Question Number: 32434

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/8/2018

RE: College

Travis Miller of Andover, MA United States asks...

If a goalie punts the ball, and then catches it themselves, with no contact with anyone else, inside the box, what is the correct call?

I was asked this question by a player, after they saw it in a previous game. My interpretation is that the goalie has released the ball, but then has picked it up again - akin to a keeper dropping the ball to the ground and playing it with their feet and picking it up before anyone else has contacted it...

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Travis
Yes that is a technical offence punished by an indirect free kick from where the goalkeeper touched the ball with his hands.
Once the goalkeeper released the ball from his hands the GK may not touch the ball again with a hand.
Now there might be an odd situation where the ball is dropped and the goalkeeper picks the ball immediately on the first bounce. The referee could opine not to punish that as a bounce of the ball is not release of possession. In the case though of a kick it is a release and an IDFK if the ball is handled without it touching an opponent or a team mate in way that allows the ball to be handled by the GK such as from a header, chest etc.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Travis,
As described, this is the offence of a goalkeeper releasing the ball from the hands and then touching it again with the hands before it has touched another player, and according to the Laws of the Game, results in an indirect free kick.

I could imagine a scenario where with very young players, I suppose some referees might choose to see this as a trivial offence not worth penalizing but not at older levels and certainly not at College level.