Question Number: 31972

Law 13 - Free Kicks 11/1/2017

RE: Rec Under 10

Alex C of LF, NJ USA asks...

We had a similar issue against our team. Our GK touched an indirect kick and it went it. Should our goalie have simply ignored it and have not tried made a play at it and let it go in directly which would have resulted in a goal kick?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Alex
Yes had the goalkeeper not touched the free kick as it entered the goal the restart would have been a goal kick.
Now that is very difficult to do even at older ages so I would not fault an U10 player for trying to save a shot including indirect ones.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Alex,
It is true that if your keeper had ignored this indirect free kick as it sailed past and into the net, the result would have been a goal kick.

However it would take great presence of mind, allied to in-depth knowledge of the laws, for a goalkeeper to deliberately leave a goal-bound shot alone and let it enter the net. I think it's something that even an adult player would probably struggle with so is hardly surprising that a U10 player would not know to do this.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Alex,
had a similar experience only on a long throw in on a narrow field sailed in top corner off my keeper's finger tips. She knew as she had taken the referee course but instinct she reacted putting up the hands thus they received a goal instead of us receiving a goal kick . You can not score on the throw in direct to goal. Cheers