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Laws of the Game Review - Law 9

Flo Lunn

Continuing our discussions on the potential Laws of the Game changes, this post would like to gather your thoughts on Law 9 and in particular the nuances of the height restrictions law. The current law states: 

A height restriction must apply, which cannot be less than the height of the crossbar and not greater than 2 metres.

If a height offence occurs within the penalty area and is committed by the goalkeeper an indirect free kick should be awarded 3m from the penalty area line nearest to where the offence took place. The exception to this rule shall be when the ball rises above the designated height restriction resulting from a save or block performed by a goalkeeper.

In this case the goalkeeper gains possession of the ball and must restart play with a goal clearance.

In the proposed change, it was felt that this law is too favourable towards the defending team and could be used tactically by the goalkeeper to regain possession for their team. As such the proposed change is:

The exception to this rule shall be when the ball rises above the designated height restriction resulting from a save or block performed by a goalkeeper and returns directly into open play outside of the penalty area.

In this case the goalkeeper gains possession of the ball and must restart play with a goal clearance.

Essentially, this would mean that any save made my the goalkeeper that goes above the height restriction but out of play would result in possession to the opposition, i.e. a corner or a kick in. If the ball went over the height restriction from the goalkeeper's save and entered the goal, then a goal would be awarded. If the goalkeeper makes a save and it goes above the height restriction and re-entered open play (outside of the penalty area) they would return the ball to the goalkeeper to maintain the safety of players in open play. 

Parents

  • I agree that change is needed in this particular area but feel the proposed change is flawed. The ball when it goes above the height restriction is out of play. It is the same as the ball going out of play anywhere else on the pitch. So why would we allow a goal to stand if the ball in the process of entering the goal had gone out of play from a save or block by the gk? The goal would not stand if the block had been committed by a defender following a shot and the ball had looped up over the gk (and out of play) and then dropped into the goal. Surely a suitable solution would be. ‘ The exception to this rule shall be when the ball rises above the designated height restriction resulting from a save or block performed by a goalkeeper within the goal area,  then a corner kick is awarded.’ This means that as soon as the ball has gone above the height restriction irrespective of where it finishes up from a gk save/block then the result is the same , a corner kick. 

  • in reply to Michael Hill

    Unless it goes out of play over one of the touchlines, then a kick in. That's what the outcome is in FA tournaments.

Reply Children
  • in reply to Russell Stait

    I would simplify and just award a corner each time the ball is deflected high from a save or block by the keeper no matter where the ball finishes up. It has gone dead as soon as it exceeds the height restriction and if that was caused by a save or block then award a corner in my view to make it a straightforward outcome for a number of different outcomes.