Question Number: 26809

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/21/2012

RE: Under 19

damian bell of westminster, ma usa asks...

Is it legal to use your knee or calf area of the leg to pass the ball back to your own keeper

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

You can play the ball to the keeper in any way you choose (excepting using your hands). The prohibition is for the goalkeeper to handle a ball that has been deliberately kicked. Kicking is done with the foot. Anything above the ankle is not a kick.

Note that in some areas of the world, below the knee is considered kicking, because it is the knee joint that creates the kicking motion.

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Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Damian
My advice is only to punish the deliberate kick or what looks like a kick. Anything including and above the knee is not a deliberate kick and the law allow the goalkeeper to touch the ball with his hands in those instances where the ball is played in that manner.

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Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Yes. The US interpretation is that the ball must be kicked deliberately with the foot.

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Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Indeed! As long as the part of the body used is not the hand o anything below the ankle, it is perfectly legal.

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