Recent Rule Questions
#35977 | 10/8/2026
peter babbage from Hjørring, North Denmark Region
peter babbage from Hjørring, North Denmark Region
Category: Law 11 - Offside (Competitive Adult)
I’m still a bit puzzled by players being off the pitch and when it is offside. I hope it’s ok to cover a couple of scenarios rather than ask an individual question for each. So ball comes to the striker with only the keeper to beat. Scores. A defender and attacker both went beyond the goal line ( not into the goal) during a natural passage of play. Does this affect the goal scorer being on or offside? The two players have left the fop but now have a foot each on the goal line to the side of the goal. What then?
#35976 | 10/6/2026
Keith Ellel from Rishton Lancs BB1 4BZ, Lancashire
Keith Ellel from Rishton Lancs BB1 4BZ, Lancashire
Category: Law 15 - The Throw In ( Other)
Has the foul throw rule been changed?
In all levels of televised football, players are regularly and blatantly disregarding it and officials are failing to punish it.
#35975 | 10/5/2026
Duward Brown from Rogue River, OR
Duward Brown from Rogue River, OR
Category: High School ( High School)
On a recent road game the visiting team was up with a 2-1 lead. The trailing team was awarded a corner kick around the 4 minute mark and the ref stopped the clock while the team with the corner retrieved the ball. It had gone somewhat far but nothing unusual) The trailing team earned another corner kick at about the 3 minute mark. The ref stopped the clock and asked for 10 seconds to be added to the clock. The scoreboard operator added 1 minute and this was not corrected.
My understanding is that that it is at the ref's discretion to stop the clock for throw in and corner kicks only under the 2 minute mark if they judge that the leading team is wasting time.
As I operated the scoreboard for our teams home games I am particularly interested if I am wrong about the 2 minute mark or if this was not handled correctly?
Thanks
#35974 | 10/5/2026
Richard Miller from West Palm Beach, Florida
Richard Miller from West Palm Beach, Florida
Category: High School (Travel High School)
A player, who was about to be substituted, had just left the field to retrieve the ball for a throw in. The referee asked the player to step on the field, then step step back off the field in order for the substitution to take place.
Is that the correct procedure?
#35972 | 10/4/2026
DAVID KUMLIN from SURRY, ME
DAVID KUMLIN from SURRY, ME
Category: Mechanics (Travel Under 12)
After a goal is scored, do you... Point to the Center Circle and/or Blow your Whistle?
#35971 | 9/30/2026
Lee Roith from Cheyenne, WY
Lee Roith from Cheyenne, WY
Category: Mechanics (Pro Adult)
Defender stepped on players foot causing fall. Foul occurred in the box, a PK was awarded rightly so. However upon VAR review an offensive player was offside, so the penalty was canceled. The defender that committed the foul was issued a yellow card. The question is then if everything that happens after the offside is not allowed then shouldn't the card be rescinded? Thanks
#35970 | 9/26/2026
Sarah An from Toledo , Ohio
Sarah An from Toledo , Ohio
Category: High School (Varsity High School)
During the course of a game, high school varsity boys in Ohio, a player reacting to their teammates yelling at them, shouted in ear shot of the referee opposing team spectators “what the f*** do you want me to do?” This was, although vulgar and unacceptable, not directed at anyone in particular, the referee immediately red carded him, and he was ejected from the game. Was this the correct and appropriate call or would a yellow card been a sufficient penalty? We are looking to file a request to re-evaluate and down grade to a yellow on grounds of misinterpretation of the card rules and regulations. This would remove 2-game suspension and 2-school suspension for receiving a red card. He was already ejected from the remainder of the game and had to play
A man down.
This student has never even had a detention for being tardy and is a good an honorable student. It seems pretty harsh considering game play in high school these days.
#35969 | 9/21/2026
Robert Rowley from Rhinebeck, NY
Robert Rowley from Rhinebeck, NY
Category: High School (High School High School)
From close range a ball was kicked directly at a players head/face. The player reacted by raising her hands to block the ball from hitting her. The ball did strike her hands directly in front of her face. This was a natural preventative measure to protect herself against injury. Is this a handling foul? Do concussion considerations come into play? Thank you.
#35968 | 9/16/2026
Olwethu from HANOVER,
Olwethu from HANOVER,
Category: League Specific (Rec Adult)
What happens when a game is stopped because of lights and the score is 3-2 and we are almost 10 minutes into the second half?
#35966 | 9/16/2026
Bob Healy from Whitman, Massachusetts
Bob Healy from Whitman, Massachusetts
Category: High School (competitive High School)
Can a player kick over the corner flag after scoring a goal
You Call It!
Test your knowledge on referee scenarios.
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Operating since October 11, 1999, that is 25 years as an independent, FREE, public service site. Dedicated to personally answering your questions regarding any Professional, Grassroots, FIFA, College, High school, or Youth soccer game situation. To ask a question simply click on Ask the Ref in the menu bar, post your question!
Please understand, we are comprised of strictly volunteers, thus lack the time required to review or alter the hundreds of thousands of previous questions & answers. The LOTG /RULES are constantly being tweaked, reevaluated and rewritten each year, often rendering previous answers as incorrect, partially true and/or portions no longer applicable! Our answers can only coincide within the changing LOTG/RULES time/frame of the date a question was asked! We feel it is essential you review & read the latest version of the always changing Laws/Rules of the Game.
The IFAB 2025 - 2026 LOTG Laws of the Game can be viewed here:
https://www.theifab.com/
The USA Highschool rules can be viewed here:
https://nfhs.org/nfhs-for-you/officials/
The NCAA rules can be viewed here:
Soccer Rules of the Game - NCAA.org
Those who have ideas or articles please feel free to contact the editor Richard Dawson at mrref@asktheref.com with suggestions. There are no costs involved to ask or have us respond to a question but we are not upset if you wished to donate or sponsor on the site as in todays world it is difficult to operate independently.