Question Number: 2698

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct

RE: AYSO Under 12

John Gernert of Calabasas, CA USA asks...

A keeper traps the ball outside the penalty area and dribbles the ball back into the penalty area where he proceeds to pick up the ball. Is this a kickback resulting in an IFK or is it permissable? Does it matter if the ball to the keeper came from his own teammate or an attacker?

Answer provided by Referee haselden

It is not permissable if a teammate of the keeper played the ball to the keeper. It is permissable if the ball was last played by an attacker.

Answer provided by Referee Dawson

Hi John,..YES and NO...The keeper must be aware of who last played the ball and how it was touched...YES>>>If the keeper leaves the penalty area to retrieve a free ball that was last played by an attacker. There is no problem to.kick it in to his penalty area and pick it up. Same is true for an accidental deflection off a defender or a pass back from the.defender with any other body part except the feet...NO>>>If a defender deliberately plays the ball with his feet towards an area of the field where the keeper can play it. The.keeper is required not to pick it up or risk incuring a INDFK for touching the ball with his hands after it has been deliberately.kicked to him by a team-mate. The same is true on a defender throwing the ball in from touch. Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

2008 Update. What Ref Dawson says is correct. The other answer is incorrect in that the terminology is wrong. The keeper may play any ball outside the penalty area and bring it back into the penalty area and subsequently handle it EXCEPT a ball that was directly thrown there by a teammate or a ball that was deliberately kicked there directll by a teammate. The ball may be "played" in other manners that are perfectly ok such as a header