Question Number: 15285

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 4/26/2007

RE: Rec, Select, Competive Under 19

Bart Jackson of Eagle, ID USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 15250

This seems to be splitting hairs [15250] as the keeper is not a keeper when he/she
is a field player and at that point a 'colleague'. Thus it is a deliberate
playing of the ball to the keeper and a deliberate attempt to usurp the laws of the game. My opinion.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Bart, what you say is impossible because one player of each team is the goalkeeper, by Law.

Please don't use this analogy when talking to newer referees, spectators, moms and dads, players, coaches or their dogs. It is not correct. If you have cause to explain to newsmen or television commentators feel free to use this confusing explanation because it will tend to exponentially increase their knowledge.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The goalkeeper is the goalkeeper, and remains the goalkeeper until she is replaced with another goalkeeper. It doesn't matter which part of the field she is occupying, nor what kind of plays she is making. We give her the spiderman shirt to keep her separate from the rest of the players on her team, so we always know who the goalkeeper is.

The goalkeeper is prohibited from using her hands when the ball has been deliberately kicked to her by a teammate. Since no one is one's own teammate - not even Sybil was capable of being two people at the same time - the act of dribbling a ball into the penalty area and then picking it up is not prohibited. Unless the ball was deliberately kicked to her by a teammate - a real one - prior to her dribbling the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Bart. no. The keeper is the keeper is the keeper no matter where on the field he is!!! Playing the ball to the keeper is fine. No usurping of the Laws. The keeper simply may NOT handle the ball if played to him deliberately by a teammate with the foot. You are trying way too hard to read into something that simply isn't there.