| Sections: | Office | Bylaws | Cancel Games | Definitions | Discipline | Forms | Weather |
An assist is awarded when the goal scorer receives the ball directly from a teammate and scores without having to take the ball past an opposing player. If the assist pass takes a small deflection which does not change the direction of the pass, it will still be given.
If a player catching the pass makes any kind of significant move such that, without that move, he would not have been in position to score, then no assist is awarded.
Rule of thumb: An assist is awarded when a player makes a pass to a teammate who scores a goal. And the player who scores the goal does virtually nothing more then trap and shoot or immediately volley the ball into the goal.
A corner kick, throw-in, free kick leading to a goal each count as a pass in awarding an assist.
If an attacking player's shot hits a post or crossbar and bounces back into the field of play, and before a defender can touch the ball, another attacker shoots the ball into the goal, credit the player whose shot hit the cross bar or goal post with an assist.
If an attacking player shoots and the goalkeeper or defender blocks the shot but can not control the ball, and a second attacking player immediately knocks the rebound into the goal, credit the player who took the first shot with an assist.
A player can not receive credit for an assist on a goal the player also scored on.
No assist is awarded when a player gains control of the ball from the defensive team and scores.
No assist is awarded for a penalty kick goal.
No assists are awarded for own goals or penalties.
Players receiving assists are credited with one point for statistical purposes.
The score of a forfeited game shell be 2-0. All normal statistics are nullified.
Attendance for players showing up for the game are recorded to credit them in the three game rule of play.
An offensive player who kicks or heads the ball into the opponent's goal is awarded a goal.
An offensive player whose shot is deflected into the goal by the goalkeeper or defender receives credit for the goal, provided the momentum of the shot carried the ball into the goal.
An offensive player whose pass is deflected into the goal by a defender or whose pass is mishandled by the goalkeeper and allowed to cross into the goal shell receive credit for the shot and goal, provided the momentum of the shot carried the ball into the goal.
Player is credited with two points for statistical purposes.
When a game is tied after regulation and overtime periods, and a penalty kick situation determines a winner, each goalkeeper will be charged only with goals allowed prior to the penalty kick procedure.
"Hand To Ball Or Ball To Hand"?
Nothing stirs the passions like a controversial handball decision. A ball slams into a player's arm and one team and their fans are screaming for a penalty, while their opponents are claiming it was an accident. It is a difficult one for the referee to call in the heat of the moment.
What is 'Deliberate' Handball?
In FIFA's Laws of the Game (2005), Law 12 states that a free kick or penalty will be awarded if a player "handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area)".
It adds: "Referees are reminded that deliberately handling the ball is normally punished only by a direct free-kick or penalty kick if the offence occurred inside the penalty area. FIFA continues, "A caution or dismissal is not normally required."
However, the document fails to describe what constitutes deliberate handball, and therefore places the responsibility firmly on the referee and referees' assistants. It may often depend on the referee's interpretation whether the hand or arm is in an "unnatural" position at the point of contact.
When a defender heads or kicks the ball into his own team's goal with the intent of making a pass back to a teammate or clearing the ball out of danger, the goal is not credited to an individual, but is recorded as an "Own Goal".
For statistical purposes, an "Own Goal" is not credited to any player but just recorded; however, the goal shell be counted in the seasons totals "For" and "Against" for the respective teams.
For statistical purposes, an "Own Goal" is not credited to the goalie for goals let in.
A save is awarded to a goalkeeper only if a shot otherwise would have gone into the goal.
A goalkeeper can be credited with a save without catching the ball. The goalkeeper blocks the ball or punches it wide or over the goal, that the goalkeeper can be credited with a save, provided the ball would otherwise have gone into the goal.
To receive a save, the play must be a shot. The goalkeeper can not receive credit for a save on a cross.
A shutout is recorded when a team prevents their opponents from scoring on their goal.
When a game is tied after regulation and overtime periods, and a penalty kick situation determines a winner, each goalkeeper will be charged only with goals allowed prior to the penalty kick procedure.
If a game ends scoreless at the end of regulation or overtime then both goalkeepers will be credited with a shutout as long as they played the entire game.
A goalkeeper is credited with a shutout only if he plays the entire match.
If two or more goalkeepers participate in a game where no goals are allowed, no individual shutout is recorded.
A suspended game is a temporary action(because of elements or other causes). If the conditions leading to the suspended game persist and the game is not resumed the same night, the game shell be considered a "no contest" if it hasn't progressed into the 25 minute.
Once a game is called a "no contest" it will be replayed if possible.
A "no contest" does not count, and all normal statistics are nullified.
Your attendance will still be recorded.
When a game is tied after regulation and overtime periods, and a penalty kick situation determines a winner, each goalkeeper will be charged only with goals allowed prior to the penalty kick procedure.
If a game ends as a tie at the end of regulation and overtime then both goalkeepers will be credited with a tie as long as they played the entire game.