Question Number: 24305

Law 16 - Goal Kick 11/11/2010

RE: Rec Under 11

Ros Bregozzo of Irvine, California USA asks...

I was an AR in a game when on a goal kick
the player kicked the ball. It traveled a short distance within the penalty area and he followed and kicked it again out of the
area. The referee awarded an IFK for kicking the ball twice I suppose, but since it had not left the area I thought the ball was not in play after the first kick and the goal kick should have been retaken. What is the correct call or restart for this?
Thanks

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Ros
As the ball has not left the penalty area the ball is not in play and as such a double touch violation is not possible. The correct decision was a retake of the goal kick.
An AR in this situation should alert the referee that the ball had in fact not left the goal area particularly if there was any doubt.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Your understanding is correct. The ball is not in play until it leaves the penalty area on a goal kick. If any player touches the ball before it leaves, the goal kick is retaken.

A second touch infringement (and IFK restart) would be the right call only if the kicker touched it a second time AFTER the ball left the penalty area and before any other player touched the ball.

I agree with Ref McHugh. The AR should get the referee's attention and help avoid a misapplication of the laws before allowing an incorrect restart to proceed. The AR should provide the additional information (quietly and privately) but changing the call remains for the referee to decide.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Probably just a temporary lapse by the referee. The AR should tell him that the ball wasn't in play.

This happened in a game several years back, and as the kicker is approaching the ball for a second touch, I'm thinking, 'If he touches it, is it a retake or an IFK?' It was resolved for me because another player got to the ball first, so I knew it was a retake. But at the moment I couldn't remember if the second-touch trumped or not. I looked it up when I got home.

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

See Question: 24744