Question Number: 33326

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/8/2019

RE: Rec Under 13

Randy Knecht of West Chester, OH United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 24554

Along the same lines of this question the Goalie tried to punt the ball and missed it, rolled down her leg. She did not pick it up again but did kick it and was called for an indirect free kick. This did not seem right to me and can't find a rule where once a Goalie attempts a punt or drop kick that they would not be allowed to kick it again before someone else touched it?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Randy,
for what it is worth we here agree with you, it does appear as if it was an incorrect decision IF the decision was a 2nd touch violation! Only if it was FREE kick at a restart is the 2nd touch implemented as an infringement. In live play, if she picks the ball up in her PA she would ONLY be prevented from using her hands once she released the ball after the 6 seconds of possession. She could kick it or dribble it for as long as she was able. Hopefully the referee gets some fine tuning as to what is a 2nd touch violation
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Randy
As described this was not a violation punished by an IDFK. Sure what happens when a goalkeeper throws the ball to ground playing it repeatedly with multiple kick touches? It would only be an offence if the goakeeper touched the ball with a hand after releasing it from his possession. It is covered under Law 12 and I quote
'An indirect free kick is awarded if a goalkeeper, inside their penalty area, commits any of the following offences:
# controls the ball with the hands for more than six seconds before releasing it
# touches the ball with the hands after:
** releasing it and before it has touched another player
** it has been deliberately kicked to the goalkeeper by a team-mate
** receiving it directly from a throw-in taken by a team-mate'
Releasing it and before it has touched another player is the relevant.
Interestingly from 1st June if, after a throw-in or deliberate pass from a team-mate, the goalkeeper unsuccessfully kicks or tries to kick the ball to release it into play, the goalkeeper can then handle the ball.
Clearly the law makers feel that an error of an unsuccessful kick is a sort of a reset of the deliberate kick that allows a goalkeeper to then subsequently use his hands.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Randy,
As you describe it, this is definitely a mistaken call. There is no prohibition on the goalkeeper using the feet repeatedly while the ball remains in open play. The only differences between a goalkeeper and the other players in terms of playing the ball, are in regard to the use of the hands (and only inside their own penalty area). When it comes to using the feet, the keeper has exactly the same rights as any other player. Just as an outfield player, after missing a kick at the ball, is still allowed to play it with the feet, so is the goalie.