Question Number: 17918

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 11/15/2007

RE: Girls JV High School

Steve of Vero Beach, FL USA asks...

I think I got this one right by the letter of Law 12 and Rule 12-7-3, but I may have blown on the spirit of the game. Your advise would be greatly appreciated.

Ball is played into the PA by the attacking team. Defender traps and controls the ball at her feet. She is about 10yrds out from near goal post and the attackers are advancing from around 15 yrds away. She plays the ball back toward the goal line just outside of the GA. The GK easily retrieves the ball by scooping it up in her arms before it gets to the the Goal Line with 2 attackers within 10 yrds.

I whistled the GK for handling a ball passed to her from her teammate and awarded an idfk from the spot where she picked up the ball.

The coach politely asked for a clarification of the call at half time and I told her the following, which she accepted:

1.) Ball was played back toward the GK to an area where she could easily retrieve it. The ball was not cleared in a hurried boot of the ball.

2.) GK chose to handle the ball eventhough she had the option to use her feet as there was no immediate pressure.

3.) The Varsity Coach, sitting in the stands, screamed out "Don't pick up that ball!" (least important but even he got it).

I understand also that the this was outlawed to stop time wasting. This was clearly an attempt to play the ball safely out of danger - not an attempt to waste time.

Did I make the right interpretation here? Or should I have swallowed the whistle and told the attackers (who would have complained if I hadn't called the infraction)to just play?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The teammate deliberately kicked the ball to an area where the keeper could go get it. Yes, we spend a lot of time reminding people about time wasting but even without obvious time wasting this is an infraction. As you rightly state, this was not a miskick and the keeper clearly chose to play the ball with her hands. Hey, even the coach got it right!. Only question I have is location of restart. If inside the goal area the ball should come out to the six yard line

Answer provided by Referee Debbie Hoelscher

From your description, I would agree also, that this is a good call....Well done!

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Steve, your call seems spot on. Part of the problem we face from time to time with this particular infraction is the level of knowledge/ignorance of the players. If the coach was cognizant enough of the issue, then his players most likely are as well, so in this instance, I find nothing to quibble about based on your description of the facts - which is final, after all! I am glad you think to question your call, and to cite the reasons it might have gone a different way. No matter how well we know the letter of the Laws, sometimes it is our gut feeling (albeit an educated gut feeling) that helps us figure out the right answers. And even if it isn't totally correct, we've thought about it, which will make us a better referee next time. Oh, and I'll bet that keeper learned something as well - and that was worth the price of the call! Two points for you!

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Looks like you made the correct call. I have no problem with this call and do not think that you blew it within the spirit of the game. This seems like a clear violation of Law 12.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 17972