Question Number: 17202

Law 13 - Free Kicks 10/8/2007

RE: Select (club) Under 10

Christopher Fenniman of Pequannock, NJ usa asks...

This question is a follow up to question 17104

As a follow-up to question 17104 and goal keeper restriction of law 12, I've seen professional goal keepers bounce and catch the ball a few times prior to punting it away. Isn't that a violation of the goal keeper restrictions of law 12?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

No, it is not. GK are considered to have retained possession when bouncing and catching the ball prior to release. It is not considered the same as, for example, when they throw it a little distance away, but then run and pick it up again, or bounce it off of their shoe and have to chase it. When being bounced, it is in the goalkeeper's control and may not be challenged.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

No. It has long been part of soccer tradition that the keeper may bounce the ball as often as she likes (although now for no longer than 6 seconds) or throw the ball up in the air and catch it as much as she likes and still maintain control of the ball. There are a LOT of things not written down that are accepted all over the world. They are not written down because in FIFA's mind, everyone already knows them. This is unfortunate for those of us not having grown up with soccer in a way as we don't know all these things. On the other hand, our Law book is of manageable size and we have no wrong preconceived notions as do many that grew up playing soccer.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

We see professional keepers bounce the ball before releasing it into play because it is not a violation of the Law, in fact it is historically correct. In America we have no historical record of The Game that father's pass on to sons, we just have myths and what TV commentators say. Establishing the historical record is going to take a significant number of fathers who KNOW what they are talking about and passing it on. Keep asking questions and perhaps you can be one of the good guys...

Regards,