Question Number: 23872

League Specific 9/3/2010

RE: Challenge Under 11

Matt Watford of Thomasville, NC USA asks...

If a goalie takes punts the ball in the air and it lands outside of the penalty box and then over the opposing goalie is it a goal in U10 soccer? Also, does it constitute directly into the penalty box if it bounces outside the box and then into the box and picked up by the opposing goalie? Thanks!

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

It sounds as if perhaps your league has instituted special rules for U10.

Our competitive league has a rule at U9 and U10 that if the keeper has handled the ball, it must touch the ground in his own half of the field when he distributes it, either by kicking or throwing. If it goes across the center on the fly, the other team gets an indirect free kick from the half line.

Maybe your league has a rule that the goalkeeper cannot punt the ball from one penalty area to the other.

My feeling is that if they wouldn't have made the field so small, they wouldn't have had to make a rule to compensate for it.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Matt
You need to check with the competition organisers if a special local rule exists to deal with those situations. Many U10 Leagues, to encourage play, do not allow punts into the other half. Some Leagues I know only allow the GKs to kick off the ground or throw the ball out to team mates so as to encourage play. Without it the game can descend into a punt fest which is no fun, well probably it is for the GKs.
And of course the ball, played by an opponent, can be picked up by the GK inside his own penalty area. If it is not allowed to be punted that far by the opposing GK then the restart is usually defined in the rule. In the Leagues that I see the restart is a retake by the GK with instructions that he cannot punt it into the other half, kick it out of his hands, can only throw it or whatever the local rule is.
Also many U10 Leagues do not use the restriction of the GK not being able to pick the ball up when it is kicked to her by a team mate. They will learn that Law soon enough and at U10 they have no desire or inclination to slow down the game anyway. Indeed the exact opposite.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Matt. Permit me to soapbox a bit and add these are my personal feelings only and may or may not reflect the views of my fellow panelists.

Having been involved in youth soccer in one capacity or another for the past 15 years, I'm of the opinion that the more Leagues modify the LOTG either to 'protect' or 'hasten learning' or promote 'fairness' the bigger mess they make. Applying the LOTG from U10 up is the best way to teach the game and to get the players used to the concepts of fairness and fair play.

The idiotic rule you allude to is a perfect example. All it does is stymie play and slow it down drastically. Leagues would far more benefit the game if they would concentrate on training young referees properly and having coaches prove they have at least a rudimentary knowledge of the LOTG