Question Number: 23057

Law 1- The Field 4/2/2010

RE: Under 19

Steven of Sydney, Nsw Australia asks...

Whats rule in a school game if the goal post are like footy post an have the extra bars and that, and it hits these is it a goal kick or corner depending who touch it last??

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Referee Steven
It is not in the Laws of the Game and a situation like this needs to be managed with a competition rule. That competition rule can state that if the ball hits any part of the extra bars that it can be a goal kick or corner kick as normal.
In the absence of a competition rule the referee should tell both team how he is going to treat the pre existing condition by either stopping play if the ball does not go out of play and restarting with a dropped ball or that he will allow play to continue with the 'rub of the green' as regards possession.
In the absence of a competition rule my advice is always to stop play and restart with a dropped ball. That IMO is the fairest way to deal with it rather than allowing luck to decide possession in a very important part of the FOP.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Many fields in the US are used for both soccer and gridiron football. USSF covers this in Advice to Referees:
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1.7 SUPERSTRUCTURE ON GOALS
It is not uncommon on public fields for the soccer goals to include structures attached to and above the crossbar (particularly where the goal is being used for other sports). If the ball strikes any part of such a structure, apart from or in addition to striking a goal post or crossbar, the ball is considered to have left the field even if, as a result of the contact, the ball remains on the field. The restart (goal kick or corner kick) is based on Laws 16 or 17.
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Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

This is a commonplace occurrence in the US and if the ball hits any of the appurtenances above the crossbar the ball is out of play and either a goal kick or corner kick is awarded