Is a player allowed to run into a goalie who is in the process of kicking the ball?

 

My team had a 2-1 win in the bag today but the referee made a call with less than a minute to go that resulted in a penalty kick for the other team and a 2-2 draw.

 

The situation...my goalie dropped the ball and was kicking it into play. As he was kicking, a player from the other team dove in front of him and into his legs. I assumed it was interference with the goalie or a foul on the defender. Instead, the referee called tripping on my goalie and awarded the other team with a penalty kick.

 

I obviously argued as I felt my players were wronged. What is the call?

I should add that contact was made. My goalie kicked the ball, then the diving player all in one motion.

I haven't been around youth soccer in a while, but I'd assume that if the goalie doesn't have the ball in his hands then he's treated just like any other player.

I haven't been around youth soccer in a while, but I'd assume that if the goalie doesn't have the ball in his hands then he's treated just like any other player.

 

I don't think a defender can dive into any player's legs, especially when he is kicking. But I don't know the exact rule.

I don't think a defender can dive into any player's legs, especially when he is kicking. But I don't know the exact rule.

 

If your league allows slide tackling, then yes. However, if the ref called tripping on your goalie, then it sounds like the ref thought the defender going to the ground was caused by a trip on your goalie.

 

With that said, I've seen some poor officiating this year at the select level. The lady that did my daughters game this past weekend was horrible. She called a tripping penalty on the other team in the box, so she moved the ball to the 18 and allowed the other team to line up a wall. 1st, there was no foul on the play. 2nd, the placement of the ball was incorrect. 3rd, you can't be in the box on a penalty kick. It took forever to get things right. Good thing it was a silent sideline or I could have seen some parents being told to leave.

This kid went head first though...think about a football player "laying out" to block a punt.

How could a player be attempting to kick the ball and trip an opponent at the same time? That's impressive.

Let's ask @TAC, I bet he will know.:whistling:

Let's ask @TAC, I bet he will know.:whistling:

 

Fisrt of all soccer is a stupid game and the rules are part of the reason it is so stupid. My guess the silly guy in the pretty yellow or red outfit and really cool looking socks was out of position. If the goalie kicked the ball than made contact with the kid the ref could have thought the kick or trip on the kid was intentional? If you say it was simultaneous the ref may have thought the defense reached the ball first giving him the advantage? Hard to see over a 4' tall 86 pound kid on those bang, bang plays, but the call normally goes to the kid the flops the hardest. I've never seen a kid dive after a ball about to be kicked on a drop from the goalie.

Fisrt of all soccer is a stupid game and the rules are part of the reason it is so stupid. My guess the silly guy in the pretty yellow or red outfit and really cool looking socks was out of position. If the goalie kicked the ball than made contact with the kid the ref could have thought the kick or trip on the kid was intentional? If you say it was simultaneous the ref may have thought the defense reached the ball first giving him the advantage? Hard to see over a 4' tall 86 pound kid on those bang, bang plays, but the call normally goes to the kid the flops the hardest. I've never seen a kid dive after a ball about to be kicked on a drop from the goalie.

 

The socks are the main reason, outside of not knowing the rules, that I would never ref soccer. I don't mind stupid parents (hand raised, guilty as charged). I do mind being a grown man in knee highs.