Question Number: 26451

League Specific 6/14/2012

RE: Rec Under 9

Shelby of Bowmanville, Ontario Canada asks...

Iif someone on the defending team hand balls the ball in the penalty area. But you are reffing mini soccer, which doesnt allow penalty kicks, what should happen next to get the ball back in play.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

You will have to consult your league rules. When they begin to change things, they usually have to change more things. Or sometimes they forget the Law of Unintended Consequences, and the rules make for impossible or ridiculous situations. For example, one year the small-sided rules in one of our leagues called for an indirect penalty kick. How do you even do that? The next year they clarified that PK's would be direct.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

To echo Ref Voshol, check your local competition rules.

I remember when I refereed U/9 soccer, all free kicks were indirect, thus in your situation we'd take the ball out to the edge of the PA and have an indirect free kick.

If there are no penalty kicks then I'd imagine the rules would have you taking the ball out to the edge of the PA, probably on the line parallel to the goal line, and either have a direct or indirect free kick (if the league has direct free kicks) from there, but try to get a hold of the rules to find out for certain.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Shelby
An important question when refereeing small sided games. The answer depends on the local competition rules which vary significantly.
Generally when there are no penalty kicks all free kicks and penalties are indirect free kicks from the place of the infringement or in the case of the penalty area on the PA line. I recommend that you get a copy of the local rules as there will be other variations as well.