Question Number: 24719

League Specific 3/22/2011

RE: High School Varsity High School

Larry Bergstrom of San Antonio, Texas Bexar asks...

Texas Shoot Out procedure.
My question is this;

Can the Goal Keeper handle the ball outside the 18 yard line ( box)?

The attempt starts 35 yards away from the goal line.

Thanks

Larry

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Larry
In general with kicks from the penalty mark and shoot outs normal laws/rules apply. So the goalkeeper would be restricted to handling the ball inside the penalty area only.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

True 'shootouts' operate outside the laws of the game (which prohibit them) and there are no published recommendations on their use by NFHS (which allows each state to use any method to decide who advances or is champion in a tournament). The shootout is commonly used in many indoor soccer leagues for certain fouls during regular play (much like a penalty shot in ice hockey). Few remember or have seen the old NASL shoot out to decide who advances in tournament play.

Thus, the entire procedure depends upon a local rule.

Common procedures are:

(a) the kicker and ball are located 35 yards from the goal and the keeper must have one foot on the goal line.

(b) at the referee's whistle. the kicker may run with the ball and has a limited time period to shoot. The kicker usually may not kick the ball a second time if it rebounds off the keeper or goal.

(c) at the referee's whistle, the keeper may leave the goal line.

(d) I've never heard of any local rule that would permit the keeper to handle the ball outside the penalty area.