It's a punt

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At an '09 (7v7) game this weekend, defender takes a goal kick. Instead of playing the ball wide to an outside defender, he played it forward, up the field. The opposing team's attacking player at the build out line, collected the ball and started to dribble towards the goal with a very good opportunity to shoot and possibly score.

Ref stopped the play and had the kick retaken. I didn't understand the retake, so I asked the ref about it after the game. He said it was a "punt" and punts are not allowed at 09. I said it wasn't a punt, it was a goal kick. He said that goal kicks are punts.

Never heard that before from anyone, anywhere. Has anyone else?
 
Umm, since when are goal kicks a punt? No, I hadn't ever seen or heard that. Then again, my u-little's team and every team she's played since last season in the 7v7 format always play goal kicks wide to a backfield player. Still, the keeper should be able to play the goal kick however they want right? As long as the ball clears the top of the box before it is touched by any player it should be in play.

The refs around here would certainly know more than I do, but it seems to me that the ref in question was wrong and was either knew it and gave you a half baked explanation to cover it up or needs to freshen up on the laws of the game.
 
At an '09 (7v7) game this weekend, defender takes a goal kick. Instead of playing the ball wide to an outside defender, he played it forward, up the field. The opposing team's attacking player at the build out line, collected the ball and started to dribble towards the goal with a very good opportunity to shoot and possibly score.

Ref stopped the play and had the kick retaken. I didn't understand the retake, so I asked the ref about it after the game. He said it was a "punt" and punts are not allowed at 09. I said it wasn't a punt, it was a goal kick. He said that goal kicks are punts.

Never heard that before from anyone, anywhere. Has anyone else?
Did said Goal Kick cross midfield in the air? If so, that is what the rules at the uLittles are trying to prevent therefore that is the only thing I can think of that this Ref was trying to enforce despite the incorrect explaination.
 
Did said Goal Kick cross midfield in the air? If so, that is what the rules at the uLittles are trying to prevent therefore that is the only thing I can think of that this Ref was trying to enforce despite the incorrect explaination.

I agree, it was a bad explanation for what was probably the right decision. What did the competition rules say about short sided games regarding goal kicks?
 
If it was put on the goal line, on the ground, and called a goal kick initially, it IS a goal kick. There is nothing stating that if a goal kick is in the air, passing the penalty area, that it is not a goal kick. The 'mandated' playing standards, as specified by the US Soccer, PDI document, indicate that the goal kick follows the rules specified by the IFAB rules. The rules for a 'goalkeeper release', as mandated by the US Soccer PDI document state that "Once the opposing team is behind the build out line, the goalkeeper can pass, throw, or roll the ball into play (punts and drop kicks are not allowed)" . This is for a goalkeeper 'save', versus a standard goal kick, for when the ball crosses the goal line, out of play. To the referee's defense though, a lot of folks are still getting confused on the new rules, especially regarding the build out line. GunninGopher is also correct, tournament rules would need to be checked, to see if they stated something differently. Even in standard league play, some leagues/clubs may modify rules, for how they want to play.
 
Did said Goal Kick cross midfield in the air? If so, that is what the rules at the uLittles are trying to prevent therefore that is the only thing I can think of that this Ref was trying to enforce despite the incorrect explaination.

Well, the OP said the opposing team's attacking player collected the ball at the build out line so it sounds like the ball never even crossed the mid-line let alone in the air.
 
Collecting it at the build out line was allowable, as the ball had exited the penalty area, making it open for anyone to attack, so there was nothing wrong with that. Even for a 'goalkeeper release', the ball is playable as soon as they release the ball. The opponents are free to cross the build out line and pounce on it. If the referee really thought that the goal kick was a 'punt', they were still wrong in what they did. For a 'punt' the US Soccer PDI rules states that an indirect free kick is to be given to the opposing team, from the spot of the kick ("If the punt or drop kick occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the nearest point to where the infringement occurred" .
 
Have to add an item to my previous reply. If the rules of the competition at the field as specified by the playing organizations, stated that a goal kick had to stay on the ground, not be in the air (would not make sense though), or it would be deemed to be a 'punt', then the referee would have to follow those rules. An organization could decide that they do not want an air ball, period, in 7 v 7 play. This would be an inducement to avoid players being tempted to do headers, for concussion safety.
 
At an '09 (7v7) game this weekend, defender takes a goal kick. Instead of playing the ball wide to an outside defender, he played it forward, up the field. The opposing team's attacking player at the build out line, collected the ball and started to dribble towards the goal with a very good opportunity to shoot and possibly score.

Ref stopped the play and had the kick retaken. I didn't understand the retake, so I asked the ref about it after the game. He said it was a "punt" and punts are not allowed at 09. I said it wasn't a punt, it was a goal kick. He said that goal kicks are punts.

Never heard that before from anyone, anywhere. Has anyone else?
Sounds like a big goof to me.....
 
Sounds like a big goof to me.....
Collecting it at the build out line was allowable, as the ball had exited the penalty area, making it open for anyone to attack, so there was nothing wrong with that. Even for a 'goalkeeper release', the ball is playable as soon as they release the ball. The opponents are free to cross the build out line and pounce on it. If the referee really thought that the goal kick was a 'punt', they were still wrong in what they did. For a 'punt' the US Soccer PDI rules states that an indirect free kick is to be given to the opposing team, from the spot of the kick ("If the punt or drop kick occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the nearest point to where the infringement occurred" .
 
Collecting it at the build out line was allowable, as the ball had exited the penalty area, making it open for anyone to attack, so there was nothing wrong with that. Even for a 'goalkeeper release', the ball is playable as soon as they release the ball. The opponents are free to cross the build out line and pounce on it. If the referee really thought that the goal kick was a 'punt', they were still wrong in what they did. For a 'punt' the US Soccer PDI rules states that an indirect free kick is to be given to the opposing team, from the spot of the kick ("If the punt or drop kick occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the nearest point to where the infringement occurred" .
The Ref mentioned that he could have called IDK, like you noted . In a nutshell, he thinks a goal kick is treated the same as when the ball is in the gk hands . The tournament rules made no mention of anything special , just rules for 7v7 (such as build out lines and no heading will apply
 
Say Whatt!!!! Well, that is an issue, if the party is instructing new referees, as an instructor, as per what he thinks, which is incorrect.
 
Yes, that is the general description of a 'punt', with some calling it also a 'drop kick'. Neither are allowed in 7v7, under US Soccer PDI rules. This is in coordination with the 'no heading' rule for U11 and down, under the Concussion Initiative. The goal being to prevent the possibility of the head being involved in play.
 
Yes, that is the general description of a 'punt', with some calling it also a 'drop kick'. Neither are allowed in 7v7, under US Soccer PDI rules. This is in coordination with the 'no heading' rule for U11 and down, under the Concussion Initiative. The goal being to prevent the possibility of the head being involved in play.
Admittedly, I've never refereed these short-sided games, but I've seen many since the new initiatives. How can someone punt a ball on a goal kick?
 
Wow! That is a question that you would have to ask the coach and the referee of the game in progress! No matter what they might state, the real answer is that they could not punt the ball, when a goal kick was to be taken.
 
unless there's a missing piece of information, this sounds like this was a simple mistake on the part of the ref.
 
Maybe the ref was trying to help the team out by teaching the coach that the build out line is there so that you can try to actually build out of the back and not whack it into a crowd.
 
Ref stopped the play and had the kick retaken. I didn't understand the retake, so I asked the ref about it after the game. He said it was a "punt" and punts are not allowed at 09. I said it wasn't a punt, it was a goal kick. He said that goal kicks are punts.
Never heard that before from anyone, anywhere. Has anyone else?

Welcome to Whose 7v7 Game Is It anyways? Where the rules are made up and the points don't matter.
That's right, the points don't matter, just like the opinions on this forum.
Starring, I just want run around and kick something - thaaaaaaats Timmy! And, why are all these big people yelling at me? - its Johnny!

Featuring controversial, but game changing strategies such as "Moving the goal kick to the other side" and "Not letting him push you".

And on the music, we have the parents making as much noise as possible.
Next, we have the only person on the field that might care more than the parents, its recently hired Coach Ryan! He is 95% sure he won't get fired if his team goes under .500

I'm your Host: Tournament. And I hired a kid who wants weed money and a fat guy who said he knew someone who had a whistle. They seem completely qualified. But lets be honest, all the refs let the parents call "he headed it!" because to us, a header looks as natural as breathing.
 
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