting the ball back into play!

A keeper who uses the hands to grab the ball COMPLETELY outside the penalty area is far and away less likely to be seen as trifling because it is breaking up attacking play not putting the ball back into play as is a punt out.

If the lines were very faded, if it was very slippery, if the sun was directly in the eyes but most importantly IF, no opposition player was unfairly affected MAYBE a chance to let it pass unscathed but 99% of the time DFK with cautionable or even DOGSO criteria to be considered
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Regarding the slip of the keeper - it is either doubtful (you said it might have bounced once, which she is allowed to do) or trifling. As long as the slip, recovery and then final distribution of the ball takes place within the 6 seconds allocated to the keeper, there's probably no good reason to stop play. This changes if the keeper is deliberately releasing the ball for a punt or drop kick, completely misses the ball or shanks it sideways a few feet, and then dives on it to prevent an opponent from getting the ball. In that case, even though her actions were precipitated by the same level of a mistake, the actions following it and their consequences were quite different.

Regarding an incoming ball, if there has been a long shot at goal that is rolling in without any followup, and the keeper touches it a few inches outside the penalty area, what harm has been done? That's trifling. But what we see far more often is that the opponents are chasing down that long ball, would have a pretty good chance at another touch, and the keeper took that away. Definitely not trifling! In fact, it could be denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity (send-off and red card) or breaking up an attacking play (unsporting behavior caution and yellow card).

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

See Question: 20391