Question Number: 30707

8/31/2016

RE: High School

Zaydee Santoyo of Griffith, Indiana United States asks...

Last night our Varsity boys played a conference game that had to have a winner... Our home team was losing 1-0 but with about 5 minutes left in the second half, they scored and now it is a very lively tied game. With 18 seconds left in the game, opposing team shoots a hail mary, hits the cross bar and ball drops behind the goal. Ball gets retrieved by our GK and there was a question by the main REF as to whether or not it was indeed a goal. He signals 'no-goal' and the clock has since run down. Preparing to go into OT, he confers with 2 line refs and admits 'it might've been a goal'. 7 minutes later he then proclaims it a goal and decides to put 30 seconds back on the clock so as to finish out the game. Clock winds down, we lose, and too many irate parents to count.
Was the Ref correct in changing his original call??!!??

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Zaydee,

High school rules do allow the officials to correct a decisions so long as the game has not been restarted. This is covered in NFHS Rule 5-1-2. The referee also has the authority to correct the clock as is indicated in The actions of the referee in Rule 5-3-2i. Thus, the actions of the referee in your situation were correct. However, it does appear that the referee did not observe a signal from the AR that a goal had been scored or the AR did not give a proper signal. Unfortunately, this frequently occurs in high school play, and is one reason why I have been an advocate for the three whistle system that is used for high school play in several states. I do hope your team has a successful season.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Zaydee
Poor mechanics here has caused this furore. Had an instant decision been made by the referee crew based on what happened there would have been less debate. The only question then is the ARs judgement of the ball crossing the line, nothing else. The delay introduced an element of uncertainty in the call. In a recent game I was involved in AR1 gave an instant decision of a goal where the ball was headed out from behind the line. Instant decision by my AR colleague following by a goal signal by the CR and no debate.
On hairline goal decisions the AR has to decide whether the ball crossed the line or not. Might is not a basis for the decision. Did the ball in the opinion of the AR cross the line or not. Discussing it for minutes does nothing. If the AR decided that the ball crossed the line then he should signal that and stand by his decision. If he is unsure then he does not give it.
Anyway as play has not restarted and the goal was awarded the referee was correct in his subsequent decision. Restart with a kick off and add back the time lost which in the opinion of the referee was 30 seconds. So changing the call is allowed provided play was not restarted.