Question Number: 23202

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 4/27/2010

RE: Rec Under 9

Tracie Hall of Austin, TX United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 23176

Our ref said if the girls entered the box (offense or defense), the 'other team' got a point. The parents on both teams were all baffled. We had never heard of that rule before. I couldn't find the rule on our youth association's website. My daughter is young, and I am not familiar with all the rules, so I want to make sure I am teaching her correctly. Thank you for your help.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Local rules are different nearly everywhere. I would recommend checking with the Capital Area Youth Soccer Association for the local rules on U10 play.

And, contact the referee assignor for the fields where you played, give them the date, time and field of the game and ask for an explanation. You might also ask that the referee be counseled, as I suspect a player in the wrong place is only an indirect free kick restart.

I did check with some local assignors, and in 3x3 games, in some associations, if the ball is touched by a defender inside the tiny goal area, a goal is awarded, but if it is touched by an attacking player, play is restarted with a goal kick. Note this is ONLY in 3x3. If your daughter is playing U9, that is either 5x5 or 7x7, normally.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Well I've heard of some weird* modifications, but never one that added a goal when one wasn't scored. I'd reiterate my colleague's advice to check with the powers that be to see if this was a real rule or a very innovative and creative ref. I'm all for creativity, but ...

* - One year our regional U10 league changed something in all but 2 of the Laws, and completely did away with about 5 of them. Ever heard of an indirect penalty kick? They had one.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Tracie
Not sure what that is all about and I suspect it may be an 'inventive' referee who is trying to get a point across about penalty area encroachment? It is not part of the Laws of the Game and I have never came across this as a local rule. However we have been informed in the past of pretty unique local rules after providing an answer. Someone might enlighten us.

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

See Question: 23212