Question Number: 17179

League Specific 10/8/2007

RE: Rec Under 8

Robert Perduyn of Lewisville, Texas USA asks...

I, and thank you for all of your advise.

I have two questions:

1: An obvious goal scoring attempt: Player grabbed a ball inside the goal area and we were awarded a free kick. One player tapped it and the other kicked it. It was going above the head of the player (u-7, no goalie yet) so he jumped up and hit it out with his hands. Would have been an obvious goal. Referee then grabbed the ball and awarded another free kick. He put the ball down and told my player to kick it. He did, it went in the goal, but since it was indirect and we didn't tap it this time (referee just put hte ball down and said, "kick it") so he then awarded the other team a goal kick. Shouldn't he have awarded us an obvious goal or at least reprimanded the player for an obvious hands ball? I think it could have been handled differently.

2. Throw in's. If the person throwing the ball in is on the line, is that legal? Where does the person have to stand in relation to the line during a throw in?

Thank you!

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I presume your league has adopted a rule that all kicks are indirect for the young ages. Handling is a direct free kick foul in the Laws of the Game.

A goal can only be awarded if the ball goes completely over the line, under the crossbar and between the uprights. The ref cannot award a goal based on what "might have happened".

As far as sanctioning the player who blocked the goal, there is an offense in Law 12, Denying an Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity by handling the ball. The penalty for this is to be sent off and shown the red card. When I work the U-littles, very few things are obvious about what they are doing. So much is unpredictable about these little ones, that virtually no goal scoring opportunity is obvious.

Referees at this age should be cognizant about what they are saying to the players, and how the players are hearing what was said. "Kick it" doesn't show much sensitivity for how the players will react. But you have to realize that U8 is the bottom of the food chain for referee assignments. You will be getting many young and inexperienced refs. Many are learning the craft of refereeing as your players are learning the craft of playing.

When an indirect free kick goes directly into the goal, the restart is a goal kick. The referee got this correct.

The proper method of taking a throw-in includes having part of each foot on or behind the touch (side) line. The player's toes may even go across the line onto the green and it will still be legal as long as the heel is on the line.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Robert, since at your level of play your League has basically thrown out the Laws of the Game, anything we say here may be incorrect. My guess is anything the referee does is ok because you guys aren't playing by the rules anyway. How can you play soccer with no goalkeeper?