Question Number: 31791

High School 9/16/2017

RE: Under 17

Greg of Lakeville, Mn Ise asks...

State of Minnesota high school league rules.
If a shot is taken and was in air during horn then goes in after horn over goalies head a split second later. Goal or no goal. Define when exact stoppage is . A ball is in motion. Or does it have to cross the line fully at or before horn.
Thank you

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Greg,
While I am not an aficionado on high school rules I am aware that UNLESS the ball has COMPLETELY crossed the goal line under the crossbar and between the posts BEFORE the horn sounds there will be NO goal.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Greg
Thanks for the question.
Once the signal is made to end a half or the game no further play is allowed which includes a ball that is in the air. So unless the ball has fully crossed the goal line before the horn signal no goal can be awarded. There is no discretion in a NFHS game to allow a few seconds unlike a FIFA game where the referee might delay the whistle for a second or so to see the outcome of the kick. NFHS timing of games is managed by an official timer and stadium clock. Having said that there are referees that time FIFA games to the second in the same way as NFHS and do not allow further play when their timepiece reaches the allotted time which includes the ball in the air scenarios.
In NFHS games the stadium clock is stopped when signaled to do so by a referee for
an injury,
a penalty kick
a caution,
a disqualification,
following the scoring of a goal and when an official orders the clock to be stopped

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Greg,
Under NFHS Rules which are used for high school games in Minnesota, the period ends at the expiration of time as is indicated in NFHS Rule 7-1-4. Assuming that the time ended at the sounding of the horn, the game ends at the sounding of the horn. No further play is play is possible. Therefore, to answer your question, the ball has to cross completely over the goal line before the horn sounds in order to be counted as a goal. I hope that your team as a successful season.