Player A hits a shot, it goes off the cross bar and back into play.
Player B hits the rebound immediately into the net. Goal.
Both players are on the same team.
Does Player A get the "assist" - officially? Does MLS consider this an assist?
Example 5 - Attacker A passes to attacker B in the penalty box. Attacker B hits a shot that hits the goal post and rebounds across the goal mouth for attacker C to tap into the goal. Score the play a goal for C and assists for B and A because possession was never broken.
And there is my answer. And the answer is Yes.
Thanks Kenn.
Player A hits a shot, it goes off the cross bar and back into play.
Player B hits the rebound immediately into the net. Goal.
Both players are on the same team.
Does Player A get the "assist" - officially? Does MLS consider this an assist?
As far as I know, MLS doesn't consider that an assist. Hitting the crossbar 'resets' possession, I guess you could say.
However, Richie Baker was granted an assist for his pass to Steve Ralston last week, where Ralston put in his own rebound - scorekeepers are generally a little more generous than MLS head office, there's at least a chance that assist will be taken away.
MLSnet's description of the Metrostars' gamewinner on May 30th:
Gaven beautifully flicked Guevara's free kick towards the back post with his head, and Meola flapped at it as it came off the face of the crossbar. Wolyniec was poised right at the doorstep to send the ball into the far corner with a diving header.
It was a very nice goal ... no assist was awarded.
That was as of 1997, so I have no idea if they've changed it or not.
I hope so, because it seems cheap to me. I'd rather go by "intent" than "continuous possession."
I think you're not supposed to, but I think I've seen it done.
I have, somewhere, a copy of a very old MLS Statistical Guidelines manual that spells it out. But I'm not 100% sure where it is.
Found it. Told you this was old. It's from the dark ages:
11. ASSISTS
A) The player(s) whose pass(es) leads directly to a goal, without a break in possession, is(are) credited with an assist(s).
B) If the play immediately preceding a goal consists of two or more passes by the scoring team (without the defending team interrupting the flow of passes by gaining control of the ball), the players making the final two passes before the goal shall each be awarded an assist.
Note: During the 1997 MLS season, Official Scorers will award assists to player who made the last pass before the goal, and if appropriate, the next-to-last pass that led to the goal, as long as there was consecutive possession, i.e. possession of the ball was not interrupted by a defender. However, if the opposing goalkeeper does handle, block or deflect the ball during the sequence leading up to the goal, it will not count as interrupted possession.
Example 1 - Attacker A, just beyond the halfway line, makes a routine square pass to attacker B, who dribbles into the corner under pressure and crosses the ball. Attacker C heads the ball into the goal. Score the play as a goal for C and an assist for B and A because possession was never lost on the attack.
Example 2 - Attacker A takes a corner kick and sends the ball to attacker B who back-heads the ball across the goalmouth for attacker C. Attacker C
kicks the ball into the goal. Score the play as a goal for C and credit assists to B and A.
Example 3 - An attacking team is awarded an indirect free kick beyond the defending teams penalty area. Attacker A touches the ball two yards to attacker B who lofts the ball to attacker C. Attacker C heads the ball into the goal. Score the play as a goal for C and an assist for B and A even though A only made a two-yard pass because, once again, there was consecutive possession.
Example 4 - Attacker A makes a long pass across the field for attacker B, who chips a short cross to attacker C,
who scores. Score the play as a goal for C and assists for B and A.
NOTE: There is not a distinction between passes that did exhibit a high degree of skill, vision and/or accuracy and passes that did not: CONSECUTIVE POSSESSION is now the rule.
C) If the play immediately preceding a goal consists of an interruption by the defending team and then one pass before the goal, only one assist is awarded on the play. However, of the interruption was by the opposing goalkeeper, one or two assists can be awarded.
Example 1 - Attacker A attempts to pass to attacker C, but the ball is intercepted by a defender. Attacker B tackles the ball away from the defender and passes to attacker C, who scores. Score the play as a goal for C and an assist for B.
Example 2 - Attacker A passes the ball down the wing to attacker B who crosses into the middle where the opposing goalkeeper attempts to catch the cross, but only gets a piece of the ball. Attacker C then scores. Score the play as a goal for C and assists for B and A because possession was never broken by a member of the defensive team.
Example 3 - Attacker A shoots and the ball is blocked but not controlled by the opposing goalkeeper. Attacker B gains possession of the loose ball and passes to attacker C who scores. Score the play as a goal for C and assists for A and B. NOTE: Attacker A should also receive credit for a shot, with the result being a save.
Example 4 - Attacker A hits a 50-yard pass from his defensive third to attacker B who collects the ball at midfield and dribbles into the corner of the field. Attacker B then crosses to attacker C who scores. Score the play as a goal for C and give assists to B and A because possession was never broken even through perhaps 30 to 60 seconds elapsed between the first pass by A and the goal by C.
Example 5 - Attacker A passes to attacker B in the penalty box. Attacker B hits a shot that hits the goal post and rebounds across the goal mouth for attacker C to tap into the goal. Score the play a goal for C and assists for B and A because possession was never broken.
My media guide is at home and I just had to get the answer ebfore then - because I was bored at work.
I also thought I remembered a scenario where a guy shot the ball and it rebounded off the keeper, another player scored off the rebound and the first guy got the assist.
But who knows what I know anymore.
Or an assist is intended to be awarded for a pass that leads to a goal, and the first player shot instead of passing? I agree with you that an assist is generally not awarded in this situation, but have never seen an explanation of the rationale. It would appear the rule has changed again since Ken's media guide was printed.
Generally, though, players whose shots get deflected get credit for assists, don't they?
As far as I know, MLS doesn't consider that an assist. Hitting the crossbar 'resets' possession, I guess you could say.
Or an assist is intended to be awarded for a pass that leads to a goal, and the first player shot instead of passing? I agree with you that an assist is generally not awarded in this situation, but have never seen an explanation of the rationale. It would appear the rule has changed again since Ken's media guide was printed.
 Walking/Running Puppy - Advise needed
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An Assist: Yes or No?