Question Number: 24729

Law 5 - The Referee 3/24/2011

RE: Under 11

Kevin Dyer of Newbury Park, CA US asks...

In a U10 Girls AYSO Tournament pool play game, our goalie was hit in the face with the ball on a well kick ball inside the goalie area. She went down hard to the ground and the ball remained in the field of play and several kicks where made until the ball went into the goal. Was the referee correct in letting play continue with an injured goalie? It took him several minutes to get the goalie up and never called for our coach to come on the pitch? Although the goal did not make a difference in the game, we lost 5 - 1, our parents felt this was wrong.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The referee should stop play in case of a serious injury. The referee apparently didn't believe it was a serious injury. Otherwise, the referee would have been quick to check on the player and quick to call the coach.

What is serious in a higher level match will not be the same as in a match involving 9 year olds. IMO, however, a blow to the head should always be treated as serious. Most concussions do not result in a loss of consciousness; all concussions are serious. My strong preference is that referees stop play whenever any child, regardless of position, drops to the ground after a blow to the head.



I hope the player was ok.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Kevin
This is a constant challenge at U12 and below whether to stop play or allow it to continue in these situations. I have seen countless situations where the player has gone down 'injured' for the referee to allow play to continue which run a risk plus it causes ill feelings not with the players but with coaches, parents, spectators. I have also seen the game stopped for what turned out to be 'wounded pride' rather than an injury. Indeed in u Little Leagues that I am involved in we have made it a local rule that the game must be stopped for any player on the ground 'injured'. That in fact helps the referee greatly. I recall last season being challenged by a coach for stopping play in a situation where a young player was on the ground for a 'questionable' injury. If it is a local rule that does not arise.
In the circumstances here particularly in the penalty area, several kicks can be literally a couple of seconds and indeed play can be the focus of the referee's attention rather than a player on the ground. Again I recall as an AR in a semi final last season @ U18 two players clashed heads inside the penalty area, the ball fell to a forward who controlled, beat one defender and scored, all within a few seconds. One of the players on the clash of head instantly fell to the ground and it was clear it was a serious injury. The incident happened in a few seconds and the referee immediately signalled the medic to come on just after the ball was in the goal. The referee had to award the goal and he acted as soon as he was aware of it in the circumstances. From my angle I saw it instantly yet the referee's attention was on the subsequent few seconds of play.
As regards attending to the goalkeeper in your situation the exception that I would take with the referee's handling of this is that the referee should have allowed the coach on to the field of play to deal with the situation. He may have felt that contact with the ball or its strength did not cause any injury however IMO he should allow the team and its staff to make that determination. If that had happened it certainly would have allayed any concerns about the well being of the player, whatever about play continuing for a few seconds.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

A 9 or 10 year old child is hit in the face by an onrushing soccer ball and goes down hard on the ground. What here is NOT serious? The referee's FIRST responsibility is the safety of the players. These are little kids for crying out loud and I'm appalled every time I read a question like this and see yet another referee that thinks it's a good idea to let play continue with a young child sprawled out on the ground.

Stop play immediately, call the coach onto the field and make sure the keeper is ok. Restart with a dropped ball.