To start off, here’s a great video explaining visually what a Futsal goalkeeper can and can’t do.
Now we move onto my content! I will cover two of the most important rules concerning goalkeepers in Futsal. It is explained in the Laws but for a crash course.
4 Seconds
The goalkeeper can keep possession of the ball for a total of four seconds:
- including their hands and feet,
- in their own half.
“and” in the first point refers to the fact that if the goalkeeper has possession of the ball in their hands and drops it to their feet, the count continues and does not reset.
Here’s a video of the count on the goalkeeper’s possession of the ball which is legal. Notice we don’t start counting immediately after the goalkeeper is in possession of the ball. We do so when “he is ready to do so”.
Here’s a video demonstrating the start of an early count for an unnecessary delay in the goalkeeper’s possession as he lies on the ground after receiving it. The extra time taken by the goalkeeper extends beyond the recoil time needed for the save and so, the goalkeeper could have in fact released the ball sooner without difficulty.
The count continues when the goalkeeper has the ball in their hands and then releases it to their feet. The following video demonstrates this.
The count is stopped when the goalkeeper crosses the halfway line. The count resets if the goalkeeper returns to his own half after entering the opposing half while in possession of the ball.
Plot twist: The goalkeeper passes the ball to a teammate in the opposing half after crossing over the halfway line. A return pass is then made to the goalkeeper still in the attacking half. The goalkeeper returns to the defending half. Second touch offence.
See next section for what we mean by second touch (multiple touches).
What do the Laws say exactly about 4 seconds?
An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper commits any of the following four offences:
- Controls the ball with his hands or feet in his own half of the pitch for more than four seconds
- …
FLOTG 2014-2015, Page 40
Multiple Touches
One of the most complicated rules in Futsal is that the goalkeeper cannot touch the ball with their hands or feet for a second time (basically having already touched it) in their own half. The first touch can happen anywhere and includes taking restarts.
The second touch is permitted if and only if one of the following has happened:
- an opponent touches the ball,
- or the ball has gone out of play.
Note the use of the word second and multiple touches is a colloquial reference an not an official Laws of the Game term. A second touch doesn’t mean a second dribble (i.e. poking the ball with the foot twice in succession) but rather the second time the goalkeeper has possession of the ball (someone else gets possession.
In the following video the goalkeeper plays a game of tika-taka with a defender and is penalised by a second touch offence.
In another scenario, we see that the goalkeeper wisely does not touch the ball in this encounter to avoid suffering a second touch offence. Shielding the ball would invoke the 4-second rule in the previous section. We assert that shielding is considered control of the ball.
A very important note is that if the goalkeeper plays the ball from a restart e.g. takes a goal clearance, kick-in or free kick, it constitutes a first touch. As a result, a return pass in his own half would be a second touch offence.
Allowing the ball to cross the halfway line no longer has any effect on allowing the goalkeeper to touch the ball again. That rule was altered in 2010. We refer to earlier in this post to at least one of the original two conditions that need to be met for the goalkeeper to be able to touch it again.
An important thing to note is that a lot of concentration is required here. A team could potentially play a very drawn out game of passing having already included the goalkeeper in it and then include the goalkeeper again. No time span waives a second touch so what may feel like ages of a team passing the ball all across the court avoiding the ball going out of play and an opponent touching it could be a violation if the goalkeeper touches it for a second time in between then.
These two major points are covered by the following video.
On the other hand, an opponent touch or ball out of play allows the goalkeeper to legally touch the ball again.
Opponent touch
Ball out of Play
What do the Laws say exactly about multiple touches?
An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper commits any of the following four offences:
- After playing the ball, he touches it again in his own half of the pitch after it has been deliberately played to him by a team-mate without an opponent playing or touching it
- …
FLOTG 2014-2015, Page 40
Refereeing the Beautiful Game 
Slight correction: opponent does not have to *play* the ball in order for the goalkeeper not to be called for a 2nd touch. Opponent only has to *touch* the ball (or ball touches opponent)
Revised. Thanks!
Something we use with our refs here for the “second touch” thing is that you have the ref put their thumb out (like a “thumbs up”) when the GK touches the ball a first time, and once the ‘sequence’ ends, the thumb goes down again. That way you know that if the GK plays the ball and the thumb’s out… bad. 🙂
That’s a great idea! Definitely good to use for new refs until they master the concentration level necessary.
In the video “Futsal GK Combined Hands & Feet Possession,” the GK collects the ball with his hands and drops it to his feet. Why isn’t playing with his feet now considered a “second touch”? Would the opposite order — if he collected the ball with his feet (after receiving it from an opponent) and then picked it up (in his own penalty area) — be a “second touch”?
Same possession. “Second touch” should really be “second possession”.
As noted in both the Laws and above, a GK can have possession in his/her own half for 4s. If there’s a second possession (based on the “Multiple touches” section above), then that’s where the problem lies.
A bit of language issues mostly it appears.
I have been reading some conflicting reports on the goalkeeper is allowed to throw the ball directly into the opposing teams goal. Is this correct in Futsal?
Never. A goalkeeper cannot score a goal when playing the ball directly from his hands whether from a goal clearance or after a save. After a save, he may, however, kick it and score e.g. a drop kick.
FLOTG, Page 37, 2nd paragraph
does the ball have to leave the penalty area before a teammate can play it after a keeper makes a save?
Nope. After a save, the ball is still in play so anyone may play it after it is released by the goalkeeper.
The goalkeeper is allowed to throw the ball directly into the opposing team goals and if the ball is being touched by the opposing goalkeeper or being touched by a player into the net, then it is a GOAL. Correct?
As long as the touch happens before it enters the goal, it would be a valid goal.
I’m not sure I’m with you on the drop-kicking and scoring. It states “A goal is disallowed if the goalkeeper of the attacking team throws or hits the ball intentionally with his hand or arm from inside his own penalty area and is the last player to touch or play the ball”, but doesn’t say anything about that touch having to be the last touch he has before scoring. My reading of the rule would be that as soon as he deliberately uses his hands he has rendered the rest of his possession indirect. (taking it to ludicrous extremes, once he’s played it once he can’t score for the rest of the game as there appears to be no ‘reset’ condition in the rules, but rendering his own possession indirect is a reasonable outcome at least)
Has there been any formal clarification on this? As a keeper, I’d rather like the ability to score, but the rule doesn’t seem to allow it.
The interpretation here has been specifically that a goal cannot be scored when last touched by “deliberate handling” by the attacking team (whether GK in his/her own penalty area, or attacking player). This is a bit of common sense.
For example, a GK could make a save by catching the ball, immediately put the ball down, dribble up field, cross the halfway line and take a shot and score… that goal would definitely count. Dropping the ball and then kicking it down field into the net (directly)? A goal.
Don’t try to read stuff into the Laws that isn’t there.
For context. the real reason I ask is that I’ve been on the receiving end of both interpretations (the bad side on both cases, actually), so I wanted to determine the actual rule. I’d agree that the interpretation you have would make sense from an observer’s point of view, but I’m not sure it’s what the rule really says. In the example you state he has exactly fit the wording of the rule – hit or thrown it with his hand or arm and was the last player to touch or play the ball (with some stuff between which is not directly referenced by the laws).
I’d actually like that example to be a goal, but it’s hard to bring anything up to a ref based on just common sense – hence hoping for a clarification somewhere.
Hmm… looking back to the 2008 rules is worse, in a way. It states “A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line between the goalposts and under the crossbar, unless a member of the attacking team, including the goalkeeper, has deliberately carried, thrown or struck the ball with his hands or arms, and provided that the scoring team has not previously infringed the Futsal Laws of the Game.”
It seems odd to include that as an additional requirement, given any such handling by a non-goalkeeper is inherently an infringement regardless of location, but at least in this version the only reading that ever lets any scoring occur is the one that makes sense (and that you proposed), so you need to go with it.
I think at this point I will simply curse the referee who disallowed my goal a year ago and grudgingly accept the one I let in tonight, and agree that the letter of the law should not be followed above the spirit. Thanks for the reply Alex, and hopefully I didn’t seem too blunt.
Can always appreciate a humble question Brian! Unfortunately, not all referees put the care and attention into developing their refereeing knowledge as much as they should (hence the inconsistency). Alex is my partner in crime responding to comments on this page. 🙂
I will say in defence of the ref I’m cursing – the rules do technically support him. Hopefully FIFA will clarify that in future – after all, they saw fit to write about four pages on different ways to respond to something being thrown at the ball!
I wouldn’t hold your breath!
And, should some future reader desire something more authoritative, http://www.fifa.com/futsalworldcup/videos/y=2013/m=10/video=incredible-goalkeeper-goal-seals-historic-win-2189458.html has a video of it happening in the 2012 world cup, on the FIFA website itself. So, yep, definitely permissible. Now to try it myself… Thanks for taking the time to answer.
is it correct, the goalkeeper can play freely just as ordinary player when the ball plays on the opponent’s half?
Correct.
Yeah, exactly direct goal from hands either throwing after saving or goal clearance is not allowed but if it deflects then “goal” while scoring by kicking would also be the legal goal.
one thing I don’t understand is that it seems the keeper can kick it straight into the opponent’s goal to score (http://www.fifa.com/futsalworldcup/videos/y=2013/m=10/video=incredible-goalkeeper-goal-seals-historic-win-2189458.html). However I thought the keeper had to either throw the ball out or it had to be a drop kick? I was under the impression the keeper can’t handle the ball and then pass it to one of his teammates by kicking it from his hands; it had to be a throw. Can anyone clear this up for me?
I’ve clarified all comments on this page to clear up the confusion. Doesn’t need to be a drop-kick; just a kick. The drop-kick reference was an example of delivering it.
Page 37 FLOTG
For your latter question, the goalkeeper must deliver the ball with his hands for a goal clearance. The video above is from a save and the ball is in play so they can drop it to their feet and dribble it or kick it directly and score.
Thanks, that clears it up. One more question… From a goal clearance, can the keeper roll it out with his hands and then dribble it himself?
Nope.
If the ball is in play and the goalkeeper touches the ball again (except with his hands) before it has touched another player:
• an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team, to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred (see Law 13– Position of free kick)
Page 57 FLOTG
thanks. Am I right in thinking that if it’s open play (not a goal clearance), the keeper is allowed to drop it to his feet and then dribble it (limited to 4 seconds or until he crosses the halfway mark).
Yes!
Cool, thanks again. I was confused about the rules as I hadn’t considered that ‘goal clearances’ (ie when the ball has gone out of play at the back) are different from when a keeper has made a save in open play and has possession, though the two may look similar… I wonder if it would be clearer if a keeper’s pass from his penalty area was given a particular name to distinguish it from a goal clearance, eg a distribution pass.
Definitely true. I prefer to say while the ball is in play and sometimes begrudgingly “from open play”.
When is the goalkeeper considered to be in control/possession of the ball triggering the four second count. Assuming an opponent puts a weak shot on goal and it hits the post. The goalkeeper moves with the intention to play the ball but deliberately delays waiting for an opponent to force him to touch it. When does the four second count begin ?
As soon as the goalkeeper is standing over the ball (even without touching it), the count starts. The implication is that he is controlling the ball.
Delaying picking up the ball is more common in football. It’s a destructive, counter-intuitive tactic in futsal since the count will run out quicker than they can release it.
At the end of extra time & just before starting penalty kicks a team wants to change goalkeepers using one of the players that finished the game this is ok to do
Cheers
Futsal is a bit different from football (aka soccer) in that “All players and substitutes are authorised to take the penalty kicks” (pg 62, 14-15 Laws) and “A goalkeeper may be replaced by any player while kicks are being taken from the penalty mark.” (pg 62, 14-15 Laws).
The final interesting bit relates to “reduce to equate” *(also pg 62, 14-15 Laws):
* If, at the end of the match or extra time and before the kicks start to be taken from the penalty mark, one team has a greater number of players, including substitutes, than its opponents, it must reduce its numbers to equate with that of its opponents and the team captain must inform the referee of the name and number of each player excluded
* If a team must reduce its numbers to equate with that of its opponents, it may exclude the goalkeepers as players eligible to take the penalty kicks
* A goalkeeper excluded from taking penalty kicks in order to equate the number of players of his team with that of its opponents, i.e. who is located in his technical area, may replace his team’s goalkeeper at any time
This is different from football, where the person acting as GK must be considered one of the players eligible to take the penalty kicks.
Hi there,
I have 3 questions considering the rules on the goalkeeper:
What if the goalkeeper’s 2nd touch (or even a four second violation e.g. shielding the ball..?) denies an obvious goalscoring opportunity of the opponent’s side? Is this also punishable with a sending off (+ IDFK)?
Previously it was said “if the goalkeeper plays the ball from a restart e.g. takes a goal clearance, kick-in or free kick in his own half, it constitutes a first touch. As a result, a return pass would be a second touch offence.” Does that mean that the first touch of a kick-in or free kick must occur in the goalkeeper’s own half? So if it happens in the opponent’s half then the keeper has an “extra touch”?
Just for clarification: if the goalkeeper is shielding the ball (without touching it) he/she basically has possession of the ball and the count starts if he/she is in his/her own half?
Many thanks and greetings from Hungary!
Laszlo
In reverse order:
* Shielding is possession.
* In short, if the goalkeeper is in the other half, s/he’s just a player. The key here is simply “second touch in his/her own half.” It only applies to two possessions in his/her own half. Possessions in the opponents’ half? Meh. Play on!
* In theory, I don’t see why not. At a recent refresher course I took, it was presented that a player impeding could easily be considered DOGSO under the right circumstances. At the moment, I can’t easily think of a situation whereby this would apply, but it’s one I’d have to ask about…
Thank you Alex for your quick reply and clear explanation!
If you hear something regarding the DOGSO situation please let me (us) know here. 😉
Best wishes from Hungary!
Laszlo
We heard from a USSF Futsal referee instructor that it wouldn’t be DOGSO since the Laws specify the exact restart for it.
Unfortunately, I’m not in agreement because it’s not specific enough to DOGSO to be considered a comprehensive answer. Will let you know what we hear as discussions continue.
EDIT: Although we can’t find a Law reference at this time in contradiction, in the spirit of the game and Laws, I wouldn’t recommend it.
FWIW, classic example of a GK preventing a goal through an illegal second touch could be a pass from GK to teammate and a return pass which is headed toward the goal and will cross the goal line if the GK does not touch it a second time.
My friends and I got into an argument yesterday so i need an answer for the following situation:
If the opposing player clears the ball from his half and the goalkeeper’s first touch is outside the box by foot, can he take the ball into the box and pick it up by hand? (it all takes less than 4 seconds)
Thank you and pardon my english.
Yes Vlada. My resident advisor tells me that the goalkeeper at that point can pick up the ball, put it down, pick it up again as many times as he wants as long as he releases possession within 4 seconds. Futsal isn’t like football in that the goalkeeper can release the ball and deliberately handle it again immediately.
If a player shoot free kick and goalkeeper catch it and fell ball from his hand can a player running and hit again…plz rpll
Yes of course. Nothing Futsal specific there as long as you are talking about the player running and hitting it again.
Hi, thank you for the post. I had couple issues with the ref in last tournament. came here to clarify that i was right. 🙂
P.s. – if I touch the ball (goalie), pass it to a teammate, then substitute goalie comes in play (i’m on the bench now) – can second pass be given or that counts as “the same” goalie? and the same with 4 second rule – if I have the ball for 2 seconds, change for another goalie (while in posession of the ball) – does the count restart or continue?
There’s two easy questions to ask here:
Is it the same player? No.
Are they giving up possession to sub? Yes.
So… no second touch. Restart count.
With that in mind, if the substitute GK was on the field of play as a player and had touched the ball in the sequence, and came into the field of play as substitute GK (obviously in his own half at this point in time) and touched the ball before any players on the opposing team had touched it… then there would be a second touch, even though the first was NOT as a GK.
Alex, the substitute goalkeeper is considered the same as the original goalkeeper and cannot touch the ball again in his own until it has gone out of play or an opponent has touched it. The count is not restarted.
I’m inclined to agree with you Ed. I don’t see why the count restarting would be an issue if it’s a “second” touch. If it’s the first touch, never was an issue.
Also, there is no such thing as a second touch. it is an incorrect term to describe the action of the goalkeeper playing the ball again in his own half after releasing it into play. If the goalkeeper dribbles the ball into the opposing half of the court and then comes back into his half of the court it is not allowed at all and is playing the ball again after releasing the ball into play. If that was allowed the goalkeeper could hold the ball for the entire match and kill time which is not what FIFA wants. Also, even if the goalkeeper takes a kick in from the opposing half of the court he will not be allowed to touch the ball again in his own half until it has been touched by an opponent or has gone out of play. One more, the ball cannot be thrown directly into the opponents goal by the goalkeeper. That was changed years ago.
Agreed that it’s colloquial wording and not an LOTG term. I don’t believe there is an official wording/terminology that is succinct enough that can be referred to in conversations?
Do we have a Laws of the game reference to support the returning into the own half scenario? There was a lengthy discussion about this a few years ago that didn’t yield a Law reference and I don’t see what the issue would be for a goalkeeper to be running across the halfway line repeatedly to achieve this (a dangerous area to yield possession in order to burn a few seconds which doesn’t seem like a very defensive move).
Agreed with regards to the goalkeeper touching the ball first time in the opposing half (including restarts) being counted as a first touch. I don’t believe we’ve contradicted that here.
Agreed with the ball being thrown directly into the opponent’s goal. I didn’t want to re-iterate every single thing from the Laws here but we’ve answered this question in a prior comment.
Law 12 is clear: An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper commits
any of the following four offences:
“After playing the ball, he touches it again in his own half of the pitch after it
has been deliberately played to him by a team-mate without an opponent
playing or touching it” {page 40 in the English version)
There is nothing in the Laws that state that moving to the opposing half of the court clears the goalkeeper of any restriction on playing the ball again after releasing it into play. He cannot play the ball again after releasing it into play until an opponent has touched it or it has gone out of play. So, unless one of those actions occur playing in the opposing half and then returning does not change the Laws.
It was changed so that golakeepers cannot eat up time by playing tica taca with a team mate. That would be very easy to do if what you suggest was allowed.
Once the ball is released back into play the keeper cannot play the ball again unless one of the two actions mentioned already occur.
Hey Ed, I’m inclined to agree with you based on the Law statement alone but where is “releasing it into play” ever mentioned/defined? The goalkeeper throughout simply plays the ball.
You’re using semantics. The goalkeeper may not play the ball again once he releases it into play. Even if you cannot find the exact wording that I have used within the Laws of the Game the fact that what I state is true does not change. There is nothing about a second touch by the keeper in the Laws but people are continually using that term to describe this same action we discuss. Playing and releasing the ball have the same meaning. When the goal plays the ball the Laws do not just refer to dribbling the ball.
Thanks Ed. I’m going to re-structure this page with the “second touch” wording. Too bad we don’t have another short colloquialism that makes it easier to refer to.
That being said, clarification came from the FIFA Refereeing department (specifically Manuel Navarro [Deputy Head of Refereeing]) to report that the GK returning to his own half with the ball with no teammate involved as an intermediary is fine. The 4 second count resets – no offence.
Can a goalie socore off of a bounce kick from on side to the other and not touching any player.
Yes (considered a “drop-kick”) but check your league rules in case they explicitly prohibit it.
These videos are still not correct. It’s going to confuse people. They should be fixed. The count for the 4 seconds is not reset if the goal keeper enters the opponents half of the pitch and then returns with the ball. The fact is, the whistle will be blown because the goal keeper has touched the ball again in his own half after releasing the ball into play, which is what he does when he enters the opponents side.
You’re referencing only one video and didn’t respond to the earlier thread above.
I wasn’t responding to the earlier thread as you answered it. I was commenting on the accuracy of the videos and the text associated with them.
That statement that was posted on Facebook in regards to the FIFA Assistant To the Head of Referees for FIFA did not say anything about the ball. I asked for clarification as it only says that each time the goalkeeper returns to his half the 4 seconds is counted again. We must see that answer with the exact wording of the goalkeeper dribbles or plays the ball into the opposing half and then plays or dribbles the ball back into his own half without any opponent touching the ball. We haven’t seen that answer yet.
if the goal touches the line with his feet when he throws the ball
The goal line or the penalty area line? Can you confirm clearly where both feet and the hands are throughout the delivery?
The lines are part of the areas that they are boundaries of. If the goalkeeper is releasing the ball from a save for example, and touches or steps on the line it is not an infringement. If the goalkeeper is performing a goal clearance and is not within the penalty area for the throw it must be a retake unless the 4 seconds has expired.
Hi there.
If a certain goalkeeper touches the ball twice (after holding the ball in his hands , the ball dropped from his hands and he again pick it up), than what will be case. Penalty or something else …. ???
Indirect free kick
The wording you are using is not clear. If the goalkeeper was holding the ball an dropped the ball unintentionally it may be considered as not released into play so he may pick it up. It is considered trifling but left up to each Referee to distinguish and apply the Law correctly. If the goalkeeper dropped the ball as in putting the ball back into play, he may not touch the ball again until an opponent has touched it or it has gone out of play. The restart would be an indirect free kick from the spot of the infringement or on the penalty area line parallel to where the infringement occurred.
To be honest I am very confused by the Futsal Laws from 2014-15, the additions that were made in 2016(?) that I cannot find anywhere, and simultaneously working with the new 11-a-side laws. This is also one of the only places online with a current futsal discussion.
My question is about the contradiction above on the 4 second reset:
– The GK dribbles out of his/her own half, and then dribbles back into their own half – does the 4 second count reset, or does it continue from where it stopped when he/she entered the opponent’s half?
The 4s count resets. As long as the GK isn’t committing the “touching again” offence… of course.
Note: There have been NO amendments to the 2014/15 Futsal LotG, although there is a new edition expected to be released in the “near future”. As such, I’m not at all clear on what you’re referring to by talking about “the additions that were made in 2016(?) that I cannot find anywhere, and simultaneously working with the new 11-a-side laws”
My local association updated the local language futsal LotG in 2016 😉
Is there ever a time in a game where it is legal for the goalkeeper to punt?
Goalkeepers are allowed to punt. They just can’t punt the ball for a goal clearance.
Hello,
Sorry for reviving an old thread but you’re one of the few people out there that seems to have some level of understanding about the FLOTG. Assuming no other infringement of the 4 seconds, second possession, or back pass rule, can a futsal goalkeeper bring the ball back into the box with his feet and pick it up? So the ball comes back to the goalkeeper from a hard touch of an attacking player. It’s just outside the box. The goalkeeper taps it into the box with his foot and then picks it up. Is this allowed?
Thanks.
Yes that’s fine. The 4-second count continues however.
What if goalkeeper is on the floor, his hand is on the ball (he is not holding it, just puts his hand on it) and the opponent kick that ball a score a goal. Is it a foul or not?
A goalkeeper is considered to be in control of the ball:
• while the ball is between his hands or between his hand and any surface (e.g. ground, own body)
• while holding the ball in his outstretched open hand
• while in the act of bouncing it on the ground or tossing it into the air
FLOTG, Page 128
Yes, foul.
Is the goalkeeper allowed to slide out side of his box? If not, is he allowed to slide from the inside and then end on the outside?
The goalkeeper is allowed to slide (just as any player is allowed to) anywhere on the pitch, whether inside his penalty area or outside (you can’t even call this one a “box”, it’s not even close to rectangular!), as long as it is safe and does not endanger any player.
Hi there. Could you clarify the rule about the goalkeeper making a pass (either with their hands or feet) to a team mate if the team mate is a) in their own court or b) in the opponents court? I appreciate your help!
There’s no Law prohibiting the goalkeeper passing the ball (whether with hands or feet) to a teammate, no matter where on the pitch they are (their own half or the opponent’s half).
Does a save count as keepers first touch? i.e. shot is saved by goalkeeper and the ball lands at his team mates feet who passes it back to the goalkeeper. Does this count as his 2nd touch if the keeper then touches it?
Nope it doesn’t.
i just want to know that if any teammate passes the ball to GK then can he grab the ball with hand after touching it with legs..
He wouldn’t be able to grab the ball with his hands even without the goalkeeper’s legs involved.
“An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper commits …
Touches the ball with his hands inside his own penalty area after it has been deliberately kicked to him by a team-mate”
Page 40, FLOTG 2014-2015
The goalkeeper playing it with his legs in between is a moot point.
Got a question but not very related to this topic but it is about futsal keeping.
If the goal keeper makes a save with their hands outside the goal circle then what is the consequence? Is it a red card as it was a goal that was saved illegally or just a free kick?
It would be evaluated the same way as it is in football. Did it deny an obvious goal-scoring opportunity or a goal?
Regarding the 4 second violation, where would the indirect free be taken from?
“The indirect free kick is taken from the place where the offence occurred
(see Law 13 – Position of free kick).”
Page 40, FLOTG 2014-2015
So if the goalkeeper is standing a metre out from goal, the indirect free kick is taken from there?
Great question. I will defer to the second part of the Law reference I mentioned about free kicks (Law 13). The ball is usually placed perpendicularly on the penalty area line from the goal line for that situation.
thanks, couldn’t find an answer anywhere!!
Recently, we’ve been having a discussion of that exact same scenario as in your “Plot Twist.” Several of us believe only the initial touch (in the attacking half) counts as an infraction; the subsequent dribbling does not. What’s your justification for the second touch offense?
Not quite sure what you are asking since there is nothing about multiple touches by the goalkeeper. Only playing the ball again in his own half after releasing the ball into play.
The goalkeeper has no restrictions on playing the ball multiple times as long as an opponent has touched it or the ball has gone out of play and he controls the ball for no more than 4 seconds, all within his own half only. No restrictions while playing in the opposing half of the pitch
I’m specifically referring to the “Plot Twist” above: The goalkeeper, in the attacking half, received the ball from a teammate. He, then, dribbles into his own half…
PS I now see the confusion I created. In my 1st post in this chain, when I mentioned “initial touch,” I meant that — in my interpretation — the law penalized a 2nd touch initiated in his own half. …initiated in his opponents half, no.
Does the entire ball need to be in the penalty area for the goalie to use their hands? For example, may a goalie block a shot with their hand when their hand is a only a couple inches inside the penalty area?
Although FLOTG and even LOTG, don’t capture this, it’s common consensus that the point of contact with the ball and hand is the location that matters to determine inside/outside.
Essentially, the entire ball does not need to be in the penalty area because a goalkeeper could be touching the ball on the line (which counts as inside) or inside the penalty area while a part of the ball is still outside.
Me i ask if the goal keeper can throw the ball over the midline after saving the ball? Please clarify if it is only an offense if during the goal clearance.
Yes they may. Certain leagues may restrict this as a local rule but Futsal in its purest form allows the ball to be thrown by the goalkeeper directly over the halfway line.
How can I do if goalkeeper catch the ball more than 4 second
Indirect free kick at the top of the goal area. The Futsal Laws of the Game have more specific instructions.
Can the goal keeper take the ball with his hands in his 6 meters area after a free kick from one of his team mates.?
Nope! Same as football.