Question Number: 25615

Law 1- The Field 10/17/2011

RE: Competive High School

Cliff Clement of Jackosnville, NC US asks...

Football crossbar [and goalposts] on turf-field are directly above soccer goal crossbar; football goalposts have 'flags' [wind direction aids on top of goalposts] that are blowing and extending onto soccer pitch; ball touches flag and stays on the pitch; Is ball in-play or out-of-play ???

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Cliff
The football crossbar and posts are covered by a local rule. If the ball strikes these structures the ball is usually deemed to be out of play and the restart depends on who touched the ball last
On corner flags as the ball has not crossed the touch line or goal line the ball is in play and play should continue.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

USSF recognizes that soccer games are sometimes played on multi-use fields. Advice to Referees addresses the gridiron goalposts:

1.7 SUPERSTRUCTURE ON GOALS
It is not uncommon on public fields for the soccer goals to include structures attached to and above the crossbar (particularly where the goal is being used for other sports). If the ball strikes any part of such a structure, apart from or in addition to striking a goal post or crossbar, the ball is considered to have left the field even if, as a result of the contact, the ball remains on the field. The restart (goal kick or corner kick) is based on Laws 16 or 17.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

High school rules are the same as under the laws of the game. If the ball strikes the (US) football structure, it is out of play.