Question Number: 16425

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/25/2007

RE: rec Under 12

bill smith of dayton, ohio usa asks...

can a player kick the soccer ball to his own goalie, & the goalie pick up the ball with his hands?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

No. That is disallowed in Law 12. The player can deliberately kick it toward his goalkeeper, but then the keeper is not allowed to handle it.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Well, the player can kick it to the goalie, and the goalie can pick it up with his hands. But if he does, the referee has to blow his whistle and give an indirect free kick because by picking up the ball with his hands after it was deliberately kicked to him by a teammate, the goalie broke the part of Law 12 that says he can't do that. Now, if his teammate wishes to head the ball to him, or chest it to him, or use his thigh or shin to direct it to him, that's okay. Or if the goalie just uses his feet to play the ball instead of his hands, then the referee can keep his whistle quiet.