Question Number: 17026

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/1/2007

RE: select Under 11

Jeff Wiesner of Garden City, Michigan usa asks...

I understand that the keeper cannot willingly set the ball down onto the turf and pick it back up again inside the box, but what if he just drops it-accidentally -prior to distribution and scoops it up again with his hands? Does the indirect free kick still apply in this situation?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Same difference whether accidentally or on purpose - he just cannot let go of it and then pick it up again without an IDFK being awarded against his team, assuming the first touch was not a save (meaning he didn't have control of it with his hands, he just punched it away).

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Jeff,
it could but in some cases no reason it should!
It will depend on the referee and perhaps the trivial or doubtful nature of the event perhaps taking into account the age and skill level possibly the weather conditions. It really boils down to the 6 seconds of allowable hand use! A keeper can bounce the ball so if it hits the ground and he picks it up it is a funny bounce. If no opponent is nearby and no challenge forth coming certainly doubtful ,accidental and therefore trivial in the need to be called!
Now if the wind was blowing and it minus degrees where the hands are blocks of ice I might cut the guy some slack. Still a mistake is a mistake and no reason to be gifted a redo if say the keeper was foolishly bouncing the ball and say it hit his foot and karomed off.
If we do cut slack and allow it the 6 seconds of possession are ticking away the whole time best get rid of that ball ASAP! Cheers!

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The Law states "touches the ball again with his hands after it has been released from his possession and has not touched any other player".

It's a simple statement, yet it's so easily misunderstood by those who will read into it what they want. If the goalkeeper is just a klutz and just can't hang onto it without it falling to the floor I tend to agree with what Ref Dawson says. A competent keeper, those above age seven or eight, who looses the handle and tries to use his hands needs to have some reason for learning better coordination so I tend to agree with Ref Maloney. Bottom line, when you release the ball from your hands it must touch another player before you can grab hold again. Eleven year-olds know this too...

Regards,