Question Number: 30330

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 4/20/2016

RE: Varsity 4A High School

Lionel Heinold of Ephrata, Wa USA asks...

At the taking of a corner kick, can any players be inside the goal and behind the goal line. When the ball is put into play an attacker comes out and heads the ball into the goal. Should this be allowed?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Lionel
Prevention is better than cure. Referees should not allow player to stand off the field of play inside the goal beyond the goal line. By allowing so the referee has sort of acquiesced to this.
Now this must also not be confused with a player running beyond a boundary line as part of a playing movement. That is legal and in his instance a player could legally move around players over the goal line to get to the ball.
Now in some instances there is a fine line between standing off and movement
Have a look at this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA4Ikw548zw&t=4m5s
One could not say that Blue #17 was blatantly stood off the field of play over the goal line and his movement would not be illegal so the goal was good. If he was stood blatantly inside the goalkeeper or a player over the line then that should not be allowed. The best way to deal with it to to be proactive.
To deal with this under the Laws it would require a caution and an indirect free kick restart from where the ball was when play was stopped.
Personally I would take this action against the player that goes around behind the net as that is blatantly unsporting and not a genuine playing movement.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Lionel,

Players should remain on the field. While the laws permit players to leave temporarily as part of normal play, there's no reason for a player to choose to stand off the field at a restart.

If the referee has allowed it then no particular offence has occurred (well, stepping off the field for deceitful and/or tactical purposes could be unsporting, but I think the difference is too small here to seriously look at a caution. The attacker is considered to be 'on' the goal line for offside purposes, so if 2 defenders are also on the goal line he is not offside.

As a referee, a quick 'just step back onto the line, thank!' is all you need to deal with it.

There's a difference between an attacker being a step off the line, and standing right in the back of the net - the latter is more significant and you really need to stop it before the corner is taken. Even the former can have an impact - by gaining a step or two he can make a higher jump for a ball on the line compared to the stationary defender.

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Lionel,
As indicated in NFHS Rule 12-81a: A player, coach or bench personnel shall be cautioned (yellow card) for entering or leaving the field of play (except through the normal course of play) without the permission of an official. The players who are off the field as you described about could be verbally warned to get back into play, but if they do not comply or there is not time for them to get back into play, these players should be cautioned. I once saw a play where five players from an attacking team ran behind goal from the side opposite the corner kick and came out on the other side to take the kick. All five were cautioned. I hope that the spring high school season in Washington is going well for you.