Goal Restarts

[AjaxGunner]

I saw highlights of the Schalke-Leverkusen Bundesliga match from this past Saturday. Bayer GK Jorg Butt had just converted a PK (1:3) and was sauntering back to his own goal, celebrating along the way, when straight from the ensuing kickoff, Schalke forward Mike Hanke lofted the ball over Butt for a goal (2:3). Don't FIFA rules require that the referee ask each GK to indicate whether he is "ready" prior to each restart, or is this confined to the start of the game and halftime?

[stillgreyhound]

I saw highlights of the Schalke-Leverkusen Bundesliga match from this past Saturday. Bayer GK Jorg Butt had just converted a PK (1:3) and was sauntering back to his own goal, celebrating along the way, when straight from the ensuing kickoff, Schalke forward Mike Hanke lofted the ball over Butt for a goal (2:3). Don't FIFA rules require that the referee ask each GK to indicate whether he is "ready" prior to each restart, or is this confined to the start of the game and halftime?
It is confined to the average U6 field in rural america. There is no such requirement at all in FIFA.

[AjaxGunner]

Yes, but as a 5 year-old in Hicksville, Alabama, I wouldn't know.

[refmike]

US referees are taught that a ref yelling "GOALIE, ARE YOU READY?" at each kickoff is not professional conduct. We now teach the AR's to check the players on their half and when the count is correct and the players (including the keeper) seem ready, they are to unfirl their flag. The CR only has to glance to both sidelines and if the AR's are ready, they can begin the game.

[Tame Lion]

. . . Don't FIFA rules require that the referee ask each GK to indicate whether he is "ready" prior to each restart, or is this confined to the start of the game and halftime?
A team that has been awarded a FK is entitled to a quick kick with the hope of catching the opponents not perfectly prepared. It is no different with a KO.

The start of either half is different -- I will scan the field before allowing the half to start.

[NHRef]

At a KO after a goal, the ball cannot be put into play with a quick kick. The ref has to signal the team first. This is done as soon as all players are on their own side of the field and the ball is on the center spot. So yes, if those conditions where met and the keeper was running around and you had the leg for it, you could score.

[jc508]

To me, in this situation, the ref had two choices: 1) consider a caution for the delay of game caused by the player's behavior, or 2) allow the kick-off. I would say the ref made the correct decision that punished the keeper for his extensive celebration more than any caution would have done. The referee should not reward the player for delaying the game.

[nsa]

A team that has been awarded a FK is entitled to a quick kick with the hope of catching the opponents not perfectly prepared. It is no different with a KO.
TL, the kickoff is different. As stated in Law 8 it is a place kick, not free kick (as is Law 14). Law 8 stipulates several conditions that must be met before a kickoff is legal. One of those is that all players must be in their respective half of the field. Another is that the referee must "signal" (universally interpreted as "blow the whistle") for the kickoff to be taken.

That said, I encourage the scoring team to get back in position promptly using all the tools available, cautions when required, quick whistles when indicated, and verbal encouragement always.

Back to AG's original question, there is no requirement to ask the 'keepers if they are ready. Especially at the professional level, a player on the field of play should be presumed ready to play.

Back when the LOTG was changed to make the KO direct we saw many goals scored off the KO in amateur matches because 'keepers were not paying attention. They learned quickly enough. :)