Question Number: 32085

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 12/8/2017

RE: Teir 1 Under 16

Nick of Calgary , Alberta Canada asks...

Can the goal keeper handle the ball in the penalty D in indoor soccer in alberta

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Nick,
No, the D area, is the penalty arc, it is only for distance evaluation on restarts it is NOT part of the penalty area from which the the keeper CAN handle the ball. The goal area is inside the PA

Penalty Area
Two lines are drawn at right angles to the goal line, 9 feet from the inside of each goalpost. These lines extend into the field of play for a distance of 25 feet and are joined by a line drawn parallel with the goal line. The area bounded by these lines and the goal line is the penalty area.
Within each penalty area a penalty mark is made 24 feet from the midpoint between the goalposts and equidistant to them.

An arc of a circle with a radius of 15 feet from each penalty mark is drawn OUTSIDEthe penalty area.



https://albertasoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ROIS-2016-17.pdf
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Nick
The D is not part of the penalty area. It is a marking to keep players 10 yards from the ball at a penalty kick.
So the goalkeeper can legally handle the ball inside the penalty area and he cannot do the same inside the D. It is a direct free kick for handling at the location where the ball was handled.