Goals knocked off line?

[laxfan25]

In a game the other day, team A was working the ball around the outside. As the pass went to A1 at the X behind, defender B1 went rushing across the crease to cover him but ran into the goal pipe and knocked it off by over a foot (the opening angled toward the side that A1 was driving on). A1 then shot and scored, but the referee came in and waved off the goal, saying that the goal had been moved and played should have been stopped. (It happened very quickly, I'm not sure if he was going to his whistle on the goal move or not).
He straightened the goal and we awarded the ball to A outside the box. Team A wasn't very happy, and I heard a few saying "well next time someone's coming down on a fast break I'm just going to move the goal!"
I said that if they did that intentionally it would be a penalty, but in this case is was accidental. This was on artificial turf with very light goals. We then noticed some sandbags on the endline and put one on the back of each goal.
What say you, group?

[flagman]

I say that was the right call, but I take my lead from my hockey officiating. In hockey, if the net gets knocked off play stops immediately (or at least it is supposed to with a whistle) and any "goal" would be disallowed and we would have a face off. When I'm the lead and I see the net has been knocked off the goal line, I try to straighten it if possible without disrupting play. If necessary, I stop play with possession, straighten it out and restart with the team in possession.

[MElaxRef]

Right call.

I wouldn't bother with an inch or two, but having the goal a foot out of line is reason to stop the game. I'd wait for possession to sound the whistle.

I also agree with USC if moving the goal in intentional.

[laxfan25]

One of the problems was that Team A had possession when B knocked it off line, and then shot and scored before play could be stopped!
I'm glad you agree that disallowing the goal seems appropriate - my fellow officials will be pleased, and I've never had that happen to that extent (getting knocked off) before.

[flagman]

Agreed MElaxRef, an inch or two isn't enough to bother. I've had guys tell me if the net is off, but the ball passes the plane of the goal line it's good. I disagree since it must be the "imaginary plane formed by the rear edges of the goal line, the goal posts and the crossbar..."

[LaxRef]

One of the problems was that Team A had possession when B knocked it off line, and then shot and scored before play could be stopped!
I'm glad you agree that disallowing the goal seems appropriate - my fellow officials will be pleased, and I've never had that happen to that extent (getting knocked off) before.

The dead ball is created with the action that makes you decide to blow the whistle and not the whistle itself. So, you see the goal knocked off (one time in a game of mine the goalie's shoulder bumped the pipe of a collapsable goal and the left side fell backward about 18 inches), you decide to stop play, and the shot goes in before you manage to blow the whistle: no goal! (In my case, the shot came right after the whistle; still no goal, but easier to sell.)

There's a rule requiring flat-iron goals to be anchored to the ground except on a natural surface. We had an official up here--who I'm sure LF25 remembers--who used to go around penalizing every home team 3:00 NR for not having their goals anchored to the ground, even round-pipe goals, until I pointed out that the rule only applies to flat-iron goals.

The funny things are (1) basically no one knows about this rule (2) my experience is that flat-iron goals are much less likely to move than round-pipe goals.

[eme]

B moves the goal just before A shoots and scores?

A wiser referee than I once told me, "The goal may move but the goal line/plane never does."

Sorry, guys, goal is good.

[flagman]

Rule 4-8 states in part - "A goal is scored when a loose ball passes from the front...."

If the goal has moved several inches, and a shot comes from 10 yards lateral and two feet in front of GLE, how do you know it passed through the front and possibly not the side where the post would have been if the goal had not moved?

[eme]

One good way to sell the call is pluck the ball out from inside the net.

Obviously, you have to be a salesman and the dislodgement of the goal has to be somewhat minimal.

Of course, if you have time to kill the play before a shot...you do so. I am talking about the bang-bang sequence where the defender has moved the goal a bit just before a shot rifles into the net.

Defender complains? Then tell him not to move the goal next time.

[laxfan25]

Obviously, you have to be a salesman and the dislodgement of the goal has to be somewhat minimal.

In this case the movement was major - probably a good foot and a half, so the attackman didn't even have to drive to GLE. It wasn't my call, and I might have been tempted to call it good since it was the D that moved the goal. I just have never had the goal get moved that much in a play, with a goal resulting very quickly thereafter.

[cord13]

im no ref., but it seems that if team B screwed up, then a scored that it should be a point regardless. because a didn't move the goal for their own advantage. but im probably wrong.

[HdGLaxWarrior]

i agree with your call in a situation like this. if the goal isn't on the right line than play should be stopped regardless of a goal being score or not. an inch or two might not be a big deal, but a foot is.

and to the team who said they would just intentionally knock the goal off line to stop a fast break, how would they be penalized?

[LaxRef]

and to the team who said they would just intentionally knock the goal off line to stop a fast break, how would they be penalized?

USC penalty.

[wolfenburg]

what if A1 has possesion near the center and you reccognice that A's goal is a little out of position. stop the game or ask A's Goalie to correct it.

[laxfan25]

I'll usually ask the goalie to put it back on the line if the play is going the other way.

[Stubs]

As long as we are on goal lines, how about this "the goal line shall be 2"". In every plastic field I have seen, goal lines are 4 inches, and most grass fields also have 4" goal lines. No big deal, just line up the back of the pipes with the back of the goal line. I think the rule book should reflect the reality of the field.

[Beacher]

I think the field should reflect the reality of the rule book, but that's just me.

[LaxRef]

I think the field should reflect the reality of the rule book, but that's just me.

While I agree, there's really no problem with a 4" goal line if the goal is placed properly. There is a problem with dashed lines, a 2" midline, etc., since those things affect the play of the game and our ability to officiate it.

[Stubs]

The way the rules are written, the local leagues have to add field waivers on a pretty regular basis.