Question Number: 14276

Law 10 - Method of Scoring 10/26/2006

RE: middle school Other

Linwood Skinner of Winston Salem , North Carolina United States asks...

Can the goalie stop a score from inside the net without the ball touching the posts or the net. If it is not permitted, what is the penalty?

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Once the ball crosses goal line and the whole ball is over all of the goal line, it is a goal IF IT IS BETWEEN POSTS AND UNDER CROSS BAR. It need not touch the net.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If the keeper is off the field of play due to normal course of events and is scrambling to get back on and stops the ball before it goes into the net and scores in accordance with Law 10, then it's a save and is legal. If he has left the field of play without the permission of the referee or re-entered without permission, it would be midconduct.

Answer provided by Referee Nathan Lacy

As I understand your question, it seems as if you are asking if the keeper could have their feet/body over the goal line inside the net, if you will, and use their hands by reaching across the goal line into the field of play to stop the ball before it crosses the goal line for a goal (whew). The answer to this is yes, this can be done. As noted above, as long as the BALL does not entirely cross the goal line it is not a goal and the save would be "acceptable." All the best,

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 14353