Goal Kicks

[NOVARef]

Hello,

16.2 states:

If, when a goal kick is taken, any opponents are inside the penalty area because they did not have time to leave, the referee allows play to continue. If an opponent who is in the penalty area when the goal kick is taken, or enters the penalty area before the ball is in play, touches or challenges for the ball before it is in play, the goal kick is retaken.

So this language just confused me...if a defender is in the penalty area and the GK plays quickly before the defender had time to leave, the law clearly says that the referee allows play to continue but can the defender challenge for the ball or does the defender have to continue making his way out of the penalty area before he can challenge for the ball? I thought it was at the GK's risk to play quickly. The 2nd sentence is confusing because it says....If the opponent who is in the penalty area when the goal kick is taken, touches or challenges for the ball before it's in play, the goal kick is retaken. I thought this implied that the defender was not trying to leave. Also, how can the defender touch or challenge for the ball before it's in play on a goal kick?

The confusion all started when I was asked the question...If an opponent did not have time to leave the penalty area at the taking of a goal kick, can the opponent play, touch, or challenge for the ball? and the answer was NO. I thought it was YES.

Can someone break this down for me?

 

[RefereeX]

Slightly above the bit you've quoted:

1. Procedure
• The ball must be stationary and is kicked from any point within the goalarea by a player of the defending team
• The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves
• Opponents must be outside the penalty area until the ball is in play

Now I don't quite understand the point of referencing a goal kick being retaken because someone challenges for it before it is in play, as it's in play as soon as it's kicked, however, players that have not been given time to leave by the opposition can challenge for the ball as soon as it is kicked, in law. Whether you allow them to do so or not from a game management perspective would be entirely circumstancial.

 

[RustyRef]

It isn't worded brilliantly, but it infers that there is a difference between a player who didn't have a chance to leave the area before the GK was taken, and a player who made no effort to leave the area. Meant that if the defence take the risk of a quick GK with attackers still in the penalty area it is down to them if they mess it up and lose the ball.

 

[FirsFox40]

The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves

^This

If an attacker hasn’t had the opportunity to leave the PA *and* the defending team still take the goal kick and fluff it up… tough boobies.

 

[JamesL]

^This

If an attacker hasn’t had the opportunity to leave the PA *and* the defending team still take the goal kick and fluff it up… tough boobies.

Context matters. Are they actively trying to leave or not? It not then it's getting managed and we're retaking with some very strong words of advice.

 

[FirsFox40]

Context matters. Are they actively trying to leave or not? It not then it's getting managed and we're retaking with some very strong words of advice.

100%. That’s why I went with “hadn’t had the opportunity…” rather than were being tardy or hanging around etc

 

[NOVARef]

So this was the question on my recertification that I got wrong....If an opponent did not have time to leave the penalty area at the taking of a goal kick, can the opponent play, touch, or challenge for the ball? I answered "Yes". It sounds like you all are agreeing with me. But I got it wrong. The answer was No, retake.

 

[NOVARef]

So just to clarify, Red taking goal kick. Blue player is leaving the penalty area but Red goal keeper plays the ball to teammate inside the penalty area before Blue player had time to leave the penalty area. Blue player can turn and challenge the red player inside the penalty area. If Blue player loafing or not actively leaving, it's a retake. Agreed?

 

[Dan56]

The confusion here is caused by the fact that this Law was originally written when the ball was not in play until it had left the penalty area. The wording has not changed even though the ball is now in play when kicked and clearly moves. The logical meaning now would be that if the defence takes a GK before the player has time to leave (very quickly before they have had time to move, or while they are leaving), the attacker can turn and challenge for the ball. If however the attacker has started running towards the ball before it is kicked and intercepts or puts in a challenge...retake.