Question Number: 31865

High School 10/5/2017

RE: High School

Bob Healy of whitman, MA United States asks...

Can a keeper punt a ball into the opposing net and score

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi bob,
under FIFA 11 aside LOTG you bet and I expect under high school during open play the same applies! Just expect the NFL scouts to show up asking if he wanted to try pointy ball!
Cheers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OwQS38i3Og

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/goalie-tim-howard-scores-cross-field-goal-wind-carries-ball-team-entertainment-15296818

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/video/2017/apr/26/goalkeeper-scores-from-own-penalty-area-bolivia-football-video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSc-3rT5afY

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Yes, they can. You might find some non-NFHS games played under local or competition rules for youth or small-sided games that have a modification prohibiting this but under NFHS rules this would be allowed.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Bob
In regular games on normal sized fields a goal can be scored from a punt. It has happened at all levels. Indeed if a goalkeeper could throw the ball that far the goal would also be counted as no rule has been breached. The ball is in play and the goalkeeper is allowed to kick, throw from his own penalty area. It is pretty long kick for a young player from one area to the other and to also beat the opposing goalkeeper.
In small sided games, Futsal etc there are competition rules to not allow this. Not so in regular games.