Question Number: 14957

Law 10 - Method of Scoring 3/7/2007

RE: Rec Under 9

Gena Donaldson of Virden, IL US asks...

I have 3 who play soccer, 1 16 who plays select, 1 11 and 1 8 who play rec. Anyway my 8 year old came home from school and said a 2nd grade teacher told him (because they play soccer at recess) that a goal that a goalie kicked into the other net did not count because no else touched it. Is this true? I talked to her because I also work there, we also have both coached soccer and of course we both know it all. I told her I would look it up and let her know. She wasn't sure of any of the happenings surrounding the play before or after that. Thankyou!

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

If we are talking a GOAL kick restart or a DFK (Direct Free Kick) restart or a kick off the ground, a punt out or even a throw out of the ball from a keeper's own penalty area during actual play. If the ball entered the opposing goal untouched by anyone we have a legitamate goal.

ONLY on an INDFK (INDIRECT free kick) restart must a ball touch another player other trhan the kicker to score a goal directly. Even on a kick off from centre to restart play or begin the half a goal can be scored directly. Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Now we have second grade teachers messing up the Laws Of The Game! The only kick that has to touch another player before entering the net and count as a goal is an Indirect Free Kick. Has nothing to do with what player kicks it. If the keeper was taking a kick that was awarded based on an infraction resulting in an Indirect Free Kick, then the teacher is correct. All other cases, she's wrong. Thanks for asking

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

This was true from a goal kick prior to July 1996. It is always true from an indirect free kick. From any other play by the goalkeeper a goal is scored unless the Laws of the Game have been infringed. Documentation of this may be found in Laws 16, 13 and 10.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

If it was during live play, then of course it counts. If it is during a goal kick and the keeper kicked it into his/her own goal, then it would be a rekick. If keeper kicked it into opponents goal, then it is a GOAL. If it was during a free kick and the keeper kicked it into his/her own goal, it would not count - corner kick.