Question Number: 15483

Law 10 - Method of Scoring 5/15/2007

Chris of San Jose, CA USA asks...

I have a couple questions:

Can a team play without a goalkeeper?

From the kick-off a player kicks the ball directly into the opponents goal, is that a goal?

If a goalkeeper is standing fully outside of his own goal line but holding the entire ball (in his hands) over the goal line, is that a goal?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Every team must have a player designated and dressed as a goalkeeper. That's in Law 3 and Law 4. The Laws do not say said person has to *act* like a goalkeeper, though.

Kickoffs are direct starts, and goals may be scored without anyone else touching the ball - but you cannot score against your own team. It's been that way in Law 8 for about 10 years now.

Law 10 says, "A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, provided that no infringement of the Laws of the Game has been committed previously by the team scoring the goal." No exception is given for a goalkeeper still holding on to that ball which is completely over the goal line.

Your heading information says you are an "All of the Above". If that was meant to include "Referee", you really have to go study the Laws before you get back out onto the field. These are all basic items that should have been covered by your instructor in your first referee certification course.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

No. Someone must wear the funny colored shirt. Yes, a goal can be scored on a kick off directly. The position of the ball is all that matters. If all of the ball is over all of the goal line and its between posts and under cross bar, its a goal.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

1. NO! "A match is played by two teams, each consisting of not more than eleven players, one of whom is the goalkeeper. A match may not start if either team consists of fewer than seven players." from This is from Law 3. 2. Yes, 3. Yes, if between the posts and under the crossbar in accordance with law 10.