Question Number: 19532

Law 7 - Match Duration 6/29/2008

RE: Competative Under 10

Dana of Burnsville, MN USA asks...

My player shot the ball before time expired in the first half, but time expired before the ball crossed the plane of the goal. The ball went in the net. Is this a goal since she shot before time expired or should it be disallowed because the ball did not cross the plane before time expired?

Thanks

Dana

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Dana, I personally do not believe in the concept of 'competitive u-10'. At that age they should be playing six a side or seven aside. As far as the goal is concerned, when the referee blows to indicate the end of the game, technically the game ends at he first sound of his whistle. Perhaps you are thinking of basketball rules. Not so in soccer.

Common sense should tell the ref to allow a second or two to see if the ball goes in the net. I have a vibrate function on the timer on my watch. It is the timer that I stop for substitutions, injuries, time wasting and other causes. So at all times I know exactly how much time is left. But only I know the precise time remaining in the match. So, when I feel the vibrate function, I normally blow the whistle.

That is how your game probably ended. Technically the ref was correct but in a practical sense it was a silly decision.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The game is over when the referee says it is so the goal does not count. That said, the referee is required to add any time lost during play so he probably should have added a few seconds. Most referees will not end play when there is an obvious scoring opportunity

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

No. It is not like basketball. Ball must be all the way over the line before the clock expires.