Question Number: 28639

League Specific 8/7/2014

Derek Barnicoat of , asks...

Hi,
I was having a discussion with some young soccer players that came into my shop recently. In discussion I told them that when I was at school in the UK (1960) one of the rules of soccer was that at least one player from each team had to come in contact with the ball before a goal could be scored. This rule was true each time the ball was "kicked off" from the centre circle (for example at the beginning of the game or after a goal was scored).

They had not heard of this rule, and subsequently showed me a Facebook clip of a young team that took possession of the ball from the kick-off and we awarded a goal without the ball touching an opposing player.

Can you tell me if this rule exists or existed in the past (or whether I should go and find my marbles " which it seems I may have lost!).



Thanks

Derek

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Derek
No you are not losing your marbles. Prior to 1997 a goal could not be scored directly from a kick off. In the great re-write of the Laws in 1997 all that changed with a goal being awarded when that happened. The same would have applied to a goal kick. That also changed at that time.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

lol Laws change adapt and what once was, is no longer! Marbles have been around for a awhile, yours are intact
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee MrRef

Recently a backlog of questions that were incorrectly addressed to Mr.Ref rather than the panel were transferred from an old file to be answered on this site. I hope the answers prove enlightening despite the long delay.