Question Number: 26454

Law 10 - Method of Scoring 6/15/2012

RE: Under 10

DAVE of Cheshunt, England asks...

My team recently played a match were the opposing goal keeper did a drop kick and it carried the length of the pitch and bounced over my goal keepers head.The ref blew for a goal,I thought it was a goal , but my assitant coach was adamant that the goal shouldn,t stand and was unhappy for me to let the goal count. Who is in the right?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Dave,

When the goalkeeper catches the ball in normal play, then being general play there's no reason why he can't score a goal directly from a drop kick. So if the ball was caught in normal play then your decision was correct.

I've heard that some leagues, though, don't have goal kicks for little leagues but allow the goalkeeper to drop kick the ball out. On the off chance that this is the case in yours, then the keeper probably can't score directly from that.

There are a few high profile matches where the goalkeeper has managed to score a goal directly from a drop kick, so it does happen at times.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The only plays that are indirect are restarts. During ongoing play - of which a keeper punt/drop kick is but one example - all plays are direct.

Some younger ages limit how far a goalkeeper can distribute the ball. For example, the U9/U10 rules in my local select league requires that the ball must bounce on the keeper's own side of the field; it cannot go across the center line on the fly. That said, the ball could bounce just short of midfield, take a few more bounces, and go in the goal, and it would count.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Dave
In a regular game the ball is in play and the goalkeeper can score on a punt from his hands. Indeed if he can throw the ball that far the goal would also be awarded.
Now in Small Sided games there are specific FA competition rules. For instance Law 15 goal clearance is a method of restarting play. A goal may not be scored directly from a goal clearance. There can also be a ball height restriction in place. In small sided games that I officiate on the goalkeeper cannot kick or throw the ball beyond the half way line.
So the only way on knowing is to have a copy of the competition rules that the game is being played under. in the absence of a local competition rule the goal would count.