Question Number: 15324

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 4/30/2007

RE: Select Under 13

tony morris of douglasville, ga usa asks...

If a keeper has posession of the ball and is walking or running forward to punt and along the way he bounces the ball on the ground...may a player on the opposing team try to kick the ball away. What if he fumbles the bounce?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

For one year, and one year only, FIFA Q&A allowed a player to try to intercept a ball while the keeper was bouncing it. The next year the answer was changed, without comment, to, "No."

If the keeper fumbles the bounce, losing control, she has released the ball into play. She cannot pick it up again, and an opponent is free to play it.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Tony,
I tend to believe that in the 6 seconds of legal uncontested possession
a keeper has, to bounce the ball is basically a very dumb thing to do. As you point out he could hit his foot or a bit of uneven ground and the ball is off and running. But fumble as in a drop with the ball still bouncing and then picked up and rebounced is hardly a worrysome event unless the ball flat lined and rolled over to an opponent then it becomes a big deal if the hands come into play a second time!

The 6 seconds are used to distribute the ball if we see it as a release then the hands cannot be used if we see it as a funny bounce then it is 6 seconds and the clock continues to tick!
We could consider the need, the skill and the age but if there is no real control then if an opponent tried to play it best the keeper kick that ball away rather than regrab it!
Cheers