Question Number: 15007

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/18/2007

RE: Rec Under 11

Scott Slaughter of Conyers, Georgia USA asks...

The keeper miskicks a punt, but rather than picking up the ball they just go ahead and play it out with their feet. The ref called a foul and awarded a IDFK. I know it would have been a foul if the keeper picked up the ball, but the ref said it had to touch another player before the keeper touched it again. Is this correct?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

H Scott,
You are correct if a keeper was to use his hands on the ball inside his own penalty area AFTER he had releaesed it into play the INDFK is for illegal use of hands. The keeper is not restricted from using his feet or other body parts from continuing to play the ball.

The referee has erred forgetting that the two touch restriction only applies to a free kick like a goal kick restart not a punt out in live play.

It is likely the referee is as new to the game as the players playing so try to get the information to the referee by informing his mentors or league contacts so education can begin!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

That was the wrong call. The keeper can still kick the ball or play the ball with any part of his body except for the hands.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Both colleagues discuss this decision is incorrect. It is. BUT, that's the "match condition" for the day. You must teach your players to adapt to incorrect decisions during a match. If they know the Law and the referee doesn't their telling him is only going to irritate him. This is not a good thing.

An irritated referee who doesn't know the Laws of the Game is an irritated referee who is going to make something up and that's never a good thing.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I nearly made the same mistake early in my career. Fortunately I elected to warn the U10 keeper, rather than stopping play for a non-existant foul. If somewhere there's a HS-age goalkeeper who is afraid to kick the ball after flubbing a punt, I apologize to her for my misinformation.