Question Number: 19686

Law 10 - Method of Scoring 8/4/2008

RE: Varsity High School

Jim Stanford of massillon, ohio stark asks...

If the goalie touches the ball with his hands outside of the box, is that an indirect Kick? Also if it is 10 yards off of the ball for the kick, if a second player from the offensive team gets closer to the ball than 10 ft. can the defender go as close as the second player? Jim

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If the ball is outside the penalty area, the goalkeeper loses all his superpowers except for the right to wear the spiderman jersey. He can no longer use his hands; if he does, the result is the same as if any other player did it - direct free kick.

Ten yards applies to all the opponents, in any direction from the ball, regardless of what the team taking the kick does. Think about it a little, and you'll see why. For indirect kicks especially, it's common to have two or more teammates near the ball so one can kick it slightly to the other. If opponents were allowed to be as close as the next nearest teammate, every indirect free kick would be taken with an opponent within a yard or two. That's not the way it's done!

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

No, and no. No player is allowed to deliberately handle the ball outside the penalty area (what you call a 'box' - but note boxes are 3 dimensional) including goalkeepers. Punishment is a direct free kick. Defenders must retire at least 10 yards in every direction from any free kick awarded against them (an exception for indirect kicks inside the goal area (smallest 'box') without being asked. It matters not at all where the attackers stand, other than they cannot interfere with a defensive wall set at least 10 yards away.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

No, think about what you are asking. The goalkeeper loses all his extra rights outside his own penalty area. If the ball is outside his penalty area he istreated like every other player. That said, if the goalkeeper on the taking of a punt carries the ball a short distance over the penalty area boundary before releasing it from his hand, the prudent referee will regard this as a trifling infraction and allow play to proceed and perhaps verbally tell the keeper to be more careful. Second question, the team that has committed the infraction resulting in a free kick for their opponents are REQUIRED WITHOUT BEING TOLD to retreat 10 yards in all directions from the ball. It doesn't matter where any of the teammates of the kicker are positioned.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

No its a direct free kick. The defenders must remain 10 yds until the ball is kicked. Else, that player is cautioned and the kick is retaken.