Question Number: 35162

High School 10/16/2023

RE: jv and varsity High School

william stoneman of fairfield, ca usa asks...

NFHS rule 12.7.1 Does not allow a player to lay down behind the wall for safety reasons. Has FIABUSSF laws also adopted that position on laying down behind the wall

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Will, good question,
At first I thought it plausible this might be looked as playing in a dangerous manner. PIADM. Yet as it occurs prior to a restart I think if a referee does not intervene, it is fine A key component is the arms better be tight to the body mass or if you are a tripping hazard once play restarts?
I believe the RULES of Highschool or youth are intended to PUSH safety.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Will,
Thank you for mentioning this situation.

This is a new situation that has been added in the 2023-24 NFHS Rules book because this apparently has happened although I have never seen it.

The following is the NFHS 12.7.1 situation you referred to:

Team A is awarded a free kick and multiple players from Team B line up for a wall an appropriate distance from the spot per the official, and then another player from Team B lays down behind the wall. Before allowing play to start, the official instructs the player from Team B to stand up. Ruling: Correct Procedure. Comment: A player may play the ball while on the ground providing the player's action does not create a danger to that player or to any other player. Lying down behind the wall of defensive players creates a dangerous situation to both the player on the ground and those in the wall.

As referee Dawson mentioned this situation was most likely added because the NFHS stresses safety and had made rules to insure that safety. Hopefully, both you and I will not encounter this situation.

I hope you are having a very successful fall season.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi William
Thanks for the question.
I don’t like this tactic and there is somewhat of a risk of a team mate in the wall trodding or falling backwards on the stretched out team mate.

Now I have not seen it at grassroots as teams do not see a need for it. The chances of a ball going under a jumping wall at lower levels of the game is extremely low and certainly not enough to be using a defender to mitigate it rather than having an extra player in the wall.

As it stands IFAB / FIFA has not intervened and I suspect that it is generally pro teams that engage in it that these players know the risks associated with it. Pro players also jump much higher in the wall and the kicker can have the ability to go over or under depending on what has happened in the past.
NFHS has safety of players at its core and I can see why such a rule is introduced although I suspect its use was very limited yet this rule now prevents its use.