Question Number: 16358

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/19/2007

RE: Select Under 12

Karl of Stanwood, WA USA asks...

My son is the goalkeeper for a U12 team. I have coached 3-4 years but only up to the U9 level. Is there a clear rule regarding contact with the goalie? It seems like some games any contact of the goalie what so ever is whistled, and then in other games contact with the goalie is allowed. I have read the rules regarding what establishes control of the ball by the goalie, but I guess my question is: can you "bump" the goalie while he's trying to establish control? Let's say the ball has bounced off his hands into the air and he's trying to regain control of it... Is it "ok" for a player to "bump" him while he's making a play for the ball? Thanks!

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

This is a very interesting question, Karl - thanks for bringing it to the forum! In all my years of dealing with coach and referee education and fielding questions from parents and other interested soccer/football fans, one of the most often received questions involved allowed contact with goalkeepers or similar issues. Your question: "Is it "ok" for a player to "bump" him while he's making a play for the ball?" creates a few other questions which must be answered before a decision can be reached (hopefully, this will demonstrate how many decisions a referee must make before they ever blow the whistle - without even talking about after the whistle). If the keeper is making a play for a ball, and another player bumps into him trying to get the same ball, the referee must decide if this was fair contact. Generally, it is, absent other qualifying details. I'm defining "making a play for the ball" as two (possibly more) players trying to gain control of a loose (not under anyone's control) ball. Attempts to win a loose ball are a huge part of the game. Bumping into one another in the process is also a normal part of the game. Whether it is a keeper bumping into an opponent or vice versa makes no difference in judging whether the contact is fair or unfair. Size and strength differences, speed of the challenge and position of the ball ( is it high in the air, mid level or on the ground), among other things, all factor into what will be considered fair in making a play for a ball. One question the referee must answer is whether the player challenging the goalkeeper is actually making a play for the ball - or are they simply running into the keeper to keep him from gaining control? If the referee decides there is no attempt to play the ball, that is an offense that can be called - and it can be called on the goalkeeper as well - think about games you have seen where the GK can't get to a ball, so they play the player. Where the decision of the referee gets really hard, assuming the referee has attained a position from which the action can be correctly viewed, is when the GK has gone to ground to try and win a ball against a hard charging attacker. If the GK has any part of his hand or arms pinning the ball to the ground or to his body, then no one is allowed to further challenge him for possession and any attempt to do so is a punishable offense. I stated this in rather simplistic terms, because there are so many factors to be considered by the referee in making a decision in such circumstances. And, sometimes the decision is simply there is no offense to be called. I hope that helps a little bit.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

I'll continue Ref. Maloney's thought, if I may... The referee comes to his decision regarding fair contact and an offence against a particular player by seeing where a player's eyes are looking! Two players making challenges for a ball and concentrating solely on the ball are trying to play the ball and if they happen to come together roughly, to the point of teeth, hair and eyes being scattered about, must be considered an unlucky accident. They just didn't see each other.

The other side of the equation is our referee seeing one of the players concentrating solely on his opponent. This is someone who has no intention of playing the ball. Here the referee may choose to intervene before there is contact! The simple act of running at an opponent, all screwfaced, may well be cause for intervention to prevent injury and to caution for unsporting behaviour. I have done this before, specifically when tempers have flared after a hard won, FAIR, challenge. Sometimes you just know when someone is out for blood.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

The keeper is like any player on the field except he/she can handle the ball deliberatly inside his/her penalty area. That is it! They have no other rights or powers over other players. Other players have just as much right to the ball as the keeper. The keeper can foul aN attacker just as aN attacker can foul the keeper. A collission involving the keeper does NOT always guarantee the keeper get the free kick. The referee must carefully evaluate whether or not the keeper or attacker initiated the foul OR if there was even a foul at all. Often times collissions occur and there simply is no foul. Referees must look at if each player was going for the ball or the opponent. Also, consider where the ball was in relation to each player. In other words, which player would have got to the ball first?