Question Number: 22651

Law 10 - Method of Scoring 12/16/2009

RE: Rec Under 19

Michael Dorn of East Rutherford, NJ USA asks...

Can a goalkeeper score a goal by throwing the ball with his hands from his own penalty area? Someone told me that it can be scored but only if someone else touch the ball first. For example the opposing goalkeeper.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

YES! They can but it is likely the Dallas Cowboys or LA Rams would be scouting that boy for pointy ball!
NO! not at an 11 aside regulation match. That 'someone' is wrong, the ball is live in play and the goal stands after the Herculean throw reguardless of any other touch!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The goalkeeper throwing the ball is not a restart like a throw-in. It is just a different type of ongoing play. There are no more restrictions on a goalkeeper throwing the length of the field for a goal than there would be for a player to kick the ball that far.

Now, if this had been in a U-little game, where they often play on dinky fields, there may be some local rule modification that prohibits the goalkeeper from punting or throwing the ball 'too far'. For example, the ball may have to bounce before crossing the half line. There may be a rule in these kind of games that effectively makes a goalkeeper throw to be 'indirect'.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

In Futsal, the keeper cannot score directly from a throw; it must touch a player first.

In certain small-sided varieties of the outside game (such games aren't under the auspices of the Laws Of The Game), the same rule may exist.

Additionally, in the 'normal' game, a player may not score directly from a throw in but it must touch a player first.

Any of these may have been a possible source for the confusion.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

The only way a goalkeeper could not score from a throw would be if the keeper was taking a throw-in. That would require a touch from another player (either team) to make it able to score.

But for the plain old garden variety of keeper throw, if the keeper can heave it the length of the field and over the other keeper, he does indeed deserve the score! The ball has to be in play in order for him to have it in his hands, and if the ball is in play, he can throw it anywhere - including into the goal of his opponent.

Please re-educate your comrade!