Question Number: 23945

Law 18 - Common Sense 9/16/2010

RE: Rec Under 15

Jennifer Roselli of Orland Park, IL USA asks...

What is the rule or rules with respect to girls covering their chests so they do not injure themselves?

Can this only be done on various kicks (corner kicks, penalty kicks, etc.)?

Can it be done when trying to trap a ball with their chest?

Thank you.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The US Soccer federation teaches: (1) that instinctive movements to protect sensitive body parts (including young girls' chests) are not 'deliberate handling;' (2) that covering body parts at a free kick is permitted, but the players must remain stationary during the kick - - if they jump up it will be considered deliberate; and (3) age and skill matter. At higher levels, players learn to disguise the deliberate control of the ball (such as when trapping the ball with their chest). Deliberate handling can result from what the players do after the the initial contact.

High school rules are different. Moving the arm to protect a sensitive area) is a foul. The arm must remain stationary (when placed for protection, as in a free kick).

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I tell the young ladies they can protect themselves from hard shots at close quarters. But remember, *I* get to decide what is a hard shot. And that somewhere between U-little and USWNT it stops; for me, that sometime is today. (It certainly would have come by U15)

If the player has time to camp out below a high lobbed ball, she has time to plan a better way to play the ball. Or time to get out of the way. Of course, the coach will like the former option better ...

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jennifer
For a handling offence to be called it must be deliberate. An instinctive reaction to protect is not a deliberate handling offence when the ball is kicked at the player from short range. However that distance is a matter of opinion and perhaps if there is an alternative such as moving out of the way then the referee will deem it deliberate.
As regards control of the ball, the arms cannot be used even for protection and that is deliberate handling. The player here has the option here of not playing the ball.