Question Number: 23171

Law 1- The Field 4/24/2010

RE: Rec/Competitive Under 16

Robert of Fort Dodge, Iowa USA asks...

I was playing in a tournament game and a parent on the other team pulled the corner flag back so the player could get a clean shot at the corner kick. When a parent tried to do this for our team, they were told they couldn't. Is there a rule against it?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

First, parents should not be entering the field or touching corner flags.

Second, in a perfect world, corner flags remain in correct position and would never droop or fall. But they do. Players may return bent or leaning corner flags to the upright position, but they may not bend or lean them away from the upright position to take a corner kick, nor may the corner flag be removed for any reason.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Robert
If the corner flags are properly positioned in the corner arc there is no need for anyone including a player to touch the flags.
Some flags however are not properly positioned and they can be lying at an angle. Some also have springs that are damaged also causing them to tilt into the field of play.
If the corner flags are touched the referee should ensure that the flag is properly centered and then there is no need for anyone to touch them.
The referee in his pre match inspection should ensure that the corner flags are correctly positioned and then it does not arise.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

I would allow a teammate to hold the flag upright in it's proper position if the flag was damaged or there was a high wind pushing the flag into the field interfering with the corner. Under no circumstances can I imagine allowing a parent of either team to be of such assistance, or even more outrageous, can I imagine allowing the parent of one team, but not the other, to assist with the corner flag.

I can only hope this was not at the AR's corner, and that the referee was too far away to intercede in time. That's not an excuse for what happened by any means, but a possible explanation for what should NEVER have happened.

Please be sure and report this behavior to the tournament assignor, and give date, field and time, so they can locate and educate the referee.

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

See Question: 23201