Question Number: 21739

Law 9 - The Ball in and out of Play 8/4/2009

RE: Comp Adult

Ditch of Suzhou, China asks...

Possession Question:

1.If team A kicks the ball and it is deflected off team B's crossbar/post and goes out of bounds on the sideline who's possession is granted?

2.If team A kicks the ball and it is deflected off team A's crossbar/post and goes out of bounds on the sideline who's possession is granted?

Thanks, Ditch

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

The crossbar and goalposts are inanimate objects. Hitting them has no effect on who touched the ball last.

So, in both your questions, pretend the goalpost wasn't involved. Essentially, what does that make the question?

1. Team A kicks the ball over the sideline

2. Team A kicks the ball over the sideline.

In both cases, the restart will be a throw-in to team B.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

1. Team A last touched the ball before it went out of play so possession goes to Team B
2. Again, possession is decided by which team last touches the ball and has nothing to do with the goal posts and crossbars. Possession goes to Team B

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Ditch, for out of bounds play all you have to consider is who touched it last. Deflections from goalposts, corner posts or officials do not come into the equation.
It is different when judging offside when a deflection by a defender does not put an attacking player onside.
I like your name, Ditch!