Question Number: 35324

Law 8 - The Start and Restart of Play 1/12/2024

RE: Adult

Engin Goktepe of Houston, TX United States asks...

After participating in a dropped ball, can a goal keeper dribble the ball inside his own penalty area and take in his hands?

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Engin,
Yes, they can. Once the ball is dropped, it is in play and any player can play it as they would normally do.

As ref Dawson alludes to though, opponents are allowed to remain a minimum of 4 metres (4.5 yards) away, so the keeper might not want to dribble the ball around for too long, as they would risk being challenged for the ball by an opponent.

In my experience, most keepers will take the ball into their hands almost immediately, as it is by far the safest thing to do.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Engin
Yes the goalkeeper can dribble the ball for as long as possible before picking the ball up after a drópped ball. I have seen goalkeeper stand at the ball doing nothing until an opponent pressures the pick up which in essence may amount to the same.

Many teams position an attacker at the 4.5 yard distance to ensure the ball gets picked up promptly when keen to get on with play. It also ensures that if the ball is thrown to the ground by the goalkeeper that it is kicked away smartly. The GK has to put the ball back into play promptly when picked up.

In addition the circumstances will have a bearing. If it was an injury stoppage there is a Fair Play element of a team not abusing the drópped ball situation by delaying putting the ball back into play particularly if the goalkeeper had already picked up the ball before the stoppage. That tended to be the case in the past when the ball was kicked back to a goalkeeper who was expected to pick it up and put it into play without delay.

I have on occasion advised goalkeepers that I want the ball picked up at the drópped ball to ensure no shenanigans. I don’t recall it ever being abused. There would be nothing untoward in a goalkeeper moving to the centre of the penalty area before putting the ball in play just in case of a slip or something. I have seen a goalkeeper slip on a kick which resulted in a goal.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Engin,
there were recent changes to the LOTG (laws of the game)
The DB is no longer used as a restart BETWEEN two players but is NOW a restart whereby a SINGLE player of the team awarded the restart by the referee based on the criteria of circumstances & possession receives the ball. The opponents must be 4 meters away at minimum. Only when the ball hits the ground they can then challenge for possession.

When ANY DB restart conditions are met, occurring within either of the penalty areas (PA) A special condition enforced!
ONLY the keeper of that PA is permitted to participate.

If the DB occurs inside the PA, the opponents must still be 4 meters away at minimum but if the opposition gives him time and space. that keeper can do as he wishes, let the ball lie there, reach down and pick it up or dribble it away and later if so chooses reach down and pick it up IF still inside the PA securing 6 seconds of uncontested possession

What I think you might be asking is if the KEEPER received the DB then dribbled a ball from inside the PA back outside then could he dribble it back inside and use the hands?
I say YES! provided it was not handled initially inside!

Once the ball hits the ground it becomes LIVE play.

INDFK restart for a 2nd touch or a deliberate kick from a team mate are not present here, so, while it might be risky, a keeper could kick the ball back into his own PA and use the hands to gain the 6 seconds of uncontested possession.

Remember though an opponent only is required to be 4 meters away in ANY direction includes closer the PA or in it and can challenge. I would think if the keeper was designated to take a DB OUTSIDE his PA, if his team had the choice, I can guarantee if a keeper was granted time and space once to accomplish such a feat that the opposition would not permit it ever again.

Cheers