Question Number: 27915

Law 10 - Method of Scoring 10/21/2013

RE: Select Under 11

Vinnie of Middletown, NJ USA asks...

Free kick is awarded. After the ball is in the air the whistle blows and then the ball goes in the net. Goal?

Ref also held ball for ten seconds before allowing player to place ball and take kick?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

No goal can be scored unless all of the ball has entered the goal before the final whistle. 'In the air' is a basketball rule.

But, except in high school or college where there is a fixed, running clock, a wise referee can usually find a few seconds of added time from some event during the match so as not to blow the whistle when the ball is in the air and headed to the goal.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Vinnie
Once the whistle sounds the game is over and no goal can be scored after that including the ball that is in the air that has not fully crossed the goal line.
Now the wise referee will either not allow the kick to be taken in the 1st place or if he does so then allows play to continue for a few seconds to see the outcome of the kick.
The only time that play must be extended is for a penalty kick.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

All of the ball must be over all of the goal line between the goal posts and under the crossbar in accordance with Law 10 before the whistle for the goal to count. The game is over when the referee says it is.