Question Number: 16737

Law 9 - The Ball in and out of Play 9/17/2007

RE: Challenge Under 14

Jeffrey Dale of Cary, NC United States asks...

If the ball touches the netting on the outside of the goal is the ball considered out of bounds?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Yes, provided the ball is fully across the goal line, it is out of play. I suppose there could be some weird confluence of forces that might allow a ball to touch the netting and rebound back onto the field without having been completely over the line.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

If the netted area is afixed properly and fastened from the back of the 5 inch post stretched back then as long as no post is included in the rebound the ball would be over the goal line thus out of play. Mind you loose netting at the top hanging down or over the sides should be addressed before the start up of the match! Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

Don't even think about the net when it comes to this topic. All you need to decide is whether or not the ball has wholly (100%) crossed the whole goal line (100%) in the air or on the ground. If that has happened then it is out of play.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

If the ball was completly over the goal line, then yes. Otherwise no. The net however should not extend onto the field. If it does, then the referee needs to take care of it.