Question Number: 12237

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 2/20/2006

RE: Select Under 17

Jason Brown of Hacienda Heights, CA USA asks...

I am unclear re: a goalie handling the ball on a passback from a team mate. When I played High School this ocurred and a pk was awarded but since (in the last 4 years) I have seen it called as an IFK at the spot of the foul (which was inside the 18 yard box). I thought that all handling was a direct free kick (pk when in the box). Have the rules changed, am I mis-informed, does it vary from AYSO-high school-other leagues, or were some of the referees I witnessed incorrect? Thanks.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Jason, the goalkeeper handling a ball deliberately kicked to him is an indirect free kick offense, even in American High School competition.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Jason,
it is an IMPOSSIBILITY for an illegal handling offence by the keeper to EVER result in a PK . The keeper is ALLOWED the use of his hands inside his penalty area so the infraction of DELIBERATE HANDLING can NEVER take place.

OUTSIDE his penalty area the keeper is but another player and the deliberate handling offense punishable by a DFK is indeed applicable. In fact it takes precedent for any illegal handing violation as the more serious violation

Instead the keeper has restrictions on just when the use of the hands INSIDE his own penalty area is NOT permitted. These few exceptions are punishable ONLY with an INDFK !
An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper, inside his own penalty area, commits any of the following four offenses:
takes more than six seconds while controlling the ball with his hands before releasing it from his possession

touches the ball again with his hands after it has been released from his possession and has not touched any other player

touches the ball with his hands after it has been deliberately kicked to him by a team-mate

touches the ball with his hands after he has received it directly from a throw-in taken by a team-mate

or in the case of additional handing misconduct as in holding or throwing an object to extend his reach commits any other offence, not previously mentioned in Law 12, for which play is stopped to caution or dismiss a player.

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

See Question: 18834

See Question: 20561