Question Number: 30215

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/24/2016

RE: Competitive Under 12

Aaron Speca of Virginia Beach, VA United States asks...

Found a third handball clip ... this one was a blocked shot ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPdAIK0_LsI

This one's tough for me, his hands are up, but the force of the ball certainly went into his stomach. Call was for a penalty kick.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Aaron
Not deliberate handling for me. Instinctive protective reaction by a young player. The player also makes no effort to direct the ball and the ball really makes most contact with the players chest so the any handling was insignificant.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=K0BubRmKzt8
In this video the ball clearly hits Blues arm. However the ball rears up of his leg towards his arm and IMO this was no deliberate as it is entirely accidental with the players efforts to win the ball rather than stop it with his arm. Correct decision was made by the referee not to award the penalty kick.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Aaron,

Referees should take into consider whether the arms were moved towards the ball or whether they were in a natural position (including a self-protective reflex), whether the player had ample opportunity to react (even if the shot came from long away the player's view may have been blocked until the last moment), and the age and skill of the players. For instance, we'll be more forgiving on a self-protective reflex at U/12 than in a high grade adult game.
The outcome is irrelevant - an accidental handling that has a huge benefit for the team that handles it (even stopping or scoring a goal!) still must not be penalised.

For this clip, I don't think it was a reflex as much as the player just putting his arm there as he jumped. Was it a natural position?
What I'd be more concerned about is whether the arm is out from the body - that's where it shouldn't be. If the arm was in front of the body, close to the body and kicked into him from close range, then I wouldn't want to see that penalised.

If the arm was out to the side (I don't think it was, but I'm not entirely certain) then there's a pretty good argument that the arms weren't in a natural position - players will learn that they need to avoid 'making themselves bigger' by having their arms out to the side in such challenges. Even those can be tricky to judge.

Answer provided by Referee MrRef

Hi Aaron,
Another example of NO whistle required! At any level!

from our pitch to your pitch in the spirit of fair play