Question Number: 928

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct

RE: Class I Under 15

Gary Powell of Auburn, CA USA asks...

Goalie catches the ball and has full posession. Punts the ball straight up in the air and re-catches the ball, still in the goal box. Is it hands on the goalie, and what is the restart?..Thanks,..Gary

Answer provided by Referee Stacy Kalstrom

According to Law 12 "An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper, inside his own penalty area, commits any of the following five offenses:...touches the ball again with his hands after it has been released from his posession and has not touched any other player...." this is considered a second touch by the goalkeeper. The referee should blow her/his whistle and award an indirect freekick to the attacking team. .Typically a freekick is awarded at the spot where the infraction occured. However, according to the special circumstances described in Law 8 "An indirect free kick awarded to the attacking team in its opponents'goal area is taken from the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the infringement occured."..Thank you for your question, please visit our site again.

Answer provided by Referee miller

If, by "Is it hands on the goalie", you are asking if the keeper is guilty of intentional handlng, remember that he cannot be guilty of that foul in his own penalty area under any circumstances..Also, the scenario you describe usually occurs in very young aged games, and that the duty of the referee in those ages (usually U10, and younger)is to instruct, in addition to enforcing the Laws. If the keeper was obviously inexperienced, and ignorant of the Laws regarding this issue, the game might better be served if you would tell him the correct procedure and let him punt the ball away.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 12812