Question Number: 21015

Law 9 - The Ball in and out of Play 3/22/2009

RE: travel competive Under 14

tricia of Mineola, ny usa asks...

can a ref disallow a goal from a corner kick which he states was out of bounds in the air? how can it be out of bounds in the air and then go in the net?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

If the ball left the field before curving back onto the field and into the net, then it was out of play before it ever got to the net, and thus no goal can result.

Some players can put crazy spin on the ball, and/or the wind can do weird things to kicks. It is entirely possible for the ball to have gone over the goal line, come back in and then gone in the goal - unusual, but very possible. The ball goes out all the time on corners and curves back in. That is one of the jobs for the AR at a corner is to watch for this very thing.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

The boundary lines which encompass the field are a 5 inch wide invisible wall that extends straight up. Granted it is in the opinion of the AR or referee viewing the ball flight in the air but if they judge that the entire circumference of the ball is completely outside the field into touch that ball is no longer in play and there must be a restart as to why this occurs. On a corner kick if the swing of the ball goes out side the goal line it becomes a GOAL Kick. It is not that difficult to imagine a ball on a curved trajectory leaving the field and then reentering given the curvature of the arc it must travel when sidespin or wide assisted conditions apply. I have seen the newer paneled balls really dipsy doodle when struck on the outside of the boot with power. Granted if the ball went out then came back in and then back over the goal line into the goal under its own power from the corner it would be an unusual trajectory. I thought out and in, then additional force applied as in headed into the goal would be more likely
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

While unlikely, it is possible for the ball to do this double-curve due to spin and wind - out, then in, then back out as it enters the goal.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

It can be out of bounds in the air quite easily if on the way to the goal the ball crosses over the goal line and then bends back onto the field of play. Happens all the time. Once the ball, either on the ground or in the air, crosses either the goal line or touch line completely, it is out of play. Anything that happens after that doesn't count.