Question Number: 17608

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 11/1/2007

RE: Just finished 1st season Under 15

Dave of Des moines, IA US asks...

I have to admit that I have a soft spot for keepers. They sit back there all by their lonesome self and when they do collect the ball it's possible that some nut will try to kick it out of their hands. I hate to see this and let the players know this both vocally and punitively.

As a preventative measure I will yell out "Keepers got the ball!" when I foresee this stituation happening. My quandary is that, if fouled, the keeper has to put the ball on the ground to kick it instead of punting.
He is basically disadvantaged by the foul. Is there anything a ref can do to help out the poor ole' keep?

Also, if the keeper stops a ball and posseses it, when for example, play is stopped for injury, how do you fairly restart with a dropped ball? I was told to instruct the goalie to keep the ball and punt it to restart, but that is clearly against the rules for a dropped-ball restart. But of course it wouldn't be fair to drop the ball in front of the goal after the keeper just stopped a score. I once tried to put the ball in front of the goalie and told him to go ahead and punt it but he kicked it when it hit the ground and a close-by attacker almost scored. Any thoughts? (that's a rhetorical question of course!) BTW, thanks for the time you folks put into this site, it really helps me make the game as enjoyable as possible for everyone in my community.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Two suggestions:

Evaluate advantage. Would it be better to play on, or to stop for the foul? Of course that depends on the nature of the foul - if the keeper is illegally dispossessed of the ball, you can't tell her to keep going.

A dropped ball doesn't require that any player be present. Nor does it require that players from both teams be present. Drop the ball directly in front of the keeper, after telling him that he may pick it up. If the opponents try to participate, you get to try to talk them out of it by explaining the fairness of the situation.

Thanks for the kind words. We enjoy (mostly) answering questions in an attempt to educate and amuse. You also have some fine referees in Iowa, some at very high levels if I recall correctly (a FIFA?). Get to know the powers that be in the state ref committee, and use them for their knowledge and support.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I have simply dropped the ball to the keeper on numerous occasions over the years. Tell him to pick it up not kick it off the ground. Ask him not to punt it for a few seconds to let the oppoenets back up. No one has ever complained and it's not only within Law but within the Spirit of fair play.