PAGE 10

November 2005

Shark Bytes

Laws 16, 17 ­ and Just a Few More

heads and apply the laws equally and

Law 17 - The Corner Kick

of the following well-known, if unwrit-

ten, Laws of the Real Game.

fairly, especially considering the many

When the ball goes over the goal

variations that can occur, the rapid pace

line but was last touched by the defense,

Law 18: Coaches on the touchline

of the game, and the overly helpful spec-

By Barb Sharkey

the offense gets the ball at the corner,

are scrupulously honest when calling the

tators forcefully expressing their opin-

Special to

usually marked by a flag post, wobbly

out-of-bounds in the absence of an assis-

ions. Thankfully, the last two laws are

pole, large cone, small cone, wazzie or

tant referee - most of the time, and at

plainly worded and fairly uncontrover-

possibly, at the younger ages, a hysteri-

least from their perspective.

t was State Referee Administrator Betty

I

sial.

cal parent. "A goal may be scored direct-

Schmeck's comment, "There are only

Law 19: Overzealous sideline par-

ly by a corner kick, but only against the

Law 16 - The Goal Kick

17 Laws to learn . . ." in her December,

ents will have an Oprah "light bulb"

opposing team." (Wouldn't you like to

2004, article about referee abuse that

When the ball goes over the goal

moment the first time their own young-

see the corner kick that started on the

inspired me to dig out the tattered 1993

line after being last touched by the

ster is the center referee for a match and

ground in the corner at one end of the

copy of the Laws of the Game (as well as

offense, the defense gets the chance to

getting heat from parents and coaches.

field and ends up, untouched by anyone

a newer version) from the depths of my

put the ball back in play. "The ball is

Law 20: Whatever you think about

else, 100 yards down in the kicker's own

coaching bag and actually read the laws,

kicked from any point within the goal

the other team when sizing them up dur-

goal?) Also, the goalkeeper can take cor-

as opposed to simply staring at the off-

area by a player of the defending

ing warm-ups will undoubtedly be

ner kicks. I can only assume that this

side diagrams in the heat of a match try-

team." An "Ooops!!" clause is included:

wrong, especially if you give yourself

keeper is a sprinter on the track team,

ing to figure out which way is north and

"A goal may be scored directly from a

any advantage. For example, "Look, they

since his/her next move will be to race

where the last defender might possibly

goal kick, but only against the oppos-

only have 11 kids, no subs!" is always

the length of the field to get back into

ing team." This safeguards the kicker

be standing.

followed by the five biggest players

his/her own box before the ball does.

After carefully examining the Laws

from irate fans in case he accidentally

you've ever seen arriving two minutes

(Imagine the face of the opposing coach

over these past months, one must have a

bicycle kicks the ball backwards over his

before kickoff, delayed due to their

in a BU11 game the first time you pull

new appreciation for the referees who

head into his own goal or otherwise

select basketball game.

your keeper up to take the corner kick.

can store all that knowledge in their

weirdly sends it into the net behind him.

Law 21: Although the word "hand-

Even with the sweeper left halfway back

ball" does not appear in any Law, it

to guard the box, it's still a gutsy move.)

seems to be the only idea most parents

THE HAWAII CUP

In my 2002/03 book, Law 17

can grasp, incorrectly or not. "Ball to the

ends on page 35. There's another thir-

hand, or hand to the ball?" is apparently

ty pages of further explanations and clar-

a distinction too fine to make at the

ifications, including eleven pages of off-

parental level.

side diagrams. There's some good stuff

Law 22: "Veteran footballers" (over

here about holding, shirt-pulling, bad

thirty-five) are not necessarily any more

attitudes, faking injuries, stalling, exces-

mature than the 12-year-olds who pre-

sive celebrating of goals, and taking care

ceded them on the field.

of injuries. However, I couldn't find any

Law 23: In most collisions between

a bigger player and a smaller player, the

bigger player will be called. It takes a

truly strong referee to hold the little guy

Your Soccer Source

appropriately responsible for mayhem

on the field.

Law 24: Knowing how to whistle

is as important as actually knowing

Everything a coach or official needs for a successful season

when to whistle. Lauren Bacall's famous

line "You know how to whistle, don't

you . . . ?" was actually taken from a 1944

· Uniforms & Footwear

soccer referee training film.

Law 25: The Don't Count Your

· Game Warm Ups

Chickens Law. Seeing a familiar face

upon the arrival of the referees can set

you up for disappointment. "Oh, we

· Balls & Game Gear

know this ref. He/She likes us," whis-

pered conspiratorially between the par-

· Official's Supplies

ent manager and assistant coach will usu-

ally be followed by the first ten calls of

the match going against you.

Written or unwritten, the Laws of

Present this ad to

the Game are intended to set out a fair

Receive a FREE

playing field, a safe and competitive

Coach's Clipboard

match, and an enjoyable experience for

everyone, because "You do know how

with a minimum $25.00 purchase

to have fun, don't you?" (possible

Offer expires 12/31/05

Lauren Bacall line that got left on the cut-

ting room floor.) s

Barb Sharkey is an assistant coach for a

Seattle boy's team and the recipient of the

Hastings Media Award in 2001 for her

continuing series of humorous

observations both on and off the pitch.