Question Number: 15395

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/5/2007

RE: select girls Under 13

Jaime Joiner of Thomaston, GA United States asks...

Approaching the attacking third, a midfielder lofts a ball into the goal area for a sprinting forward. The goalkeeper is positioned well to catch the lofted service. As her outreached hands MAKE CONTACT WITH THE BALLl at about chest level, the onrunning forward runs through her arms and knocks the ball into the goal. What's the call?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

This is one of those have to be there things. Usually at the younger age groups of junior football this doesn't happen all that much, especially with younger girls. Happens more with the Boys U16's and 19's where they can't understand they have no chance for a ball and give it up rather than bowl over the keeper.

The astute referee should be mindful of a player, who having no chance for the ball AND keeping up her challenge involving the goalkeeper, is probably involved in foul play, if not misconduct. The referee should be watching where the eyes of each player are looking, and a player looking at an opponent rather than the ball is not all that intent on playing it. This player needs to be spoken to at the very least.

What's the call? The match referee, if he saw the incident and had an opinion, made his decision and that decision is final.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I too would have to see this play to decide what I was going to call or not call. It's difiicult because you said the goalkeeper's arms were extended at chest level. It would be easier if her hands were extended over her head at maximum reach. In that case the opponent, who cannot use her hands, would have no hope of outjumping the keeper to get to the ball. So the effort would be for the purpose of getting the player (the keeper) not the ball. Foul, free kick coming out for the keeper. If it's just a case of two players reaching the same spot at the same time, both making a valid attempt to play the ball, there may be no foul at all. Or it could be seen as the keeper fouling her opponent, and then we'd have a penalty kick.

There's a myth out there that goalkeepers deserve special protection by the refs. Keepers are due the exact same protection that the other players have. Simply by the nature of the job they are called to do, keepers have to put themselves in potential danger. They go diving in to grab a ball that the opponents are trying to kick.

As soon as a keeper has possession of the ball, they are due every bit of protection - the opponents must let the keeper play the ball out. But until that possession happens, it's just two players making a play for one ball. Sometimes horrific collisions occur, and we wince and cringe. But if there's no foul play, there's no call to be made.