Question Number: 19019

Law 10 - Method of Scoring 5/7/2008

RE: Rec Under 10

Tim Gelorme of Charlotte, NC USA asks...

If an offense player has one foot inside the goal and one out, can he still score a goal? Far enough into the goal that the offensive player foot hits the back of the net.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Players normally stay on the field. It's ok if they go off the field in the normal course of play, say because they are running at full speed and don't stop right on the line. A player may run down the sideline and weave outside the line so as to play the ball that is rolling toward the line.

So if the player scoring the goal is off or partially off the field due to normal play, that is quite all right. He may even score a goal. For purposes of offside, he will be considered to be on the line.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

Based on your cursory description of the events, I don't see a problem here. There is not enough information to indicate any sort of violation... the ball is still in play even if part of the player touching the ball is off the field of play, remember in soccer it's all about the position of the BALL that determines if it is in or out and nothing else (except the referee's whistle).

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

There is also the matter of offside to consider.

Regards,