Of today's scenarios the one chosen to win the shirt prompted some confusion. For those who haven't seen it yet, a defender has miskicked a pass to the goalkeeper, who must avert the own goal by any legal means necessary. In the end, he heads the ball against the post, then palms the rebound over the bar. Hackett has stated that it's a corner, so not to be penalised as a back-pass, which was obviously the crux of the question. What I don't understand is his use of terminology and the apparent contradiction with other aspects of goalkeeper handling in law.
First, he writes that play has entered a 'new phase' once the goalkeeper heads the ball/the ball hits the post (not clear which). I do not have the most experience, of course, but I have never encountered these terms except in cases of offside; and in any case, that's where I believe they should remain for the sake of clarity.
Also, isn't the point precisely that striking the woodwork cannot be treated as a phase-altering play? Otherwise, why is an indirect free-kick awarded the moment a set piece taker makes contact with the ball after it hits the post (with no other involvement)? It is surely equivalent to touching the ball twice; and therefore, how is this scenario, where intention is explicit, different from a goalkeeper who heads the ball into his own hands from a back-pass?
First, he writes that play has entered a 'new phase' once the goalkeeper heads the ball/the ball hits the post (not clear which). I do not have the most experience, of course, but I have never encountered these terms except in cases of offside; and in any case, that's where I believe they should remain for the sake of clarity.
Also, isn't the point precisely that striking the woodwork cannot be treated as a phase-altering play? Otherwise, why is an indirect free-kick awarded the moment a set piece taker makes contact with the ball after it hits the post (with no other involvement)? It is surely equivalent to touching the ball twice; and therefore, how is this scenario, where intention is explicit, different from a goalkeeper who heads the ball into his own hands from a back-pass?