Question Number: 26614

Law 9 - The Ball in and out of Play 8/8/2012

RE: Competive High School

Darren Pollen of Elmira, New York U.S.A. asks...

While playing goalie is the ball out if you step out of bounds with the ball after a save?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Darren. Unlike other sports, the only thing that matters is whether all of the ball has crossed all of the line. A keeper's body can be entirely off the field with hands next to and behind the goal line. But, if all of the ball has not fully crossed the line, the ball is still in play.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Darren
It is the position of the ball that counts. If all of the ball is over all of the line then the ball is out of play. It makes no difference where the player including the goalkeeper is positioned.
A goalkeeper could be stood totally over the goal line with the ball held in his outstrectched hands, directly on the line and that ball is still in play as the ball has not fully crossed the line.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

See 26610 - a recent question regarding outfield players and the touch line, but the principle remains the same.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

If the whole ball goes off the field (all the way across the goal line) with the keeper, then yes, the ball is out. Hopefully, the keeper did not step off the field into the goal after making the save, because now it's a goal!