Question Number: 23816

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/23/2010

RE: Rec League Under 13

Ken of San Andreas, CA USA asks...

If the goalie handles the ball outside of the goalie box; should this be a direct kick or indirect kick?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Direct, assuming by 'goalie box' you mean the penalty area.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

When a goal keeper touches the ball outside the penalty area there are only two options:

1) It is the direct free kick foul of deliberately handling the ball.

2) It is not a foul and any contact should be ignored as doubtful and trifling . (An example of contact that is not a foul is common when a keeper punts the ball as she approaches the penalty area line. It may be doubtful as to the location of the ball when released and it may be trifling since it rarely makes any difference where the ball will land or which team will win the 50/50 ball).

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

There are no boxes on the field - thank goodness! It would be hard to get the ball in the goal if a three dimensional structure like a box protected it!

The penalty area is the larger area and the goal area is the smaller area within the penalty area. If the goalie/keeper handles the ball inside his own goal area or within his own penalty area there is no offense unless the ball was deliberately kicked to him by a teammate or thrown in to him by a teammate - basically. These are indirect free kick offenses.

Outside the penalty area, the keeper is just another player, and deliberately handling the ball outside the penalty area is a direct free kick offense (except for the trifling nature of most punt situations).