Question Number: 14760

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 1/29/2007

RE: AYSO Under 13

Cameron of Lancaster, CA USA asks...

Can a goalkeeper waiting outside the penalty area stop (with his foot) a ball kicked by an opponent towards the GK's penalty area and then dribble or kick the ball into his penalty area and pick it up?Is this not a foul as the GK as a player outside the penalty area passed the ball back to the GK(himself)?

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Yes, he is not allowed to touch ball with hands after releasing it. Here the keeper did not release ball so it is "ok" to touch it with hands.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Cameron,
the act you describe is fine as the keeper is not limited in the use of his hands inside his penalty area as the ball was not first deliberately kicked to him by a teammate. Admittedly when this passback term first evolved several years ago I thought exactly as you did for a brief time until corrected by those more knowledgable than I.
It seemed to me that it was circumventing the law but a pass to himself is fine as long as there was no deliberate kick of the ball by a teammate to the keeper.
Do not forget while any opponent played ball is ok it is also ok for a teammate to head, chest etc.. the ball outside of the PA and the keeper can still dribble the ball back into his area and use his hands. Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Law 12 says, "touches the ball with his hands after it has been deliberately kicked to him by a team-mate". The goalkeeper is not herself and a teammate of herself at the same time, so there is no problem here. Unless maybe it was Sybil playing ...

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Cameron. The foul is handling the ball deliberately kicked to him by a TEAMMATE, not an opponent. If an opponent plays the ball, the keeper is free to collect it outside his penalty area with his feet, dribble it inside his penalty area then pick it up. He then has 6 seconds to release the ball from his hands. Thanks for the question