Question Number: 24725

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/22/2011

RE: Intermediate Under 12

Phil of Tarzana, CA United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 24711

Am I correct that in this situation, if the GK teammate deliberately kicked the ball up to his thigh & then pass it with his thigh to the GK, that the result would be an IFK & the teammate would be cautioned for unsportsmanlike behavior?

i.e. you can't deliberately defeat the spirit of Law 12 by raising the ball with your feet to your thigh, chest, or head & then passing it to the GK (with thigh, chest, or head).

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Phil
You are indeed correct. that is circumvention of Law 12 and the player is cautioned for unsporting behaviour and the restart is an indirect free kick from where the offence (trick) took place. Also there is no requirement for the goalkeeper to touch the ball with the hands in this situation as the offence has already been committed.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The referee must judge if the player is using a deliberate trick to circumvent the law. You have described one trick that skilled players use.

Note: in an intermediate under 12 match, the referee might judge that this is not a 'deliberate trick' based on the circumstances (are there attackers near? is the defender attempting to stall? is the defender responding to an initial miss kick of the ball?) At highest levels, however, most things are deliberate.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The referee must decide what has happened in accordance with the Spirit of the game. I doubt a U12 player is skilled enough to circumvent the Law in this manner