Question Number: 24651

Law 16 - Goal Kick 3/5/2011

RE: Adult

Dave B. of Centreville, Va Usa asks...

We were playing on a turf field in very high wind. It was so windy that when I placed the ball to take a goal kick, the ball would not stay in place. After some bafflement, the goalie ended up holding the ball with his finger (like an American football field goal), while I backed up and kicked it. Is there a rule that actually covers this? What should we have done?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Dave
Technically this is not allowed and it is against the Laws of the Game. If the ball will not stay at rest on kicks then IMO the game cannot be played properly and it should be abandoned.
In the circumstances the referee probably allowed this so as to complete the game.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

There would be nothing preventing a player from spot-holding a ball for a kickoff, goal kick, corner kick or free kick. The player would simply have to move his hand a split second before the kick was taken. The player holding the ball would have to be legally allowed to be where the kick was to be taken. This might take a few contortions, such as for a kickoff.

But it wouldn't work for a penalty kick, because only the kicker is allowed to be at the PK spot.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

While against the LOTG, most of us would allow this in the interest of getting the match played

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

The ball is not in play when it is 'spotted' by the teammate so there is no restriction on touching the ball. It is highly unusual however and should only occur (if at all) in extreme circumstances such as you outline.

The Law simply says the ball must be stationary - it does not address how the ball gets that way so the referee has some latitude within the traditions and history of the game to see that the spirit of the game is upheld.