Question Number: 24786

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 4/7/2011

RE: Rec Under 9

Megan of Charleston, West Virginia United States asks...

Okay, so I'm going to ref. a U8 game and I was wondering....if an opposing player violently strikes another player in the box do you reward a PK and dismiss the player or do you just dismiss the player? I couldn't find the answer in my handbook.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Megan: I would not expect that a 7 year old is going to violently strike anyone. So, you probably won't have to address cautions or sendoffs. They are very rare at this age.

But, striking is one of the ten direct free kick fouls. That means if a defender strikes an opponent inside the defender's penalty area, while the ball is in play, the restart will be a penalty kick. Violent conduct is also one of the seven offenses for which a player is sent off and shown the red card.

The answer would be in law 12 (fouls and misconduct).

Good luck and have fun.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Megan
IMO this would be a very rare event in U9.
Should it happen it is definitely a penalty as striking is one of the penal offences in Law 12

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Megan, although this will probably never happen at U8 I have to ask if you've had any referee training other than the handbook you allude to? Your question is very very basic. One no USSF trained referee should have to ask.

But maybe we are misunderstanding your question. (won't be the first time!).

You may be asking what happens if a player strikes an opponent in the opponent's penalty area. If this is the case, the player will always be sent off but the restart will depend on if the ball was in play:
1. If ball in play, DFK to opponents coming out of their penalty area. 2. If ball not in play, restart for why ball was out of play. Of course, player is set off.

You may be asking what the restart is if a player punches a teammate inside their penalty area. If it's a teammate, can never be a foul so can never be a penalty kick. Fouls only committed against opponents. If the ball was in play, restart is IDFK for the opponents at the spot of the punch unless inside the goal area in which case it is at the goal area line parallel to the goal line . The player, of course, is sent off.

Finally, you may be asking what happens if a player punches an opponent inside his own penalty area. If ball in play, send off and PK. If not, send off and restart for why ball was out of play.

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

See Question: 24802