Rule Question

[pastyfacegangster]

Somewhat new to soccer. Went to some MLS games this year and noticed that the goalie never handled the ball when passed to him directly from his own teammate - but did handle it if it was headed to him. Asked one of my buddies who "knows the rules", and he confirmed that was correct - it would be a penalty if he handled it off a direct pass from own team.

So, I was at my daughter's U12 game last week and noticed a goalie did handle the ball directly off a teammates pass. Asked our coach if that was a violation, he looked at me like I was crazy. Asked the ref after the game, and he looked at me like I was crazy.

So, is this really a rule? I'm sure if it is, it certainly wouldn't be a MLS centric rule - is it a FIFA rule?

If in fact I'm not insane, and this is a rule, if someone could point me to the exact verbiage or rule book, I would greatly appreciate it.

Many kind thanks.

[Kevin8833]

Somewhat new to soccer. Went to some MLS games this year and noticed that the goalie never handled the ball when passed to him directly from his own teammate - but did handle it if it was headed to him. Asked one of my buddies who "knows the rules", and he confirmed that was correct - it would be a penalty if he handled it off a direct pass from own team.

So, I was at my daughter's U12 game last week and noticed a goalie did handle the ball directly off a teammates pass. Asked our coach if that was a violation, he looked at me like I was crazy. Asked the ref after the game, and he looked at me like I was crazy.

So, is this really a rule? I'm sure if it is, it certainly wouldn't be a MLS centric rule - is it a FIFA rule?

If in fact I'm not insane, and this is a rule, if someone could point me to the exact verbiage or rule book, I would greatly appreciate it.

Many kind thanks.I am nearly positive that it is a rule, but not really a big issue or priority in youth soccer, which it shouldn't be it is mainly so pro teams don't stall and sit on leads.

[SMUPlayer]

The goalie can only handle the ball if it is headed or chested back to them by their defender. Kevin8833 was right. It's to make sure that pros don't sit on leads but it also makes keepers have some sort of skill.

In the younger leagues, it's not a big deal. Plus, if you look at old footage of soccer from the 60's and 70's, it was not a rule. I don't know when it was instituted, but I know that it is a rule now.

[gosh1976]

Somewhat new to soccer. Went to some MLS games this year and noticed that the goalie never handled the ball when passed to him directly from his own teammate - but did handle it if it was headed to him. Asked one of my buddies who "knows the rules", and he confirmed that was correct - it would be a penalty if he handled it off a direct pass from own team.

So, I was at my daughter's U12 game last week and noticed a goalie did handle the ball directly off a teammates pass. Asked our coach if that was a violation, he looked at me like I was crazy. Asked the ref after the game, and he looked at me like I was crazy.

So, is this really a rule? I'm sure if it is, it certainly wouldn't be a MLS centric rule - is it a FIFA rule?

If in fact I'm not insane, and this is a rule, if someone could point me to the exact verbiage or rule book, I would greatly appreciate it.

Many kind thanks.


I believe it would actually be an indirect free kick not a penalty. To my knowledge most youth leagues do enforce this rule.

And it should be a deliberate kick back to the keeper to be called and the spirit of the law is to cut down on time wasting.

it's going to be in rule 12 of the laws of the game

[pastyfacegangster]

Thanks all - It's good to know I'm not insane. Does anyone know which levels actually enforce this rule:

International play (all FIFA?)
MLS - definitely does
USL
College
High school

[gosh1976]

Thanks all - It's good to know I'm not insane. Does anyone know which levels actually enforce this rule:

International play (all FIFA?)
MLS - definitely does
USL
College
High school

I'm guessing it is enforced at all those levels though I'm not 100% sure about high school.

Some refs may be less strict with calling it especially at the youth levels and may take the spirit of the law more into consideration before blowing the whistle.

[Gary V]

An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper,
inside his own penalty area, commits any of the following four offences:
• takes more than six seconds while controlling the ball with his
hands before releasing it from his possession
• touches the ball again with his hands after it has been released
from his possession and has not touched any other player
• touches the ball with his hands after it has been deliberately kicked
to him by a team-mate
• touches the ball with his hands after he has received it directly from
a throw-in taken by a team-mate
(3rd bullet point in this section) Note "deliberately kicked".

[saabrian]

Thanks all - It's good to know I'm not insane. Does anyone know which levels actually enforce this rule:

International play (all FIFA?)
MLS - definitely does
USL
College
High school

It's enforced in all of these levels including not only high school, but middle school and youth club soccer. Maybe the younger levels of youth soccer overlook it but I've coached U14 and up and it's always been called.

[comme]

Plus, if you look at old footage of soccer from the 60's and 70's, it was not a rule. I don't know when it was instituted, but I know that it is a rule now.

It came in in 1992. It had become a notable method of timewasting and was particularly common at the 1990 World Cup.

FIFA thought it would encourage more attacking football and goals.