Question Number: 24043

Law 10 - Method of Scoring 9/29/2010

RE: Rec Under 11

Tammie of flowood, MS USA asks...

If the goalkeeper punts the ball from the goal he/she is defending (without anyone touching it) into the opposing teams goal, is it considered a goal or is it a goal kick for the opposing team?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Tammie
A goalkeeper can score directly from a punt into the opposing team goal and it has happened on quite a number of occasions. Indeed from a punt an own goal can be scored.
Prior to 1997 a goal could not be scored from a goal kick but that is now changed so that it can. An own goal though cannot be scored from any kicked restart. A punt is active play.

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Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Absent any special rules for U-little games, a goalkeeper can score a goal directly from a punt or drop kick - or by throwing the ball, for that matter - after having made a save. The ball has not gone out of play, and this is not a restart. There are no special rules governing what happens after the goalkeeper distributes the ball.

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Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Unless your League subscribes to what I think is one of the silliest rule modifications ever; that the keeper may not kick the ball 'too far', this is absolutely allowed

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