Question Number: 24261

Law 9 - The Ball in and out of Play 11/1/2010

RE: Intermediate Under 13

David of Laguna beach, Ca Usa asks...

Corner kick is taken. Because there is spin on the ball, it goes over the goal Line and then comes back in, hitting the cross bar of the goal coming back in. Attacking team scores a goal. AR signals it went out and CR gives the defenders a goal kick for restart. Was this the right call at BU12 level?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi David
Yes this was the correct call as the ball has left the field of play and then returned. The restart is a goal kick.
Also the age group makes no difference to the call as it is a matter of fact that the ball is either out of play or it isn't. It is not a decision that can be set aside by an official as trifling indeed advantage cannot be played where the ball has left the field of play. It must be stopped.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

From the phrasing, it appears you meant the ball had left the field, so assuming all of the ball was all of the way over the goal line before it spun back onto the field, play stopped at the moment the ball left the field. Since it left the field from a corner kick, the only possible restart is a GK.

If the ball was simply over the goal line, but did not leave the field, then a goal would have counted, and the restart would be a kick off.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The call was correct if the ball was completely outside the field. Law 9 says,
'The ball is out of play when:
? it has wholly crossed the goal line or touch line whether on the ground or in the air'
It doesn't have to touch down on the ground to be out.