Question Number: 30063

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 1/30/2016

RE: Travel Under 14

Jett Tornatore of Newport News, Virginia USA asks...

Can the goalie trap the ball with her legs or sit on the ball? For example the opponent shoots on goal, the goalie misses it with their hands but falls on the ball & traps it between her legs

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Jett,
it is an issue at times because IF this was to occur outside the keeper's penalty area it could be construed as PIADM or USB same as any player unfairly denying the opposition a FAIR opportunity to challenge for the ball.

It is important to consider the reality of each situation and permit a few moments of discretionary actions to resolve the issue by simply the player lifting themselves off the ball or in the case of the keeper his reaching down to get a hand on it.

An opponent can not indiscriminately kick away at a ball that lies beneath a keeper but they are NOT prevented from trying to do so safely.

Situation A.
Keeper at full stretch, lying on the ground on his stomach traps a ball that bounced in between his calves ,the opposition striker placed a foot on top the ball and dragged it out to score

Situation B.
similar occurrence but the ball was lodged underneath the thighs when a racing striker slide foot first to push the ball through into goal and contacting the side of the keeper heavily .

Goal in A kick off

No Goal caution show a yellow card to striker in B DFK out

We expect a keeper to make a save, it is what they do and we grant him the courtesy to quickly correct these actions in getting his hands to the ball to gain UNCONTESTED possession just we grant an outfield player who falls on a ball to get up off it in a reasonable and timely manner.

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jett
A matter of timing. It is highly likely that in this situation that the goalkeeper will get a hand to the ball which means that he then has possession of the ball which then allows him six seconds to release the ball from his possession. In that situation where he gets a hand ON the ball he cannot be challenged by an opponent. That is the most likely event to happen inside the penalty area.
Now should he not use his hand/s he is just like any outfield player which means that the ball can be challenged for by an opponent. In the highly unlikely event that the hands are not used then it can be considered playing in a dangerous manner like any outfield player as an opponent may not be able to kick the ball for fear for kicking the player. If an outfield player deliberately lay on a ball making no effort to move off the ball that is a caution for unsporting behaviour and an indirect free kick restart. Very rare offence as most times players make the effort to move and the difficulty is always the time and manner of doing so it could just ends up as PIADM.
My sense is that if the goalkeeper gets the ball between his legs he is always going to use the hand /s instantly which means that he has possession of the ball and may not be challenged. Play continues.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The goalkeeper's special powers apply only to her hands and only in the penalty area. Outside the area, or with any other part of her body, she has the same responsibilities as any other player.

If a player accidentally falls onto a ball or it gets trapped between her legs, she's OK if she makes a quick attempt to release the ball. The keeper in the penalty area has another option, to quickly touch the ball with her hands.

If the situation doesn't get resolved quickly, I'd be calling Playing in a Dangerous Manner (PIADM). We make that call sooner rather than later in youth games, because the other players don't have the skill to get to the ball safely and don't have the sense to not try it.

In the pros and in skilled adult leagues you might see this as unsporting behavior, deliberately keeping the ball away from the opponents in an unfair manner.

In any event, the restart would be an indirect free kick, either for the PIADM or for stopping play for USB.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 30068