Question Number: 15088

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/31/2007

RE: Under 10

Costa of Montreal, Canada asks...

Can A keeper leaves the 18 yd box and bring in the ball with his foot and pick it up?

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Absolutly. All that matters is that his hand makes contact with the ball inside of the penalty area. The keeper can leave the penalty area and dribble or kick the ball back into the penalty area and handle the ball. No problem. The position of the ball at the time the ball contacts the hand is what matters.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Costa ,
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 he 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