I've had some games using the build-out line in U9/10. I can tell the rules weren't made by someone with a deep understanding of the LOTG. Here's what our one-page rules say. (Emphasis is mine) This is in Law...I mean Rule 1. B. Build out lines: Build out lines are located halfway between the box and midfield line on both sides of the field. When the goalkeeper has the ball, either during play or from a goal kick, the opposing team must move behind the build out line. After the ball is put into play by the goalkeeper, the opposing team can cross the build out line, play resumes as normal. And then Law 16- Rule 16 - Goal Kick Conform to FIFA. All players defending the goal kick must be no closer than the build-out line until the kick is struck. Just going off of Law 16, I'd take that to mean that players can cross the build-out line as soon as the ball is kicked. In Law 1, there is mention of "after the ball is put into play" which could mean once it leaves the penalty area. However, that part seems to be relating to when the keeper has the ball during live play. And to top it off, the assignor says that the other team can't cross until the ball leaves the penalty area on a goal kick. At this rate, the season is almost done and the teams have settled in on players being able to "charge in" the moment the ball is kicked.
USSF has heard our prayers and petitions and provided some additional guidance on the BOL in their last email blast to referees (emphasis added): I wonder whether AYSO will revise their national rules and regulations on this especially for the goal kick bit, since their current interpretation is that opposing players can cross the BOL once the ball has been kicked.
Update to my previous post - For the last week of the season at U9/U10, they let the teams know that the other team can't cross the buildout line until the ball is touched by a teammate of the GK or the ball crosses the buildout line. It worked a lot better and resulted in play that was much closer to the purpose of the buildout lines.
AYSO has announced that is not making any changes right now because it is so close to the end of the season. (My guess is there will be a few changes for next year now that there has been a full year of play with the BOL, but that is just my guess.)
In the last two weeks I've seen some bad habits in youth players caused by the build out line. I'm AR2, U12B game, first age group where BOL not used locally. Keeper sets the ball down on the ground after a save and kicks it out to the side -- to a marked player. Same game, keeper again sets ball on the ground after a save. Coach, or maybe parent, hollers "You can punt it!" -- so goalie picks it back up. Tweet, IFK. I understand the idea of the BOL in theory, but in practice I think it is shaping up to be counterproductive. So far I'm not a fan.
That sounds a whole lot more like a kid who doesn't play keeper much than a problem from the BOL--which didn't exist last year when the kid was at a younger level. (Or is this a kid playing in tow different leagues and under different rule sets?)
Wait, you're bringing up a problem with a league going against the directive and blaming that on the build out line?
I'm not sure what you're referring to. My belief is that players who have gotten used to the build out line have developed some bad habits that can cause other problems.
Playing from the back and build comfort on the ball is a bad habit and pressing a GK in a small sided game is a good habit? The problem here is a local league deviating from what is now the standard. This is not a build out line problem. The question I'd ask here is what could the referee team do to help deal with the confusion the poor goalkeeper experienced? You may think this a stupid question but the game is for the kids. He's getting conflicting advice in game and put in a situation where he needs to follow two conflicting models of play. I've been in games where a young player is confused and feeling some pressure. Is there any harm in stopping the game for a second to clear up his confusion and restarting with a dropped ball? If there is a flaw, I'd put it down to coaching. If we're teaching players to mindlessly play short, that's clearly bad and not at all what this is meant to instill. Its about decision-making, keeping shape, and developing some balance. The line is there because adults place more emphasis on results and exploiting weakness than they do teaching soccer. As you start play it's meant to instill some sense of safety so you can build good habits, comfort on the ball, and learn how to make decisions. As you defend, you're meant to learn how to defend together and press with some purpose. It's also important to understand that this concept is not an American invention either. It's been borrowed from countries like Spain.
The first directive from USSF and Georgia Soccer said "No punts." So a couple areas I ref in allowed dropkicks. This season it states "No punts or dropkicks." U10B game today, my last of three. The keeper makes a save and waits for opponents to get behind the buildout line. He then pushes the ball down to the ground, it bounces up and a teammate boots it past the midline. I blow the whistle and call dropkick. The coach argues. I said "the purpose is to teach the players to build out from the back and that was not building out from the back. That was a two man dropkick. Indirect kick." I'll ask the assignor later, but I feel in the spirit of the rule, I was right.
That is amazing. I wonder how much time the coach wasted at practice trying to teach this. “Every line up and we’ll take turns smashing a bouncing ball as far as we can”
After a 7v7 game with the buildout line, I spoke with an older referee I had not met before. I asked him about how he's handling the rule. He said it was fine. He liked using the line to see offside, the no punting, etc. He also said he only had to call "two line pass only once." I asked "two line pass?" He said when a player passes the ball from behind the midline to a player who receives it past the buildout line. I asked "Was the attacker ahead of the buildout line and behind the 2LD when the ball was kicked?" He said "It doesn't matter. You can't pass across two lines like that." Sigh
My local indoor soccer club has that rule for youth and coed. They have lines similar to the build-out lines.
It took me forever to figure out what the heck you guys are talking about. In Iowa, our "academy" matches (9U-10U) use "build out" lines. It's the center line.