Question Number: 18877

Law 10 - Method of Scoring 4/24/2008

RE: Competitive, USSF Grade 7 Adult

Rick Czechowski of San Diego, CA USA asks...

I was the center referee on a Mens League match last weekend where I witnessed one of those situations you THINK would occur only on a referee exam. A player from the attacking team performed a flip throw for a throw-in. None of his teammates was able to get a head on the ball in the box as was the plan. Instead, the goalie tried to catch it and, in the process, mishandled it BEFORE crossing the goal line and it flew into the goal. After consulting with my AR to make sure the whole of the ball did not cross the whole of the line before being touched by the GK, I then signaled goal and successfully placated the captain of the defending team.

My question here is more of academic interest. Should this goal be credited to the thrower, who was the last offensive player to touch the ball, or should the gaming authority record this as an "own goal?"

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The referee doesn't care who gets credit for the goal, other than "Blue". Let the team statistician figure it out.

The leagues I ref in have game forms where all the player's names are listed and you have to indicate on the line who scored goals or committed misconduct. In that case, I credit the goal to the last person on the team that touched it. So I'd have given the goal to the thrower.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If you have to credit someone, credit the thrower. What you describe happens more often than you think