Question Number: 9333

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct

RE: 1A - 2A boys highschool play off High School

Lionel Heinold of EPHRATA, Washington usa asks...

During the 20th minute Team A possessed the ball outside of Team B's penalty area. A hard shot was taken at the goal. Team B's keeper dropped to his knees and the ball struck him in the chest and rebounded several feet in front of him. A-1 who had taken the shot had followed the ball and kicked it at the goal. The ball struck the keeper and in A-1's follow through he kicked the keeper in the head. The ball rebounded and player A-2 who was trailing the play put the ball in the net. ..I was the AR on Team B's end of the field. The center referee and I agreed on what had happened. The coach for Team B objected to the goal because he felt that his keeper was fouled before the goal. The referee and I conferred while the coach for Team B administered aid to his keeper. We decided to allow the goal for two reasons; (1) the keeper did not have possession of the ball, and (2) the keeper, by going to his knees, had put his body where peoples feet were, and thus he was playing in a dangerous manner. Was our decision correct?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

You were there, you saw what happened, you made the decision to allow the goal. That said, it seems to me that the keeper's dropping to his knees is normal and customary for keeper play. I don't see how this is playing in a dangerous manner. If you felt that A-1 had fouled the keeper by kicking him in the head, then there should be no goal. If you believed the keeper was playing in a dangerous manner, then you give advantage and the goal is good.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

No foul play here because the keeper played the ball but did not hold it. He continued to make a play for the ball and suffered a bit of a knock when his opponent played the shot he had available to him. If the referee saw any foul play he would have either played the advantage and given a goal or stopped play for kicking or attempting to kick... Regards,

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

See Question: 14934