Goalkeeper Handling Rules
A goalkeeper cannot handle the ball with their hands if it was deliberately kicked to them by a teammate, or if they receive it directly from a teammate's throw-in.
The full rule
The goalkeeper is the only player permitted to handle the ball, but only within their own penalty area and only under certain conditions. They cannot pick up the ball if a teammate has deliberately kicked it to them — this results in an indirect free kick. The same applies to a throw-in directly received from a teammate. However, if the ball is headed back or chest-controlled by a teammate, the goalkeeper can handle it. The rule is about the deliberate use of the foot, not about accidental deflections.
Key points
- ✓Cannot handle a deliberate back-pass kicked by a teammate
- ✓Cannot handle a ball received directly from a teammate's throw-in
- ✓Headed or chest back-passes can be handled legally
- ✓Offence results in an indirect free kick at the spot of the handling
- ✓Accidental deflections off a teammate's foot are not back-passes
Scenarios
Defender kicks ball back to goalkeeper under pressure
A defender is pressured and deliberately passes the ball back to the goalkeeper with their foot. The goalkeeper picks it up.
Defender heads the ball back
A defender under pressure heads the ball back to the goalkeeper who catches it.
Ball deflects off defender's foot accidentally
An attacker shoots and the ball deflects off a defender's foot back to the goalkeeper who catches it.