Question Number: 2584

Law 18 - Common Sense 10/21/2001

RE: Recreational Adult

John Costigan of North Vancouver, BC Canada asks...

Can the goaltender ever bounce the ball without being penalized ? Rule 12 Section 2 e) subsection - ii. states that the goalie can not touch the ball "after it has been released from his possession". Can't possession be interpreted as "bouncing the ball"?

Answer provided by Referee Stacy Kalstrom 10/22/2001

The goalkeeper is considered in posession of the ball when he is bouncing it or tossing it in the air during his six seconds of allowed posession time. A player may not attempt to take the ball from him during this time. If, however, while bouncing the ball, the ball hits a divit and goes in another direction and the keeper is unable to get it within the bounce, he has lost posession and it is anyones ball. The keeper may not pick it up again until it has been played by an opposing player or played to him by a teammate with something other than the teammate's feet.

Answer provided by Referee hoare 10/22/2001

It is generaly accepted that there is no infringment in the laws of the game when the keeper bounces the ball. The interpretation was never ment to be taken literaly and a certain amount of common sense was expected to apply and in general is.