Question Number: 16151

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 7/28/2007

RE: Rec,FIFA,High School Adult

Larry Meadows of Rockbridge, Oh USA asks...

Can the ball be kneed or thighed back to the keeper by a teammate? I know it can be headed/chested back but I cannot find verbage otherwise.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Larry,
any legal body part can be used to knock a ball to the keeper, only if it was deliberately kicked to the keeper is the keeper restricted from the use of his hands. As a player I have used the back of my calf , my knee, my butt, my back, my thigh, in certain tense situations often where having fallen on the ground it was the only way to play the ball away from an opponent.

A player is ONLY restricted if he tries to circumvent the laws by formulating a weasley plan to crouch down when no one is near and then knock it to the keeper with his knee or flip a ball up to his head or thigh with his foot then direct the ball back to the keeper. Then the INDFK occurs from what the player DID NOT the keeper picking up the ball with his hands
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

It can be kicked headed kneed anyway but with the hand or arm. There's no foul involved in any of these actions. However, if the ball is deliberately kicked with the foot to the keeper or to an area the kepper may collect the ball the keeper may not subsequently legally handle the ball inside his own penalty area.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Another way it can get to your goal tender is if it hits your hand or arm and rebounds to him either in the air or on the ground. The thing you can't do is what it says in International FA Board Decision 3 of Law 12.

Regards,