The Ref Stop

Goal Kicks

James Field

James Field

New Member
Level 5 Referee
This came up in a conversation with some colleagues this morning:

A referee asked me; 'A goalkeeper rolls the ball onto the floor for a goal kick, the ball is inside the goal area when it is kicked, it is however, moving as the keeper kicks it. Referee stops play and makes keeper re-take. Is the correct or incorrect in Law?'

Thoughts everyone?
 
The Ref Stop
Haha interesting one. Without looking int he good book, I'm not sure, but I always thought the ball had to be stationary, but apparently there is nothing in LOTG that says so.
 
Exactly, it is the only restart whereby the law does not specify the ball must be stationary. Very odd! We were discussing how many assessors would pick up on this, and whether you would risk annoying pretty much all of the players by letting it go and trying to explain it.

But, the Law is the Law!
 
I did a friendly between a conference and FL team, and I stopped play because the ball wasn't stationary at a goal kick, and to my amazement, all the players shouted that it didn't have to be, so its a tricky one!

Its something people expect, but then maybe not? Haha.
 
Lol....I was under the impression that it didn't have to be stationary at a GK as long as it was within the goal area when kicked.

Never been an issue yet, despite a couple of occasions when the keeper has kicked a moving ball - none of the players picked up on it.
 
I think that this is one of those issues that the FA/FIFA could really do with clarifying. Whilst the LOTG regarding goal kicks does not specify that the ball has to be stationary (as FK and CKs do), I get the impression that this is one of those things that "everyone knows" and so does not get mentioned. In the AOL section concerning ARs, it specifically states that the best position for the AR at a goal kick is such that the AR can see that the ball is placed correctly. It says "placed" and not "moving about within the goal area correctly". The implication of this is that the ball is stationary. If the ball is not "placed correctly" he should indicate this to the referee. Hmmm.
 
Rolling is fine. However, be careful in allowing it to be taken when the opposition complain like mad - it's probably easier to stop play and have it retaken when stationary, than trying to expalin the LOTG to moaning players on the hoof! Trust me, I have experience of this, and my lino got involved with the flag too!:eek:
 
Ian Mitchell said:
Rolling is fine. However, be careful in allowing it to be taken when the opposition complain like mad - it's probably easier to stop play and have it retaken when stationary, than trying to expalin the LOTG to moaning players on the hoof! Trust me, I have experience of this, and my lino got involved with the flag too!:eek:
Click to expand...
Although technically wrong, I agree. If players expect it, then in this case, do it.
 
I read in The Soccer Referee's Manual, Third edition, 2000 by David Ager in unit 6, part 2 - the goal kick, that 'the ball can be placed anywhere in the goal area. In an effort to speed the game up, goal kicks may now be taken from anywhere in the goal area.'

Even though, as stated by Reffariii earlier in this thread, the LOTG do not mention that the ball must be stationary at a goal kick, I think it's taken as read that as a goal kick is a restart kick the ball must be stationary before it's kicked.

I think IFAB could do with clarifying this in the next reprint of the laws.
 
I guess it's a question of whether it's worth pulling the ball back 50 or 60 yards to retake it, when there would have been little advantage gained from kicking a moving ball.
 
As an ex-gk, disagree with you there Matty. I much prefer to strike a moving ball than a stationary one, hit it much further!
 
DanCohen17 said:
As an ex-gk, disagree with you there Matty. I much prefer to strike a moving ball than a stationary one, hit it much further!
Click to expand...
Lol. I too have spent many and afternoon 'tween the stix in the Southern Amateur, and I would always prefer to 'tee it up' properly - place it where I got a decent lie.

Can't disagree with you though, if the ball is moving across or toward you - you can get a little extra oomph thanks to the momentum of the ball. However, in the case of the GK, that would be extremely rare, as it would usually be the keeper rolling the ball in front of them, and then kicking as it moves away, and very little 'extra' energy would be passed from boot to ball.

Assuming your boot travels through the air at the same velocity each time you kick it, a ball slowly rolling away from you wouldn't have enough momentum to add that much to the kick. I would suspect that, when the ball is moving, as there is a tinier margin of error to produce an accurate kick, that you impart a little more 'oomph' and move your boot with a bit more velocity through the ball. Either way, would there really be an advantage?

Either way, I would still question whether it would be worth pulling the game back from the other end of the pitch for it, given that the Law doesn't actually state that it has to be stationary. As long as it is on the ground.
 
Looking at it from another angle, but, isn't a goal kick the only restart that doesn't have a specified point at which to take it?

KO is 'stationary on the centre spot'
DFK/IFK is 'stationary from the point where the offence occured
Corner/Throw In - stationary from the quadrant or point where the ball left the FOP.
Dropped Ball - point where play was was stopped.
GK - anywhere from within the marked area that is 120sq yds.

The point being that all these restarts cannot be in the correct position if the ball is moving - but a GK can.

Amazing what you wake up with on your mind eh?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top