Question Number: 31171

League Specific 1/11/2017

RE: Rec. Grade 8 Under 11

Terry Camerrer of Ewa Beach, Hi USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 31166

Thank you for responding to my initial question. I like your answer but it fostered another question. If the goalie places the ball on the ground, does that mean he/she has placed the ball into play and the opponents can then play the ball even before the ball has been kicked by the goalie? The goalie does have the option of not waiting for the opponents to get beyond the Build Out Line.
I get different answers to these questions every time I ask the question. Our referee assignor says as long as the ball is stationary, another says the pass should not go beyond the build out line, another says it is ok to roll the ball and kick it and so forth. Thank goodness the Soccer Development Initiative only applies to 09U and 10U. Heading is also not allowed. Deliberate heading is punished by an indirect kick and the spot of the kick is dictated where the heading occurred. Different spot if the heading occurred in the goal area or the penalty area. The restart actually involves repositioning the ball outside of the area where the heading occurred. That opens up another can of worms. What was the USSF thinking about when they thought up all these 'new' rules?
Thank you for reading this if you got this far. I am very passionate about soccer and I believe the rules of the game should be followed - if any adjustments should be made, it should be done by a competent authority and proper training (with feedback) be provided prior to implementation of the adjustment to the rules.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Terry
Thanks for the follow up question.
Once the goalkeeper has the ball in his / her possession opponents must retreat beyond the build out line. When the goalkeeper releases the ball to the ground opponents can then come forward to challenge for the ball. It is incumbent on the coach to teach the GK how to get play again using the rule correctly. The videos I gave seen show the attackers moving immediately backwards beyond the build out line and then coming forward again once the bell is released. On the quick throw play just continues as in the normal way so that the rule is not to allow for error.
If the goalkeeper decides to get on with play quickly then one has to assume he / she has thrown the ball to a team mate or passed the ball with the foot so the build out scenario is unlikely to come into play as play may have moved beyond the line.
In respect of the IDFK location just look at it like any other foul. The free kick is taken from the location of the foul. If the foul happens in the goal area it is taken anywhere inside the goal area if it is a defensive free kick and if it is an attacking one it is taken on the goal area line directly opposite the location the foul happened.
Now my advice is not to get hung up on the competition rules at this age level. It is about fun and the rules are to encourage play, building skills not about winning. Also safety is key so the no heading rule must be managed correctly. So do what is right for the players and the game. Make the BEST decision for the game.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Terry,
fair play and safety with a lot of FUN thrown in as the players develop their skills is where the attention to detail is most required. The LOTG are easily managed if we grasp that the kids are the important fixture. Rules are designed to help them accomplish their goals in a fair safe environment. They are certainly part of the conditions but beware of getting too wrapped up in the dotted i's and crossed t's not that guidelines do not help manage chaos but they can stifle the flow of a match if we are calling everything every time.
Yet there is nothing wrong when demonstrating ANY activity, the correct way to develop good habits.

Sometimes in trying to do the right thing for the right reasons we get fixated on what could go wrong instead of all the things that can go well. When the LOTG are altered to conform with our new improved medical knowledge there is a disconnect in the procedural outlay of information until it becomes the norm. All this adaptation is new, hence there will be some versions of limited correctness floating about. I personally have no real knowledge of the exact way this must occur according to how those writing these changes into the youth game as ROC bylaws or universal across the nation..

I would suspect they may have wanted the keeper to release the ball THEN the opponent's can challenge. I recall the ring of fire was a bone of contention in youth matches given the inability to kick with power . It may well be if a keeper places the ball as if it is a goal kick they wanted the opponents to wait until he kicks it but unless that is SPECIFIED, thinking as a player I lean to the ball is in play and it is on the ground I want to kick it into the goal if I can. It stands to reason if the ball can not be punted or drop kicked to get height or distance, a young keeper will likely want to put the ball on the ground and take a run at it thus giving time to be closed down? If they WANT to push the direction of skill into a passing with control instead of pound it hard downfield the opposition has to refrain briefly from challenging. Seems odd , but then I do not make up the rules.

The idea of the INDFK for heading as PIADM to discourage head injuries is not without validation. Yet we do not want to make it easy to score a goal off such an impulsive NORMAL soccer action that they will be attempting in the future. Thus they move the location to a more difficult spot to shoot from is all.

You will often hear or see me post the phrase
YOUR MATCH! YOUR DECISION! YOUR REPUTATION! All on can do is be consistent with what you currently believe to be true> if you learn otherwise and want to change your standards based on new better or relevant information that is where experience comes into play as well as your application of effort to look for solutions. This why good association do exactly as you suggested with proper information, good mentoring and monitoring with feedback and reaffirmation,s inclusive meetings of all parties so credible information is shared by all.
We know this is easier said then done ,one just has to look at the political landscape to figure out how easily misinformation and contrary opinions on supposedly factual information boggles the mind!
Cheers

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 31174