keeper handling question

[soccertim]

In my son's game (U12) this weekend, the goalie of the other team ran out of the box with the ball and then punted it. The ref blew his whistle and awarded us an indirect free kick. Shouldn't it have been a direct free kick?

[Ref Flunkie]

Yes, standard handling call. *Begin personal opinion* However if it was simply a step out of the box during the punt where they goalie wasn't paying attention, it usually should not be called at all (of course the CR should warn the keeper and if he keeps doing it, then perhaps call it). It's more along the lines of a trifling offense. *End personal Opinion*

[Statesman]

Actually, Flunkie, USSF is starting to ask referees to be proactive in preventing this scenario from occuring throughout the game. When the keeper goes for a punt, the AR should get in line with the 18 and watch for handling. After the punt is off then the AR can sprint back up to the 2LD to watch for offside while the ball is in the air (you should be able to get from the 18 to the 2LD before anybody else plays it in this instance if you are quick about it -- but in the end it's always better to be with the offside line with each attacking play so use your best judgement. If you can, do it; but if you can't, don't worry about it). If you see the keeper handle the ball outside the PA, the you should get his attention when the time is appropriate and warn him about minding the 18. After he's been given a warning, it's appropriate to call for the handling if it occurs again, based on your judgment of the situation. Obviously if it's still a very minor case then give him a second warning, but if he keeps it up the foul should be called.

[refmike]

The above answers are correct but another possibility is that the ref was used to working U8 or U10 games where there are no direct free kicks. In that case, the call would be correct but not for this game.

[Ref Flunkie]

Thanks for the info Statesman, sounds like a reasonable job for the AR. I just wonder what the best way would be for the AR to inform the CR if there is a problem.

refmike: There are no direct free kicks in U10?? That isn't the case here.

[Crowdie]

When the keeper goes for a punt, the AR should get in line with the 18 and watch for handling. After the punt is off then the AR can sprint back up to the 2LD to watch for offside while the ball is in the air (you should be able to get from the 18 to the 2LD before anybody else plays it in this instance if you are quick about it -- but in the end it's always better to be with the offside line with each attacking play so use your best judgement. If you can, do it; but if you can't, don't worry about it).

You have to pick which battles are worth fighting and in a fast senior game you will just not be able to run from the edge of the 18 yard box to the 2LD if the 2LD is almost on the half way line (because the keeper can kick the ball half to three quarters the length of the pitch). I have found at senior level that it is more important to be on the 2LD then to catch a keeper handling the ball 10cm outside his/her area when he/she is kicking the ball into the other half - what advantage is he/she getting in that 10cm in comparison to the length of his/her kick? (as Ref Flunkie pointed out).

If you see the keeper handle the ball outside the PA, the you should get his attention when the time is appropriate and warn him about minding the 18. After he's been given a warning, it's appropriate to call for the handling if it occurs again, based on your judgment of the situation. Obviously if it's still a very minor case then give him a second warning, but if he keeps it up the foul should be called.

Couldn't agree more. The game belongs to the players. If you see a small offence just have a quick word with the player and let the game flow. If the player continues to offend then give the free. At U12 level one of the worst things you could do is come down on a player and either put them off soccer altogether or give them a "referees hate us" attitude that they will carry into youth and senior soccer.

Crowdie

[soccertim]

The above answers are correct but another possibility is that the ref was used to working U8 or U10 games where there are no direct free kicks. In that case, the call would be correct but not for this game.


Based on the fact that he called 3 pks against us, I don't think that this was the case...

Not that I'm complaining about the indirect vs direct kick call, though. We actually scored on the restart. I just asked for my own education.

[Statesman]

Crowdie, I've reffed at the professional level and it is quite possible if the referee is fit enough. Then again, what professional level, or even high amateur, goalkeeper is going to carry the ball across the 18? You only see it happen when there is a last ditch desperation move in trying to take the ball from an attacker. The same goes for competitive U19 play -- they rarely commit minor infractions such as this. The real levels to concentrate on this are mid-level amateur and U17 on down.

[Crowdie]

Crowdie, I've reffed at the professional level and it is quite possible if the referee is fit enough. Then again, what professional level, or even high amateur, goalkeeper is going to carry the ball across the 18? You only see it happen when there is a last ditch desperation move in trying to take the ball from an attacker. The same goes for competitive U19 play -- they rarely commit minor infractions such as this. The real levels to concentrate on this are mid-level amateur and U17 on down.

Mate you have to come down our way for a beer and while you are down I'll show you some of the pitches we are forced to run on. I was running the line the other weekend for a round one Chatham Cup game (our version of the FA Cup) and it had been raining all week and it was still raining at kickoff. I looked down and the mud was above my boots. I looked at the CR and he looked at me but there had to be a result so what do you do? - you just get on with it. Just to annoy me the game was a draw at full time and nobody scored after two fifteen minute golden goal halves so we went to penalties. One of the penalties has hit low (stupid player - well definitely a tied player) and it didn't even make the goal line :confused: The game kicked off at 2:00pm and we got off just after 5:00pm :(

I tend to see this type of infraction around the U13 to U15 level but I don't referee any social games so these players are well coached.

Crowdie