Question Number: 31047

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 11/23/2016

RE: Competitive Under 13

Aaron Speca of Virginia Beach, VA United States asks...

Is this play technically a violation by the keeper? Keeper goes to roll the ball to a teammate, thinks better of it at the last second, ball leaves his hand, goes into the air, and he catches it before finally releasing it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QnTHAVXqz8

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Aaron
Clearly not an offence. The Laws state that and I quote **A goalkeeper is considered to be in control of the ball when: #  the ball is between the hands or between the hand and any surface (e.g. ground, own body) or by touching it with any part of the hands or arms except if the ball rebounds accidentally from the goalkeeper or the goalkeeper has made a save
#  holding the ball in the outstretched open hand
#  bouncing it on the ground or throwing it in the air**
Last bullet point covers it as the GK threw the ball in the air.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Aaron,
certainly not any reason to find an offence but IF there was an opponent nearby who was innocent of doing anything to prevent the release and he took a whack at the ball while it was travelling forward I might let it go as an accidental oops as opposed to a throw into the air and thus restricted from the attempt to play it. It did look like a slip up to me and while 6 seconds and possession is to be respected nor do we seek to punish needlessly but hard to hold an opponent culpable if the keeper accidentally loses control.
Cheers