Question Number: 15775

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 6/13/2007

RE: High School Adult

Douglas Jackson of Minot , ND USA asks...

Team B keeper makes a save against team A. The keeper bounces the ball and kicks the ball down the field in doing so the keeper steps over the the goal area line parallel to the goal line. Is the infraction because of the ball crossing the goal line or the keeper stepping over the goal line? Is the penalty for this infraction an IDFK?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Douglas,
I am a bit confused here?
The PENALTY area is the 18 yard area!
The keeper is permitted the use of his hands within ALL of this area
The goal area is the 6 yard area in front of the goal WITHIN the penalty area.
The goal line is the line extending across the field from corner to corner through the posts and under the crossbar.

A keeper's feet or body play no part in determining if the ball is inside or outside a boundary line ONLY the ball is considered. If the ball is carried COMPLETELY outside the penalty area boundary lines into the field it is a DFK for (Handles the ball deliberately) and the restart occurs just outside the edge of the penalty area. It must be noted that we often consider this event as a doubtful or trifling offence and either ignore it or warn before any punitive action is taken

If the keeper carried the ball COMPLETELY over the goal line it is a corner kick for the opposition. If the keeper carried the ball COMPLETELY under the cross bar and between the posts over the goal line it is a goal for the opposition and a kick off restart for his team.

A keeper has 4 restrictions where he is NOT permitted to handle the ball inside his own area which are INDFKs from the point of those infractions. Those are the only cases for an INDFK for illegal use of hands!

A keeper can NEVER EVER be quilty of a PK for deliberately handles the ball!

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

No. The keeper can handle the ball anywhere in the penalty area (larger region). Also, it is not the feet that matter, but it is where the ball is that matters. Thus if the keeper carries the ball outside of the penalty area such that the whole ball is over the entire line, then it would be a dfk for opponents at spot of infraction.