Question Number: 12040

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 1/7/2006

RE: competitive Under 17

JOHNNY of glasgow, strathclyde scotland asks...

A GOALKEEPER GAINS POSSESION.HE THEN WAITS TILL HIS GOAL AREA IS EMPTY.HE THEN PROCEEDS TO WALK TOWARDS THE PERIMETER OF HIS AREA BOUNCING THE BALL ON OCCASION LIKE A BASKETBALL.IS THAT A FREE-KICK I SAY YES BUT THE REF I HAD TODAY SAYS NO.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

To sum up,
Coach be wrong!
Ref be right!
In my opinion a keeper bouncing the ball is bad tactical move, many things can go wrong, you can make better time, quicker moves if you just run with the ball held in the hands to where you wish to go in your PA.

An indirect free kick could be awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper, inside his own penalty area, takes more than 6 SIX seconds while controlling the ball with his hands before releasing it from his possession. So in otherwards the bouncing action of the ball can be for a maximum of 6 second duration. The law also states no opponent can prevent the keeper from releasing the ball back into play so no kick at the ball during those six seconds of bounce.

It is risky to bounce a ball as THINGS could go wrong. IF the ball hits a bad patch of ground and that ball deflects away THEN that ball is available for play. But we still could equate the posession of a regrab as part of the original six seconds. The ball deflects off the foot or a bump on the ground, a water soaked patch takes the bounce out or the player slips, drops the ball these are now releases of the ball. HOWEVER, if in the opinion of the referee six seconds have not occurred the referee MIGHT allow a regrab with no 2nd touch infraction.

I will add I used to feel that to hold the ball from the bottom and then rotate the wrist to drop it to the ground was a release motion not a bounce motion but as explained to me the keeper has only six seconds of posession, the FIFA Q&A states to bounce is ok why try to make something out of nothing.

below the relevant passages

Question 16. A goalkeeper holding the ball bounces it before he kicks it upfield. Is it an offence to bounce the ball?

Answer No. In the spirit of the Law he would not be regarded as having released the ball from his possession.

Question 17. If a goalkeeper is bouncing the ball, may an opponent play the ball as it touches the ground?

Answer No.

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Sorry coach, the keeper is considered to be in possession while bouncing the ball or throwing it up in the air. This is taken directly from FIFA's Q&A website. That said, he only has 6 seconds to release the ball into play. If he does noy, then this could result in an IFK for the opponents.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 12097