Question Number: 15087

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/31/2007

RE: competition Under 11

ALEXANDER of Montreal, quebec canada asks...

is a goalie aloud to dribble with the ball out of his box and then go back in and pick it up?

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Yes. All that matters is that the ball contacts his hands in the penalty area.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Alexander ,
a keeper can leave his area and a keeper can dribble a ball in and out of his area as much as he likes.

If the keeper decides to bend down and pick up the ball with his hands at any time INSIDE his own penalty area we could apply the four criteria of law 12 reguarding the restrictions of illegal handling within his own penalty area IF they apply.

For your situation most likely, as long as the ball the keeper retrieved when he left his penalty area to go get was NOT a deliberate kick to him by a teammate or a direct throw in by a teammate the keeper can pick tha ball up at any time once the ball is back inside his penalty area

Indirect Free Kick
An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper, inside his own penalty area, commits any of the following four offences:

takes more than six seconds while controlling the ball with his hands before releasing it from his possession

touches the ball again with his hands after it has been released from his possession and has not touched any other player

touches the ball with his hands after it has been deliberately kicked to him by a team-mate

touches the ball with his hands after he has received it directly from a throw-in taken by a team-mate.
Cheers