Question Number: 15550

Law 17 - Corner Kick 5/21/2007

RE: REC / Comp Under 15

Ron Koch of Sioux City, IA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 14205

I was taught the wrong way by a salty old REF. He was telling me to watch down the goal line because if the ball, in its entirety, did not enter the field then the corner was to be redone. Supposedly this was because the ball had to wholly cross a touch line before it was out and therefore if placed on the goal line and kicked down it, while fading off the field, would really never have been in play.

My concern isn't with justifying what I did or didn't do on the last game, but instead that with each new game I give better service to the game. Does anybody know where such a misconception came from, or was it interpreted so at one point in history?

I take from others here that any ball placed and allowed to be kicked as a corner is assumed to be legally placed at or within the 1 yard arc and once kicked is officially on the field and in play.

__

Ref. LoTG Q&A 2006 LAW 17

Does the ball need to leave the corner arc before it is in play.
No. The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves.

__


Bonus Q - A kid asked me this weekend if the goalie came out and went to grab for the ball, but grabbed the offensive plaver's leg instead, what should happen?

I said I'd cross that bridge if I ever came to it.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

You believed the salty old referee instead of what the Laws of the Game tell you. So be it. From a corner kick the ball is in play when it is kicked and moved. You know this and included a FIFA Q&A supporting this. It is better you show it to the salty old referee.

When someone asks you a question concerning what you would do if something happens on the field when you are the match referee and you don't have an answer better than what you told him it's time to hit the books again, especially before the next match. He gave you an opportunity to play something in your mind -- it makes coming to a decision during a match much easier.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Maybe the salty old ref needs to indulge in some sports drinks, because his electrolytes aren't functioning properly. How could the ball not be on the field for a corner kick - it's placed on the field before the kick is even taken. Remember the width of the line is only there so we can see it - the actual boundary is the point-thin line along the outermost edge of the paint.

As far as the keeper grabbing a leg instead of the ball - sounds like tripping to me, or maybe holding - how about you? And you know what the sanction for that is, a DFK or PK if inside the keeper's penalty area.