Question Number: 23506

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 6/19/2010

RE: Competitive High School

Thomas Evins of Naperville, IL United tates asks...

High School summer leagues are a good place for trivial rules discussions. A goalkeeper, attempting to field a high, popped-up ball from about 40 years out, lets it slide immediately through his hands and/or arms and drop harmlessly to the ground. Under no pressure, he then walked several steps to his right, picked up the ball (still in the Area, of course), and distributed. Opposing coach is screaming for an IFK, claiming that the ball touched hands, and is therefore a second touch infraction. To my mind, the keeper's muff (sorry for the American football term) is nothing like a 'deliberate parry.' He had no intention of missing the ball, and no action occurred that I could construe as control, so we played on. Is there any interpretation you are aware of supporting the coach's contention?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Referee Evins
As described this is not control of the ball by the goalkeeper and he is entitled to pick the ball up. It is only an offence if the goalkeeper had control of the ball either in his possession or he parried the ball and then released it to the ground. In that case the goalkeeper cannot pick the ball up again.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

A parry is where the goalkeeper could easily - in the opinion of the referee, not the coach - catch the ball but chose instead to knock it to the ground. That doesn't sound like what happened in your scenario. The goalkeeper is free to handle the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Rarely do we find support of coaches contentions. Your opinion is the only one that counts and from what you describe your opinion is also correct