Question Number: 26982

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 11/5/2012

RE: Competative Adult

Marc Alan LeBlanc of Pulaski, Virginia USA asks...

I was working some U16 matches with a colleague this weekend. On the game that I was centering, a situation arose that my colleague and I disagree on.

With the keeper in possession of the ball, I was forced to stop play because of an injury to an attacking player. After the player had been dealt with, to resume play I called out (with no objections from the opposing team) that I was restarting play with a drop-ball to the keeper and rolled the ball to him where he was standing in the box. As I expected, the keeper gathered the ball with his hands and punted it. Now, here is where the controversy arose.

At the half, I was gently chastised by my colleague (who is also an experienced referee) for allowing the keeper to handle the 'dropped ball.' He insisted that a drop-ball can only be played with the foot. I replied that while that is correct 'outside the box,' with a drop-ball 'in the box' the keeper can use his hands, if he or she chooses to, if it is to be uncontested. We respectfully agreed to disagree about the matter but I need to know whether his argument has merit. If it does have merit, then what, pray-tell is the violation and, more importantly, how is it to be addressed? My colleague was a little fuzzy on that.

An odd question, I suppose, but my colleague and I both want to do what is correct. I'm simply the one who got elected to pose the question to your site.

Thanks for your insights.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Marc
When the ball touches the ground on a dropped ball it is in play as per Law 8. As the ball is in play the goalkeeper is legally entitled to touch the ball with his hands inside the penalty area. Clearly the goalkeeper cannot do that outside the penalty area as it would be deliberate handling. So your colleague was incorrect.
The only possible argument is that on a contested dropped ball where the ball is going to be kicked whether it is wise for the goalkeeper to put his hands down to the ball when the opponent is kicking. That could be considered PIADM with the danger of a kick to the hand/s. The mechanics is that once the ball touches the ground on a drop it rarely bounces high so the feet react quickest and boots sometimes come together. That is pretty rare in the modern game.
Just a small point. The ball should be dropped not rolled or thrown on a DB.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Your colleague was incorrect.

Once the ball touches the ground on a dropped ball , there is no restriction on its play. If the ball is inside the penalty area, the keeper may handle it.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

You might want to ask your fellow referee where on earth he got the idea the keeper could not handle a dropped ball inside his own penalty area.

However, you should have executed a dropped ball and not rolled the ball to the keeper. What would you have done if an opponent, seeing the ball rolling towards the keeper, had intercepted the ball and kicked it into the net?