Question Number: 16690

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/14/2007

RE: Rec (AYSO) Under 13

Led Gardner of Knoxville, Tennessee USA asks...

Situation:
The keeper collects the ball from a shot on goal. She picks the ball up and goes to punt it, but she misses the ball on the kick. The ball drops to the ground inside the penalty area. She runs up and kicks the ball out of the penalty area without touching the ball with her hands.

Question: Should an indirect kick have been awarded to the attacking team because she touched the ball twice - once with her hands and once with her feet?

Comment: A reading of Law 12 would seem to indicate that no penalty should be invoked since she did not touch the ball a second time with her hands, but I have a nagging feeling that somewhere else in the Laws there is a clause that would require an indirect kick because she did touch the ball twice. Double touch rule? Help.

Thanks.

Led Gardner

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The double-touch rule applies only to deliberate handling by the keeper. Law 12 specifically says this. If you believed that the keeper kicking a muffed punt was a second touch, why would the good punt itself not be a second touch after releasing the ball from her hands?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Once the keeper releases the ball from her hands it is free for all to play. This includes the keeper! Law 12 does specify that the keeper can't use her hands again until the ball touches another player. You'll note the second touch thing is only considered on a restart of play and never when play is running as it is in this case.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

No. The keeper cannot handle a pass kicked to him by a teammate deliberatly. This was just a mishandle - so the keeper can kick ball away. Note that he could not pick it up with hands until ball touches a opponent or a teammate that did not kick ball to keeper deliberatly.

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