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Soccer Questions

A couple of questions on youth soccer from Martina Roberts:

My question is about goal kicks and the goalie for my u-12 girls team. I have watched other teams set up for the goal kick using a defender, this defender sets the ball down, and then snatches and runs to the other side and kicks, sometimes the referee lets it happens sometimes not, can you clarify? Also, I was told by another coach during a game that my goalie can only snatch the ball and take four steps and then has to kick, but the goalies previous coach had her run up all the way to the 18. Can you clarify?

Answer: After some research, I learned the following:
Within the past 2 or so years, the rule limiting  the number of steps (4) the goalie may take before kicking the ball has been changed. The goalie may now take any number of steps but must remain within the 18 ft box. There is also a time limit in which the goalie must kick the ball, I believe it is a minute.

As for the other question about the defender making the kick. This is a tactic used by coaches but once the ball has been set and is subsequently moved, delay of game can be called - this is a judgment call by the referee.

For other questions on rules you should go to the FIFA site, www.FIFA.com. The Florida Youth Soccer Association site, www.FYSA.com site also can helpful in answering rules and coaching questions.