Question Number: 17851

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 11/11/2007

RE: u-12 select High School

Simon B of Fort Thomas, Ky. U.S.A. asks...

I was Ar un a U-12 girls select game when an attacker fouled a keeper after gaining possession. The restart is a free kick but the coaches wanted the keeper to have the ball in hand.Would it not be more advantageous to have the ball in hand then to free kick?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

It might be somewhat more advantageous for the keeper to be able to punt the ball rather than having a free kick given. Was the keeper able to hang onto the ball despite the foul? If so, the ref would have the option of signaling and verbalizing the advantage call, rather than stopping play. But how often do we actually use advantage in a U12 game? And how often in the defensive end of the field? Normally it's better for the ref to stop play and ensure everyone knows that kind of behavior won't be allowed in this game.

Once play is stopped, the only restart available is the free kick for a foul, or a dropped ball for an inadvertent whistle.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Having the keeper punt the ball versus kick it is usually about the same, although most keepers have more control over a kick than a punt, and the kick can go much further. Beyond that piece of advice, I concur completely with Ref Voshol. If the referee doesn't signal for advantage, meaning he doesn't call the foul, his only choice besides ignoring it (not recommended) is to give the free kick.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

As a keeper I perfer having the ball in my hands than to kick it off the ground. A ball in the hand can then be punted, drop kicked, thrown, or bowled. I have greater control over distribution that way. However, a free kick guarantees me 10 yards (or more, if inside my penalty area) that cannot be encraoched by defenders.

Now all that said, IF the referee stopped play he CANNOT allow the referee to take the ball from the hand and put it into play. He must order a free kick, there is no option here. If the referee does not blow the whistle, he could then allow "advantage" and let the keeper have the ball in the hand and that is the only way this can happen.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

In this case, the referee could have applied advantage and allowed keeper to punt ball. Since the referee blew the whistle though, the only restart is the free kick. Many times referees will want to end this kind of play and thus feel necessary to blow the whistle and call the foul. The age level and competition level also can influence the decision to either play on with advantage or call the foul.