Question Number: 30529

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 6/20/2016

RE: Competitive Under 13

Fred of Seaville, NJ USA asks...

Can a goalie who plays a ball with his foot in the penalty area, dribble the ball out of the penalty area, back into the penalty area and pick the ball up with his hands?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Fred,
All that's important is how he received the ball. Was it a deliberate kick to the goalkeeper from a teammate? If so, nothing the goalkeeper does changes that - doesn't matter if he receives it outside the PA, receives it inside and dribbles it out then in - he still received it from a deliberate kick to the keeper from a teammate so cannot handle it. Receiving the ball directly from a throw in by a teammate is the same.

If he received it, say, by intercepting a kick from an opponent then again, it doesn't matter how long he spends with it at his feet or what he does - he can handle it.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Fred
It all depends on how the ball came to the goalkeeper. If it was by way of a deliberate kick by a team mate then the restriction of touching the ball with his hands remains no matter what the GK does. Same would pally if he had it in his hands and threw the ball to ground. However if the GK were to receive it from an opponent or in a manner from a team mate that he can handle it such as a header then dribbling the ball first is not an issue before picking it up. That dribble can be inside or outside the penalty area.