Question Number: 19908

Law 10 - Method of Scoring 9/9/2008

RE: rec Under 12

scott melnick of skokie, illinois usa asks...

A player has a breakaway and is driving towards the goal...she shoots, slips, and lands on the ball (she's actually sitting on the ball)...no one moves...she stands up...(note she never touched the ball with her hands or arms)...shoots...and scores.

Should the play have been stopped as soon as she sat on the ball?

Should the goal have been allowed?

I've never encountered this situation before and I was pretty much flumoxed.

Thoughts?

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

Goal. No offense has occured, therefere allow play to continue.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Nothing wrong there she fell on the ball and then got up and continued. Perfectly reasonable behaviour in an unusal circumstance. GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If she quickly gets off the ball and then continues to play, there is no offense.

If she had stayed on the ball making it difficult for her opponents to play it lest they injure her, she should be called for Playing In A Dangerous Manner. The restart would be an indirect free kick for the opponents. Normally PIADM requires that the opponents hold back from play because of the danger; if the opponent goes ahead and tries to play the ball and kicks the player on the ground, it would be a kicking foul. In the youth leagues like U12, we need to be proactive and call it earlier, before any injury can happen.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

As long as she makes an immediate effort to get off the ball, as she did here, there's no offense. This is a valid goal