Question Number: 24417

Law 1- The Field 12/13/2010

RE: Under 13

antony swain of castleford, west yorks england asks...

markings and equipment which of the following is optional. corner flag posts,goal nets ,penalty mark

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Is this a test?

Under the Laws of the Game one will not find nets listed as necessary equipment, much to the surprise of many, since one almost never sees a pitch without nets.

Now, can the game be played without any of these? Yep. There are soccer games all over the world played in streets and alleyways and on dirt fields with no equipment whatsoever except something to use as a ball. Doesn't seem to keep it from being fun and exciting, though.

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Antony, only nets are optional and the rest are required as outlined in the Laws of the Game. I have reffed many games when some of these were not as prescribed, even if they were required and not just in U13 but at adult level too. However there are certain marks that an official league or cup game really cannot be played at all. These are: touch and goal lines, halfway line, penalty area and goal area. I can run a pretty good game without corner flags, the penalty arc, the penalty spot, the centre circle, the centre spot and the corner arcs. They are supposed be there but I am going to let them play and report the problem.
One thing that I am will not ignore is the requirement to have movable goals anchored. I will not ref a game without that in place. Castleford Football Club may have something in their bylaws and they may indeed require nets as well.
In a game like nearby Leeds United, you will always see these in place but at amateur level some things become optional. ("Magnetic" Leeds United are close to amateur these days...)

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

nets

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
Under the Laws of the Game nets are optional. However most if not all teams would not be happy to play a game without nets whatever about corner flags and penalty marks.
I have played games without corner flags which are compulsory and then reported it. Some referees will not and they are entitled to do that. I also played a game recently without penalty marks only to realise my mistake, of not picking it up during my pitch inspected, when a penalty was awarded. There was a rough unmarked area which I deemed to the penalty mark and that was where the penalty was taken from. It did however not prevent play from being suspended even if they are compulsory
Obviously this would not happen at higher levels of the game.