Question Number: 19377

Law 10 - Method of Scoring 6/14/2008

RE: Rec Under 13

Ben Citrin of Madison, Connecticut United States asks...

As an AR, what are you supposed to do if the CR calls it a goal, but you see that the ball did not completely cross the goal line. I was ARing a U12-Rec match, when the attacking team shot, hit the bottom of the crossbar, and then it bounced, and the keeper got it. However, the CR called it a goal, and I had to call to him to say that it wasn't a goal. We then gave an IFK to the defense. Also, was this the right restart?

Thanks

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Here is what the handbook Guide to Procedures For Referee, Assistant Referees, and Fourth Officials says the Lead AR shoud do to deny an apparent goal

? Stands in place
? Signals the referee according to the
situation
w If the scorer was offside at the
moment the ball was passed to
him or her, signals offside
w If there was a foul by an
attacker, stands at attention
with the fl ag held straight
down at the side
w If a player other than the scorer
was in an offside position and,
in the opinion of the assistant
referee, was interfering with
play or with an opponent,
stands at attention with the fl ag
held straight down at the side
w Assumes the proper position
for the restart indicated by the
referee
? Is prepared to signal referee
in accordance with pregame
discussion if further information
needs to be given to assist in
making the correct decision

The bottom line is you HAVE to get the referees attention before the kick-off. Since the referee blew the whistle and stopped play, an IFK is an incorrect restart. The correct restart is a dropped ball. In the interest of fairness and since the Laws do not require anyone to participate in a dropped ball, the referee could simply drop the ball to the keeper.

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Ben, there are some agreed signals between A/Rs and referees that are quite subtle. One is how to signal a goal/no goal. Most refs will ask you to sprint 10 to 15 meters if a goal is scored and stay put if there was a problem, as in your case. In your example it was important that you convey the information to the ref even if it was not so subtle. The restart is a drop ball on the edge of the goal area parallel to the goal line closest to where it crossed the goal line. I would ask that only the keeper be at the drop ball but if the attckers do not cooperate, I would drop the ball in such a way that I would put myself on the goal side of the ball making it difficult to score from a play that was essentially my mistake.