Question Number: 19233

Law 6 - Assistant Referee 5/30/2008

RE: Select Under 14

Steve Kenton of Ames, IA USA asks...

As an AR during a game of U12 girls, there was a shot on goal that hit the bar, bounced a couple of times on the goal line before coming to rest on the line. I was correctly positioned to see that the whole of the ball had not crossed the line. Incredibly, no attacker chose to kick it into the net and no defender cleared it. Everybody, it seemed, thought that it was a goal and kind of milled around until the keeper picked it up. The Referee looked at me and I did not make a signal because the ball had not gone out of play.

I know the correct "signal" is to remain stationary, but when there is this type of confusion do I have an obligation to vocalize or otherwise signal something to the effect that it's still in play?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

If the referee looks at you, which she should always in this type of situation, a simple shake of the head will emphasize what your position is saying - No Goal! And, if she has a question, she will come ask. After all, if it had scored you would have run back up the line a little bit, so when you don't, it's hard to mistake what you meant. The players won't know, necessarily, especially at that age, but the referee should. So, no obligation past the correct signal, but it doesn't hurt to attempt to quietly make it clear.

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Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Steven,
the old chestnut of "Play the whistle", no matter how often we empasise this we still see situations like this of indecision by players most often by younger ones but even adults at times. I have seen referees fail to award a legit goal and continue play even after a ball has gone in the goal and out. I recall one where it hit the back of the net and came striaight out a defender even stopped it with his hands knowing the goal was scored the referee waved play on a terrible decision but with no whistle even though it was obvious to the players close by the AR was blocked and I guess so too the referee.
In your case you were doing the right thing the referee could take his cue from you and yell ball is still in play or not in play. As my colleague stated you were correctly positioned and upon getting eye contact with the referee shake your head side to side and mouth NO GOAL! or NOT IN!

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

See Question: 19394