Question Number: 16975

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/29/2007

RE: select Under 13

Cynthia Laggan of richboro, pa usa asks...

This question is a follow up to question 14095

Further question on keeper possession--if the keeper catches the ball with both hands and is immediately, almost simultaneously run into by an attacker, which frees the ball, should play stop and the ball be given to the keeper, or would play be allowed to continue?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

I would likely stop play and award a free kick out most likely a DFK for charging or pushing. Depending on the nature of the tackle caution or send off is always a possibility. I am trying to wrap my mind around a legal charge where there might be play on. The words *almost simultaneously* though defers to my opinion of the need for avoidance or consideration of safety when ramming into a keeper. Attackers have a right to challange for a free ball and if it was 50/50 with a reasonable effort and opportunity then perhaps if say hand and head arrived to the ball at the same time?
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I probably would stop play and award a free kick to the keeper's team

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

If the facts are as you state - ball in the keeper's hands, dislodged by collision, then YES, play should stop and a direct free kick be given to the keeper's team. Safety is first and players need to learn that running into a goalkeeper with the ball is a bad idea. The very least it should produce is a free kick and it would be easy to add a caution on to that offense as well. The younger and/or less skilled a team might be, the more proactive the referee should be in calling such dangerous confrontations for the safety of the players. As they get more skilled, the length of time the referee will wait to see what happens is longer, because a player could legally get the ball at the last second before the keeper, and make a legal play. But at the younger ages, that is unlikely and 9 times out of 10 not worth the risk to the players - both of them. And, if the keeper does get the ball, they shouldn't also get whacked and then lose it with no penalty. Regards,