Question Number: 16657

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/12/2007

RE: Competitive Under 15

Russ of Manchester, CT USA asks...

The ball is in the box, but the goalie has overcommitted himself and falls facing the goal with feet outside box but hands/ball inside box. Is this considered a hand ball based on the goalies body placement or a fair ball to control by hand by the goalie based on the ball placement?

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

Play continues. The position of the ball was within the goalkeeper's penalty area, it is not an offense for the goalkeeper to handle the ball within his own penalty area. The position of his feet or body is irrelevant.

In these situations remember it is the hands and the ball that matter, nothing else.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Change this a tiny bit and it becomes clearer - if the keeper is totally within his penalty area except for his hands which are holding a ball just over the goal line inside the net, wouldn't you call that a goal? So you can see it is the position of the ball first that matters, and then the hands.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Law 12 makes it an offence to deliberately handle the ball [except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area]. This means the location of the ball not the location of the goalkeeper.

Regards,