Question Number: 32807

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/16/2018

RE: competive Under 14

terri d. of oakton, va usa asks...

In a recent game, the ball was bouncing around in front of our goal (about a foot away) in a frenzy of activity to defend/score from the teams.
At one point, our goalie deflects the ball, but with her foot as she is concerned last touch is from her own player.
I think in this kind of scenario, the goalie/ref would not consider any kind of deflection as a deliberate pass- as who would pass back to the goalie at that distance? Therefore, the goalie should always handle the ball, with no concern of a deliberate pass?

Hope that makes sense.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Terri
It is a judgement call to be made in each situation.
Clearly when the ball is bouncing around and there is doubt about a deliberate kick to the goalkeeper that will be the least of the referees concerns. It will probably be viewed as a save of a possible deflection.
However I have seen players deliberately kick the ball to the goalkeeper inside the goal area necessitating the GK to kick the ball away without using his hands.
So the goalkeeper should make a decision based on what transpires rather than assuming an IDFK is not going to be called because if where it happens and how.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Terri,
in general goal mouth scrambles if a keeper dives on it 99% of the time it is likely ok A Keeper is charged with stopping the ball from entering the goal. Allowed to use the hands inside the PA . A LOTG that prohibits this is if a referee sees a teammate of the keepers deliberately kick the the ball to them?
If there is no CLEAR deliberate kick observed by the referee then yes no one wants to award a scoring opportunity out of nothing. HOWEVER, I have seen very clear deliberate foot actions & shielding that leave NO DOUBT the ball is being deliberately shepherded over to the keeper. This is an INDFK offence and the pressure of the attacking team that causes it is justified because that is what the LOTG provide. An errant clearance or a challenge knocking the ball off an opponents should not be viewed as a deliberate kick to the keeper in around the goal but if the defender has CLEAR ball possession and makes clear controlled and deliberate foot actions to pass, hold or shield it is not a far step to INDFK status if that ball just slowly, quietly or sneakily rolls it's way into the keeper's hands it could be viewed with suspicion. This might be one of the few LOTG that we kind of consider the intent of the player involved.
Cheers
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Terri,
It would be likely that in a scenario such as this, a goalkeeper would not be penalised for handling the ball, much of the time. However it is not necessarily the case that the goalkeeper 'should always handle the ball, with no concern of a deliberate pass.'

Even with a goalmouth scramble going on and even with the players in close proximity, it is still possible that a defender could choose to deliberately kick the ball to their keeper.

When I was a coach, I always used to advise my goalkeepers that if they were absolutely sure the ball was clearly deflected accidentally to them off a team mate's foot, they should be OK to pick it up but if they were in any doubt at all, it would be safer to kick the ball.