Question Number: 23213

Law 10 - Method of Scoring 4/29/2010

RE: Competive Adult

Philip Fukushima of Kailua Kona, HI USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 21178

My questions is more to issue of how the goal was scored. I recently did a game as an AR and signaled a goal on a play of the same nature. Shot hit the crossbar came down over the goal line and then bounced back into the field of play (back spin). The CR looked for my signal and counted the goal. The discussion after the game centered around if that was even physically possible and these question are from players, coaches, who have been around the game for 30 years. Can you let me know a resource to help back up my decision?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

It is physically possible. I've seen it happen, and I'm sure I'm not the only one besides yourself. I reiterate - the ONLY one who will be able to tell for sure what the ball did (not why, but what) is a properly positioned AR.

And those coaches and players with years of experience can argue themselves blue in the face, but it doesn't change facts.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

It happens a lot. The difficult question is did it just happen.

Lots of science and technology has focused on determining when a spinning ball deflects off a crossbar into the goal and out again since 1966 when Geoff Hurst's WC strike (or the Russian's assistant referee 's revenge) lifted England over Germany. An interesting book is Ken Bray's 'How to score: science and the beautiful game.'