Question Number: 32107

High School 12/17/2017

RE: College soccer College

Abby Stapleton of Charlotte, NC USA asks...

Why don't they make goalkeeper gloves with the sticky material of football gloves/is it allowed?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

hi Abby
There is a proprietary spray on the market that can be applied to gloves to make them 'sticky'. Nothing illegal in that it is just an aid to enhance the features of the gloves. Referee just would not even be aware of same.
Modern new gloves have somewhat of a sticky like material on the palms that can help with catching yet after constant use it tends to lose their stickiness. The spray also helps to bring that stickiness back.
So yes it is available and players do use it. It wont make up though for poor goalkeeping!

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Abby,
There is no rule regarding sticky material on goalkeeper gloves. In fact, there is no rule concerning gloves worn by goalkeepers. Gloves may or may not be worn - it is the goalkeeper's decision if gloves are to be worn and if sticky material is to be applied to the gloves.

It has always interested me that all other parts of the uniform - jerseys, shorts/pants. socks, shinguards, shoes, etc. are specifically covered in the rules, but nothing is mentioned about goalkeeper's gloves.

However, as all other equipment, if the gloves, for some reason, are considered dangerous by the referee, they cannot be worn.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Abby,
The laws make no mention of goalkeeper's gloves, let alone material applied to them. As ref McHugh mentions, manufacturers try to make gloves relatively sticky anyway but of course you could only go so far with this. If the gloves were too sticky, it could make it difficult to throw or roll the ball to a team mate and since quick and efficient distribution of the ball is an important part of the goalkeeper's role, this would not be desirable.