Question Number: 26245

Law 1- The Field 4/26/2012

RE: Rec Under 11

Aaron of Stanford, Kentucky United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 26216

According to the US Youth Soccer Association the official modified U10 playing rules that have been in existence since 2003, states penalty spots are to be marked at 8 yards. U12 spots marked at 10 yards and 13 and up marked at 12 yards. The marks on our field were marked at 8 yards we were playing in a U10 tournament. My interpretation is that the ref should have placed the ball on the penalty spot as marked just as the other refs. Www.usyouthsoccer.org/assets/1/1addendum_u10.pdf

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Aaron
It shows the importance of knowing competition rules. I suspect that the referee understood it was 10 yards which is why he moved the ball back from the 8 yard mark.

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Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The correct practice is for the referee team to inspect the field h and have the penalty marks corrected before the match. If no one can fix the marks, informing both coaches that the marks are in the wrong place and will be ignored will resolve the issue.
Unfortunately, it is common for fields to be incorrectly marked in amateur play.

But, ultimately whether the correct placement of the ball on the penalty mark is a judgment call for the referee.

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Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Agreed. The other referees in the original question probably did not check the official modifications.

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