Question Number: 31555

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/23/2017

RE: All Under 13

Tom of Mt joy, Pennsylvania Usa asks...

Can an opposing player block a goalies punt if they are outside of the 18 yard box?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Tom.
NO!
No one is permitted to interfere with the release of the ball when the keeper's 6 seconds on handling opportunity are given up. He can toss the ball up and out as he punts so it will be outside the PA but no opponent can challenge! That said, if the opponent was ALREADY there & had done nothing to indicate he was shadowing the keeper he is under no obligation to move out of the way. Key point he is under EVERY obligation not to GET in the way . Basically leave the keeper alone once he has the ball in his hands.
Unless he tosses it on the ground & RELEASES it back into play THEN go ahead and get him! Remember the keeper can bounce the ball and toss it into the air while HAVING 100% possession in his 6 second window .
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

HiTom
The restriction of preventing release of the ball by the goalkeeper applies no matter where the opponent is located. So if an opponent, outside the penalty area, prevents release of the ball by the GK it is an IDFK. If the action stopped a promising attack such as a quick break with players outoif position it could also result in a caution.
Here is an example if a player positioning himself outside the penalty area in a deliberate way to prevent the punt.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uO9A6s8_vI
In this one Red also gets cautioned
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWsBDlUsAUU&t=5m30s

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Tom,
The law simply says that it is an offence if a player:

''prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from the hands or kicks or attempts to kick the ball when the goalkeeper is in the process of releasing it.''

There is no requirement that the player be in any specific location. So long as the referee judges that the player has committed the offence specified above according to the exact terms in the law, it does not matter whether they were inside or outside the penalty area.