Question Number: 17122

League Specific 10/6/2007

RE: rec Under 16

charlie of Hull, yorkshire england asks...

Can aanybody stand behind the goal while play is in progress.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Charlie,
in a stadium field pretty hard to get around it. That said those in behind are not permitted to hassle the keeper without security being called in. In a grassroots match we often see league policy that teams are on side of the technical areas and parents etc,, are permitted only across and along the touchline.

If there is watching from behind the nets allowed, reasonable behaviour and the saftey of the keeper must be seen as the guiding principle. As long as nothing prohibits it and those who stand are far enough away not to be permitted to unfairly interfere.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Nothing but their bad behaviour prohibits spectators from watching from any point. Unless the league specifies differently.

Usually spectators behind the goal can't resist the temptation of having a go at the visiting keeper. When that happens I get involved to the point of stopping play and removing them. If I think their interference caused the keeper to miss an otherwise stoppable shot the goal won't stand either.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Locally, no one is allowed to be behind the goalline or on the touch lines from the penalty area to the goal line unless they have a camera.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I wonder if by "anybody" you mean a player?

There would be no point in a player just "standing" behind the goal. She would have left the field for no purpose, and so would be subject to a caution. However, players are free to take a detour around the back side of the net if it makes it easier for them to get to their intended spot on the field. It is no different than running outside the touchline to get around a crowd of players.