Question Number: 21125

Law 16 - Goal Kick 4/13/2009

RE: competitive Under 10

Jon Martin of Rehoboth, MA US asks...

All my 9 year olds take turns playing keeper, including the peanuts. Small kids may have trouble getting goal kicks well beyond the penalty area. Opposing coaches try to take advantage of this by lining up their players at the edge of the area. I encouraged my smallest keeper to pick up the ball, and sprint to the other corner of the goal area, and restart the (motionless) ball, before the other team had a chance to reset. I was given two reasons why that wasn't allowed: 1) the ball had to be restarted on the side that the ball went over the goal line, and 2) picking the ball up and moving it was, in itself, time-wasting. Thoughts?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Both crappy reasons, the first is completely untrue! That reasoning applies to corner kicks not goal kicks as ANY INDFK out of the goal area can be placed ANYWHERE inside the goal area.
The second while it COULD concievably be looked at in that way, at the age and circumstances you mention no bloody way!
I do suggest, although you are admirable in letting the kids experiance positional shifts including a spell as keeper, let the big leg Mckurk take those goal kicks. A keeper does not HAVE to kick a goal kick!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

Point #1 is wrong, it can be taken from any point within the goal area. #2 could be time wasting IF he's wasting time. At U9 I hope these kids aren't wasting time because that would mean they were being told to waste time. It sounds like that isn't the case here.

That said, make it easy on your team...

Just have a kid with a stronger leg take the kick, even if he isn't the goalkeeper.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

1. Is just wrong and has been for some time.
2. In his Q%A site Jim Allen has flatly stated that once the ball is on the ground at a goal kick, there is no valid reason to move it and it is a form of time wasting.

But... The BEST reason not to do this is it NEVER works. The opponents will watch your player and they will move accordingly.

Still, it is an illegal move on your part. Have someone else take the goal kick.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Hmm. One might be tempted to ask the (new/young?) referee when the ball is in play from a goal kick, in pregame preparations.

If the answer is when all of the ball has crossed all of the penalty area line, then smile and shake her hand, and say thank you! I know that knowledge will be used today!

After all, if the opposing team is lined up on your penalty area line, the ball can't cross the line. If it doesn't cross the line, it isn't in play. If nothing else, it will force the opponents to back up a few feet.

If that's not the answer, you can gently inquire if 'your' knowledge is correct. That should assist the referee.

And don't be afraid to line your defenders up with the opponents, or to have them in your penalty area. I like my colleagues' suggestions of having a stronger kicker take the kick. One doesn't have to be big and strong to take a good kick though - it's all about technique, and even peanuts can learn to kick a good clear with guided practice. Yeah, I know. I had a lot to learn as a coach and player myself, and perfect I never was.