Question Number: 15230

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 4/21/2007

RE: Grade 8 Other

Bill Braddock of Saylorsburg, PA US asks...

Once again, the goalie rears her ugly leg!

First off, I would like to say the following situation was covered in my initial 18 hrs of training years ago, and we were warned it would happen sooner or later. We were told it has no place in soccer, and was a tactic solely used to intimidate the opponents.

It did today in a U13G club game with a civil discussion following with the team coach. The goalie apparently is being trained 'professionally' by a trainer in the Philadelphia area.

The goalie was consistently raising her knee up on any save attempted as she tried to control the ball with her hands. Bouncing ball or high shot, feet on the ground or a slight jump - same thing - raise the knee on the attacker's side to at least waist height.

I spoke to the goalie on the first instance, and noted to her that action could be considered dangerous play at a minimum and to cease. Goalie's reply was "I'm coached to do it to protect myself, and it's legal." I told her it was not legal if it stops an attacker from attempting a fair play on the ball, and could be pk foul or misconduct if she struck an attacker with the knee. I also told her I would handle any unfair charges on her should they occur.

She did it again late in the game (they were down 4-1) and I warned her again after hearing her tell the defense to "let them through".

After the game, the coach approached to ask why I was warning the goalie regarding 'legal' play allowed to goalies to protect themselves. I reiterated the point, and told the coach play of that nature is not allowed in the midfield, and there is no exception in the Laws for a goalie to raise her leg in a manner that could be dangerous to other players.

First, is my understanding of this situation correct? Second, did I act properly in addressing it proactively, before someone was injured?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Bill,
If the keeper is in any way talking like that or making an effort to contact the opponent it is a minimum reckless or and USB and conditionally a red card for violent conduct. While PIADM is certainly a possible call where an opponent shies away from the raised knee when the ball is not yet in keeper's possession as an INDFK if there is contact it is a DFK or PK followed likely with a card caution yellow or send off red!

Jumping up with a high knee is of itself not an offence, using the knee to ram an opponent is. Going up is looked at a bit differently different then going up and forward.
It like an arm extended for balance as opposed to an elbow or a fist!
A keeper albeit vulnerable to a collision while in the air with arms extended often pushes off more on one leg then the other creating a knee up. If you notice the elite leagues where keepers are punching out balls because they need to come over the top of opponents to get to the ball no knee in the back is continually occurring unless the opponent continues backing in.

If the knee up is being used to intimidate or ram an opponent at times so too the opponent's wiping out a keeper when the ball is not playable but charging or knocking the legs out from under. Only a referee's direct action to put a stop to this conduct either way can drive home the point not this game not ever!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Right, the referee is there to enforce the Laws of the Game and thereby he protects the players, this includes the goalkeeper and the attacker she wishes to thrust her knee into.

When she is heard to shout "Let them through" and she raises a knee then a caution is in order for unsporting behavior. When she uses a knee to intimidate then a caution is in order. When she kicks her opponent a penalty kick is the result. And on and on, as Ref Dawson says.

It's obvious the "trainer" was not an educated individual because teaching to raise a knee forces the keeper's jump to be lower. Howcum? Newton's Third Law -- for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. The mass of the thigh/lower leg is working in opposition to the total body mass.

First occurrence, a word; next dangerous; next kicking or attempting to kick; next persistently infringes the Laws of the Game and a penalty for kicking or attempting to kick; next the problem goes away and the new keeper's first touch is saving a penalty or digging the ball from the net.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

You are correct but the first time a keeper mouths off to you, you should be thinking about reaching for your yellow card. Where this idiocy about raising a leg started is beyond me but it is taught a lot. So is hand checking and standing in front of the ball at an opponent's free kick. Nothing like a whistle and a subsquent caution for dissent or in the case of standing in front of the ball an immediate caution to get them to stop.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

Whenever I step on the field when I don't carry a whistle or a flag - I am a goalkeeper.

First let me say that everyone of my colleagues are correct. Thrusting your knee into someone is not legal. However, every goalkeeper coach I ever had taught me to do this. When you drill hundreds of times and the coach makes sure you do this every time, your body develops muscle memory that is difficult to change. In addition, there are times when I felt if I hadn't put my knee up I would have been crushed by attackers who were particularly aggressive. So from the goalkeeper's perspective the use of the knee when jumping straight up is a normal way to play.

You have to remember, laws that protect the goalkeepers were once much less protective than they are now. Many coaching methods were developed based on the realities of the game at the time. They passed this onto their students who are now coaches and they passed it on to my generation.

So from the referee's standpoint, I generally allow the knee UNTIL it is used in a way that is dangerous or otherwise unfair. I am also a little suspect of a player who only uses their knee when opponents are around, but not the rest of the time. I was taught to do this 100% of the time. However, once it crosses that line you have to deal with it.

But let me say this. It's all well and good that you prevent the keeper from using their knee illegally - that's what you should do. But, once you do this you had best be sure that you protect the goalkeeper who is more vulnerable than any other player. Make sure you call the fouls against them, or their teammates will step in to protect the keeper for you...