Question Number: 20972

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/13/2009

RE: Rec, Select, NFHS High School

Joe Griego of Bishop, CA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 19586

In the previous question, you pose an interesting scenario. A Team A keeper squibs a goal kick, the ball is rolling weakly out of the area toward a waiting Team B player. Team A teammate rushes in, keeps the ball within playing distance, and backs out of the area, making contact with the waiting Team B player BEFORE the ball is completely in play.

When the ball finally rolls out of the area, Team A player kicks back to his keeper, and the keeper clears it upfield.

Is there even a call here? Can obstruction take place before the ball is in play? If not, for what offense would you issue the caution? Would it be USB?

If there's a caution, I assume the restart is still the goal kick, since it took place before the ball was in play.

Thanks again,

Joe G.
Bishop, CA

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Without something more to it that a defender backing out of the penalty area to play a ball that has not yet left the PA as soon as it does exit, I would be loathe to do anything at all other than use my voice to let the players know I am nearby and watching.

Absent any rough play or violence, I see no reason to make something out of nothing.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The Team A player is allowed inside the penalty area and the Team B player is not. The Team A player makes contact with the team B player before the ball is in play. At that point the referee has to decide whether or not the contact was foul play. If so, whuistle, caution, yellow card and retake. If not, continue play.