Oregon Soccer Referees

Here are a few rule misconceptions I have seen on the field or that have been relayed to me by coaches recently...

• Handling the ball - don't forget that the ball touching a hand is not a foul unless it is a deliberate action by the player. If a ball just hits a player's hand, and the hand did not move to the ball, it is not a foul (in spite of all the parents and maybe the coaches screaming "Hand Ball!!!" at the top of their lungs). At the recertification class I attended early this year, the instructor also said if a player puts up a hand to protect themselves and the ball hits it, it should not be called a foul (player was not advancing the ball).
• Speaking of handling the ball - if a player deliberately passes a ball to their own goalkeeper and the keeper picks it up, it is an infraction. However, if in the penalty area, the restart is not a PK, but rather an indirect kick for the other team. If outside the penalty area, the restart is a direct kick. Note if the player uses their head to direct the ball to the keeper, a foul is usually not called.
• Don't forget that at U8, all kicks are indirect - no PK's at this age.
• On a goal kick, don't forget the ball must clear the penalty area before it is in play. If touched prior to that, or the ball dies before getting there (especially in those U9 games...), the kick is retaken.

Here's a question - in a recent Classic game, score was tied, and one team took a shot - the ball sailed into the goal. The referee disallowed the goal, having blown the whistle for end of game as the ball was on the way to the goal. Was the ref right that the goal did not count? Should the ref have blown the whistle at that moment? Post your comments...

Bob