Question Number: 17541

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/27/2007

RE: Rec Under 9

Peter of Pittsburgh, PA USA asks...

Can the goalie come out of the box and slide tackle an offensive player on a breakaway (while getting the ball)?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Peter,
a keeper is a player, one of 11 on the field and he can challenge for the ball, as can any of the players. The keeper has the special use of hands inside his area by definition of his duties in law. That is the only difference.

Now at youth levels there are odd rules imposed that might be in effect of which I am unaware. No slide tackles for example in older matches where we are not so resilient to falls it is often stated thusly so perhaps in younger matches it states the same as the skill set is low and safety is an issue.

A slide tackle is in my opinion a last resort tackle, generally when a beaten defender will try to go to ground in an effort to poke the ball away. If it succeeds he is a hero if it fails he likely fouls or is on the ground out of the play.

That slide tackle has many obstacles to over come in the timing, speed, contact and nature of the tackle itself. It can be a fair challenge but IF FOUL it can be considered as a DFK and only careless or reckless thus cautionable or excessive thus a red card and send off.

If foul play is associated with a slide tackle it tends to be a penal foul of tackles the player before the ball at the beginning and even if the ball is sneaked away clean tripping or holding after as scissoring legs or extra body arm action ensures the player is not going through.

Getting all ball, a referee is certainly less likely to see the challenge as foul play at that point but it does not allow the continuation of a tackle to wipe out the player as well. It is not illegal to have an opponent fall over you once that opponent is disposed of the ball. Notice I said fall, not trip or be held and dragged down.

The FACT that the ball MUST in law be the first thing contacted initially on a tackle so we are FAIR is still looked to the nature and force used with how the rest of the sliding body is coming into contact with the upright player as to whether it remains fair!
Cheers.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Peter, your league may have rules forbidding slide tackles at that age and may even have rules prohibiting the keeper from leaving his or her penalty area. If no such local rules exist then it is legal for a keeper to perform a slide tackle against an opponent. Whether it's a good idea at this young age is another question. I cringe whenever I see U-Littles attempting slide tackles as the chance of injury to themselves and their opponents is great.