Question Number: 32542

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 6/25/2018

RE: AYSO (Youth Rec League) Under 11

Murphy of SB, USA asks...

Hi am a referee and a player, and I saw a goalie dribble a ball from out of the box and bring it in to the box, then pick it up. It was not a pass from a teammate, and the ref did not call anything. I am sure that was a legal play, but I just would like some clarification. Thank you.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
The answer depends on how the goalkeeper got the ball to his feet in the first place.
If it was a deliberate kick from a team mate or the goalkeeper saved the ball and dropped it to his feet the goalkeeper is restricted from touching the ball with his hands no matter where he dribbles the ball to or from.
If it was a kick forward by an opponent then the goalkeeper can dribble the ball inside and outside of the penalty area and still legally pick the ball up when challenged by an opponent.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Yes it is perfectly legal. If the keeper takes the ball from outside the penalty area, And dribbles it into the penalty area, then picks it up… That is perfectly legit. The only exception would be if it was an intentional pass back from a teammate

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Murphy,
the key here is HOW did the ball 1st come into the keepers possession?
If the ball was headed or chested back to him by a team mate or he stopped a through ball from the opposition the is nothing wrong as long as he had not already picked the ball up for his 6 seconds of possession. As long as the keeper had not received the ball from a deliberate kick by a team mate or a direct throw in from a team mate he has NO handling restriction.

I had an unusual match where the opposition sent in a long ball that bounced over towards the corner flag that no one followed except the keeper who corralled it about 4 yards from the corner flag and dribbled that ball along the goal line into the PA . A defender came back to receive the pass but the keeper just dribbled the ball into the top of the penalty ARC before a frustrate attacker finally challenged him for the ball. The keeper shielded the ball back into his PA where he decided to fall upon it and use his hands to pick the ball up and after a few seconds attempted to punt the ball down field only to have the frustrated attacker try to hinder that effort . As result the keeper was awarded an INDFK out. The opposition was screaming about him wasting time when I corrected their thinking by reminding them the keeper was simply using up time that THEY allowed him
Cheers