Restart Location after Penalty in Goal Area

[massref]

When there is a penalty in the goal area, especially between the crease and the restraining line, the officials almost always restart the play by giving the ball to the offended team at the corner of the goal area while the rule states "it shall be restarted outside the goal area NEAREST to the spot of the ball at the time of the whistle." By rule the restart could be in the middle of the field just outside the restraining line. Does anyone actually restart the ball as the rule states? When and where did this corner restart begin when it is NOT stated in the rule book?

[LaxRef]

When there is a penalty in the goal area, especially between the crease and the restraining line, the officials almost always restart the play by giving the ball to the offended team at the corner of the goal area while the rule states "it shall be restarted outside the goal area NEAREST to the spot of the ball at the time of the whistle." By rule the restart could be in the middle of the field just outside the restraining line. Does anyone actually restart the ball as the rule states? When and where did this corner restart begin when it is NOT stated in the rule book?

NCAA talks about the ball being moved laterally, which means you move it to the alley. NFHS talks about the nearest point outside the goal area, which could be right up top.

The "move it to the corner" thing was likely created by officials and isn't a real rule, a fact that I got clarified with this NCAA A.R.:

A.R. 11. When the whistle blows to stop play for a technical or personal foul against
Team B, the ball is just outside the top of the attack area, directly in line with the goal.
The Team B coach wants the officials to move the ball to the corner of the attack area.
The Team A coach wants the ball to start where it was when the whistle blew. RULING:
When the ball is outside the attack area when the whistle stops play, the ball restarts
where it was when the play was stopped. The ball should not be moved to the corner of
the attack area.

[CardinalPuff]

When there is a penalty in the goal area, especially between the crease and the restraining line, the officials almost always restart the play by giving the ball to the offended team at the corner of the goal area while the rule states "it shall be restarted outside the goal area NEAREST to the spot of the ball at the time of the whistle." By rule the restart could be in the middle of the field just outside the restraining line. Does anyone actually restart the ball as the rule states? When and where did this corner restart begin when it is NOT stated in the rule book?

i was taught to restart at one of the "four corners" when i first started officiating, lo those many years ago....it has taken real effort (and not a little therapy) to dispell this urban legend amongst some of the tribal elders... after all, old habits die hard....

i will say that i try to move the ball out laterally, even for HS, as the NCAA rulebook mandates.

[LaxRef]

i will say that i try to move the ball out laterally, even for HS, as the NCAA rulebook mandates.

I don't have too much of a problem with this, because at least that's the rule somewhere, but I'd prefer that it be done according to the rules. What I can't stomach is when the ball is just above the attack area when play stops and it is moved to the corner: that's not a rule, AFAICT it never was a rule, and the NCAA rules explicitly say not to move it.

[massref]

I don't have too much of a problem with this, because at least that's the rule somewhere, but I'd prefer that it be done according to the rules. What I can't stomach is when the ball is just above the attack area when play stops and it is moved to the corner: that's not a rule, AFAICT it never was a rule, and the NCAA rules explicitly say not to move it.

Maybe it's time that we started a movement to correct the bad habit of going to corners.

[BlueJaysLaxFan]

In the box, I and most HS officials I know move the ball laterally. Outside of the box (especially at the top), we also move the ball laterally. I know of maybe one or two officials that insist on using corners, but never the top.

[Woodenstick]

In my section we have been instructed not to restart directly in front of the goal by the restraining line. The whole reason for moving the ball out of the box in the first place was that we are giving a man-up, not a free shot (contrast with girls lax and basketball, which allow free shots). But with 5 yards grace, there are players who can crank it from the restralning line directly in front, which is contrary to the intent of the rules. So we generally move the ball laterally (although not to the corner) to prevent the immediate free shot. That may not be in the rule book, but it seems like a sound mechanic to me.

[massref]

I am with LaxRef (again). If the rules says closest spot outside the box (NFHS) we should do it. If it say laterally (NCAA) we should do it. :read:
If they want it to start on the corner then the rule should be amended.:idea:

[LaxRef]

In my section we have been instructed not to restart directly in front of the goal by the restraining line. The whole reason for moving the ball out of the box in the first place was that we are giving a man-up, not a free shot (contrast with girls lax and basketball, which allow free shots). But with 5 yards grace, there are players who can crank it from the restralning line directly in front, which is contrary to the intent of the rules. So we generally move the ball laterally (although not to the corner) to prevent the immediate free shot. That may not be in the rule book, but it seems like a sound mechanic to me.

If it is contrary to what the rulebook says, it is patently unfair!

On average, you'd expect each team to get roughly the same number of restarts from just above the restraining line. If you move the ball somewhere contrary to where the rules say to have the restart, you are disadvantaging that team.

If they didn't want a player to be able to restart 20 yards above the goal, they could have written the rule so it started on the corner or made the restraining line 25 yards above the goal.

I think we are in dangerous territory as officials when as a group decide to subvert the rules. When there are issues that the rules leave to us to address with mechanics (e.g., telling us to do "at least" 1 equipment check per team per half but giving us no other guidance), then we can do as we please.