Question Number: 19713

Law 10 - Method of Scoring 8/9/2008

RE: Grade 8 and high school Under 19

Brian Tamborino of Brooklyn, N Y U S asks...

Can a goal be scored directly from a keeper's punt? I don't see why not, but a higher rated ref/instructor tells me that a keeper can not score for his team by punting a ball directly into the opponent's goal. I don't want to argue with him (he's also an assignor) but I can't find anything dealing with this situation in the laws of the game or Adcice to Referees. If I should deny a goal I want to be able to back it up! Help!
Thanks.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Ahh Brian! Yet another 'higher rated' referee that is clueless and this one is an instructor to boot!! It's small wonder we have confused referees out there when we have instructors spouting such nonsense. Of course a goal may be scored on a punt by the keeper! Why in the world wouldn't it? It's not even a restart so no one, not even a brain dead instructor should get this wrong. Perhaps this seasoned referee is confusing a punt with a goal kick and is then further thinking that at a goal kick the keeper cannot score an own goal. Please do not EVER deny a goal scored directly from a keeper's punt, or goal kick for that matter if it's into the opponent's goal. The reason this is not addressed in Advice or LOTG is there should be no reason to have to address it. The ball is in play so if it goes into the goal in accordance with Law 10, a goal should be awarded. Were I you, I would contact the New York SDI and tell him or her exactly what this instructor told you. If no one calls him on it he will be free to continue to give out wrong information. I wonder if he also thinks the color of your whistle has to match your shirt or that you should never let the coin touch the ground at a coin toss!

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

I can only hope you misunderstood the senior referee, instructor/assignor as the context is pure drivel and rubbish to boot. I respect those who contribute to the overall benifit of soccer in their respective communities and can not fault a mistake or to but this far and away very basic stuff to be unknown to an instructor!
Not only could a keeper PUNT the ball into the opposition's goal the keeper could direct kick the ball into the opposition's goal from the goal area on a goal kick if he had the leg strength! In FACT the keeper could THROW the ball into the opposition's goal if he had the arm strength during his 6 seconds of possession with the hands during ongoing play.
Cheers

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 19723