Question Number: 28858

Law 9 - The Ball in and out of Play 10/16/2014

RE: YMCA Under 8

Conrad Prais of rutherford, nj usa asks...

I had an issue with parents telling me that a player that is out of bounds is not allowed to kick the ball that is inbounds. is this true?, My original call was that he was able to kick the ball regardless if he was inbounds or not because the ball was still in play (or inbounds).

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Conrad
As usual spectators don't know the Laws of the Game and your call was 100% correct. There is no restriction on a player going out over a boundary line and while in that position playing or touching the ball that is in bounds. It happens all the time on the goal line when the ball is on the line or close to it and an attacker tries to go around a defender on the line. The ball is only out of play when all of the ball crosses all of the boundary line.
I believe the problem lies in that many bring other sports rules to soccer. In basketball, rugby, American football the ball is out of bounds when touched by a player out of bounds in these situations. Not so in soccer.

Answer provided by Referee James Sowa

Conrad,

You are spot on. The ball is in play until it has fully crossed either the touch line or the end line. I think the parents have been watching a bit too much American football...

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I wonder how these parents think that a corner kick should be taken? The player is almost always outside the field for that.

Don't listen to the parents. (And not too much to the coaches.) They have an agenda of their own. Listen to what your instructors have told you in the past, and what is in the Laws.