Question Number: 22640

Law 10 - Method of Scoring 12/13/2009

RE: Rec High School

John of Vancouver, WA USA asks...

Is it possible to score a goal in soccer from the other side of the pitch? like at 75 yards or so? or do u have to be past halfway?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

You can score from anywhere on the field.

In fact, last weekend in the English Premier League, a Wigan player scored directly from a free kick a few yards on his own side of halfway.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If the ball is in play, you can score from anywhere on the field if you are able. On a restart, you can only score directly if the restart is a Direct Free Kick or another kick that allows you to score directly such as goal kick or kick off. You can't, obviously, score directly from an Indirect Free Kick restart.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi John
Once the ball is in play a goal can be scored from anywhere on the field of play. Indeed goalkeepers have scored with punts from their own penalty area, almost the total length of the field of play.

Answer provided by Referee Tom Stagliano

John

Good question. You state that the level of competition is 'Recreational High School'. Congratulations, I have been trying to get Intramural soccer games at local high schools for years, in order to satisfy the recreational needs of teenagers. Don't forget to play Intramurals in College, and Sunday morning pick-up soccer as an adult to have fun and get exercise.

Referees Wright, Contarino and McHugh have answered correctly for all soccer played under the FIFA laws of the game, or high school, or college rules.

However, some intramural or recreational leagues will play 'outdoors', but use indoor rules. Some indoor facilities, have a 'two line rule', (since they are using a roller-blade hockey rink for the 'field). In those cases no kick is allowed to travel across two lines without touching the ground/floor or a player. Therefore, if a kick goes in the air over two lines and enters the opposing goal, the restart is an IFK at the line closest to the team's goal who took the initial kick.

Other small field games have rules that prevent a Goal Kick from crossing mid-field without touching the ground or another player. As we know from the rules of soccer, a goal may be scored directly from a goal kick, but if you are playing in an Intramural Recreational league with 'small sided' rules, then maybe you are not allowed to score directly from the goal kick, unless the ball touches the ground before crossing midfield.

So, a complete answer to your question is to check with your Recreational League rules to see if they have adopted any modifications to FIFA, high school or college rules for your recreational league.

Enjoy the soccer!!!

- Stag