Question Number: 22490

Law 18 - Common Sense 11/10/2009

RE: Competetive Under 13

H. Inglis of Whitby, Ontario Canada asks...

How far may the goalie go, dribbling the ball, after making a stop? May he/she goes fully up the field?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

As long as the keeper does not use her hands outside the penalty area, she can play anywhere on the field. Each team must have a goalkeeper, but she does not have to guard her goal.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Of course! The keeper is a player like the other ten on her team. The only difference is the keeper can use her hands inside the penalty area. She can take penalty kicks, take a shot or corner kicks for her team too. Not many do, because it is a looongg way back down the field if something goes wrong.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
One of the greatest exponents of this was Colombian goalkeeper Rene Higuita, nicknamed "El Loco" (the Madman), who in matches including internationals could be found regularly over the half way line trying to dribble the ball into dangerous positions.
As well as being an excellent goalkeeper, his eccentricities, his fondness for trying to dribble upfield, and his 'scorpion kick' have always made him stand out from the crowd. When the scorpion kick was revealed to the world at large in 1995 against England, Higuita cemented his reputation as one of the most eccentric goalkeepers in soccer.
So there is no restriction in the goalkeeper doing this other than a very nervous coach on the sideline who sees an unguarded goal should possession be lost as in the example shown where Higuita lost the ball against Cameroon in the WC resulting in a goal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tfQpz51kSQ&NR=1

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

The keeper is but one of 11 players and can go anywhere on the field. The keeper has the special priviledge of the use of the hands only in their own penalty area. Aside from Higuita, the Mexican keeper Jorge Francisco Campos Navarrete (nicknamed El Brody or Chiqui-Campos) One of the most notable Mexican players of the 1990s, Campos was a particularly eccentric player, known for his constant play outside the penalty area, his acrobatic style in goal, and his colorful attire. His strength in goal was his leaping ability and speed, which made him able to overcome his relatively short height of 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m). Campos also made for an effective striker, an example of rare versatility in football.

Cheers