Question Number: 34742

High School 10/18/2022

RE: High School

DAVID LOVETT of ROYAL PALM BEACH, FL United States asks...

At the taking of a penalty kick, the kick is taken in accordance with the laws so all is well so far. Then, the ball hits the crossbar and deflates. What is the proper restart? I seem to find answers that only pertain to the ball becoming flat during the kick or BEFORE touches a post, crossbar, goalie etc... I am looking for the restart if it goes flat AFTER it hits a crossbar for instance.
Thank you for your help.
David

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

David,

As you indicate, during a penalty kick if the ball deflates prior to touching the crossbar or goal, the penalty kick is to be retaken as indicated in NFHS Rule 14-1-7.

The answer to your question as to what happens if the ball deflates after hitting the crossbar or goal. is found in NFHS Rule 9 - 2.

Rule 9-2-1a states that the game is started with a drop ball when the ball becomes deflated. (Except as in NFHS Rule 14-1-7).

Rule 9-2-3 covers the hitting the crossbar and goal situation that you describe. It states: "If when play was stopped , the ball was in the penalty area or the last touch by either team was in the penalty area, the ball is the ball until the ball is in play.

Thus, the short answer to your question is that the ball is dropped to the defending team's goalkeeper.

Please follow the NFHS Rules and not the Laws of Soccer for your high school games. There are numerous differences because the goals of each are different.

I hope you have a very successful Florida High School season.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi David
Thanks for the question.
Ball bursting is a very rare event during play. When this happens it may even be difficult to determine the moment of the deflation unless of course it is a complete burst at the moment of contact. I have seen loads on under-inflation yet never a complete burst.
Under-inflation usually results in complaints from players and the ball is checked by the referee and changed at the next stoppage. The burst situation results in the ball not being playable

The FIFA LotG is the same as the NFHS Rules in that the kick is retaken if the ball deflates during a penalty kick snd if it deflates after it touches another player, post or crossbar play is also stopped and restarted with a dropped ball most likely to the goalkeeper as play will be stopped inside the penalty area.





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