1. Introduction:                   Take me back to the top of this page

A player who restarts play must not play (touch) the ball a second time - before another player has touched the ball. This includes a goal kick, corner kick, place kick, free kick, penalty kick or a throw-in. The only exception to this, is during the taking of a dropped ball. During the taking of a dropped ball, the ball comes into play as soon as it touches the ground after being dropped by the Referee. A player taking part in a dropped ball is permitted to touch the ball a second time after it has touched the ground and before it has been touched by another player.

Indirect free kick offences are known as ‘technical offences’ in Referees’ jargon. These are the less serious Indirect Free Kick offences listed in Law 12. (Fouls and Misconduct)

• If two offences are committed simultaneously by the same player, the Referee must punish the more serious offence.

Example: A player obstructs and impedes an opponent and at the same time, he deliberately elbows the opponent in the face. The impeding offence warrants an indirect free kick, but the elbowing is a penal (direct free kick) offence that warrants a direct free kick AND A SENDING-OFF.

(A 'penal' offence is Referees' jargon for an offence punishable by a direct free kick.)

If a player touches a ball a second time before it has touched another player, the Referee can consider cautioning that player.

When a defending team is taking a free kick inside their own penalty area, the ball is not deemed to be in play until the ball passes outside of the penalty area.  Therefore, if a defending team kicker touches the ball a second time before the ball is kicked directly beyond his penalty area, the free kick should be retaken.  The same applies during the taking of a goal kick.

An indirect  free kick awarded to the attacking team inside the defending team's goal area is taken from that part of the goal area line which runs parallel to the goal line, at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred.

2. Free Kick  taken by a player other than the goalkeeper:               Take me back to the top of this page

If after the ball is in play, the kicker touches the ball a second time (except with his hands) before it has touched another player, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team, the indirect free kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred.

If after the ball is in play, the kicker deliberately handles the ball before it has been touched by another player, a direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team, the direct free kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred.

A penalty kick is awarded if the handling infringement occurred inside the kicker's own penalty area.

3. Free Kick  taken by the goalkeeper:                       Take me back to the top of this page

If, after the ball is in play, the goalkeeper touches the ball a second time (except with his hands), before it has touched another player, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team, the indirect free kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred.

If, after the ball is in play, the goalkeeper deliberately handles the ball before it has touched another player, a direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if the infringement occurred outside the goalkeeper's penalty area, the kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred.  *An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if the infringement occurred inside the goalkeeper's penalty area, the kick to be taken from the place where the infringement occurred.

*A Goalkeeper within his own open penalty area is allowed to touch the ball with his hands.

4. Goalkeeper in possession handles the ball a second time:             Take me back to the top of this page

If a goalkeeper touches or picks up the ball a second time with his hands after it has been released from his possession and the ball has not touched another player – the punishment is (a) or (b) below:

(a) INDIRECT FREE KICK if the offence occurs inside the goalkeeper’s own penalty area.

EXAMPLE- the goalkeeper releases the ball from his hands in his penalty area, and then picks the ball up a second time inside his penalty area before it has touched another player - the punishment is an INDIRECT FREE KICK at the place where the goalkeeper touched the ball a second time.

EXAMPLE- The goalkeeper takes a free kick outside of his penalty area, he kicks the ball back into his own penalty area and picks up the ball again before it has BEEN touched another player – the punishment is an INDIRECT FREE KICK at the place where the goalkeeper touched the ball a second time.

(b) DIRECT FREE KICK if the goalkeeper touches the ball for a 2nd time outside of his penalty area:

EXAMPLE- a goalkeeper standing inside his own penalty area releases the ball from his hands and throws it (or kicks it) outside of his penalty area, and then picks the ball up a second time before it has been touched by another player - the punishment is a DIRECT FREE KICK at the place where the goalkeeper touched the ball a second time.

EXAMPLE- The goalkeeper takes a free kick outside of his penalty area, he kicks it up field, and then picks the ball up outside of his penalty area, before it has been touched another player – the punishment is a DIRECT FREE KICK at the place where the goalkeeper touched the ball a second time.

(c) Goalkeeper’s Possession:
Possession of the ball starts from the moment the goalkeeper has control of the ball - possession includes controlling the ball with his hand or arm, or parrying the ball. Beware of the goalkeeper who purposefully parries the ball downward instead of catching it. Deliberately parrying the ball, means the keeper parried the ball even though he obviously could have caught it. By parrying the ball, he has in effect gained possession of the ball and released the ball all in one motion. If he then decides to pick the ball up after he has parried it, then (within the letter of the Law) the Referee could award an indirect free kick against the goalkeeper for touching the ball a second time after he has released it from his possession.
But be very careful with this decision, you need to be 100 percent certain that the goalkeeper had deliberately parried the ball, as opposed to the ball ricocheting off the goalkeeper's hands. If the goalkeeper does this, he is not permitted to pick up the ball, as he would be deemed to have picked up the ball again after releasing it from his possession. This is a very rare occurrence as it is very difficult to judge if the goalkeeper could have obviously caught a ball or not.

A goalkeeper who saves the ball, which is then deflected away from his hands does not have possession of the ball, and can therefore pick the ball up (handle the ball) before it has touched another player.

A goalkeeper is considered to be in POSSESSION when he stands up with the ball after a diving save, or stops his momentum after running to grab the ball. That is when Referees should start the six seconds countdown. A goalkeeper is considered to be in possession of the ball while bouncing it on the ground, or while throwing it in the air. Possession is given up if, while throwing the ball in the air, it is allowed to strike the ground.

If the goalkeeper accidentally loses possession of the ball (say by accidentally dropping it from his hands), and then picks the ball up a second time, this is still an offence (irrespective of whether the goalkeeper released the ball accidentally or on purpose).

5. Touching the ball a second time from a throw-in. Law 15      Take me back to the top of this page

During the taking of a throw-in the ball comes into play immediately it enters the field of play.

Throw-in taken by other than the goalkeeper:

(a) A player taking a throw-in   may not touch the ball a second time until it has been touched by another player.

If the thrower touches the ball a second time (except with his hands):
The punishment is – an INDIRECT FREE KICK TO OPPONENTS’ FROM THE PLACE OF THE INFRINGEMENT.

(b) If a player touches the ball a second time with his hands:
The punishment is – a DIRECT FREE KICK FROM THE PLACE OF THE INFRINGEMENT. OR A PENALTY IF THE BALL IS TOUCHED WITHIN THE PLAYER'S OWN PENALTY AREA.

Throw-in taken by the goalkeeper:

(b) The goalkeeper may not touch the ball a second time until it has been touched by another player.

If the goalkeeper touches the ball a second time (except with his hands):
The punishment is – an INDIRECT FREE KICK TO OPPONENTS’ FROM THE PLACE OF THE INFRINGEMENT.

If the goalkeeper touches the ball a second time with his hands:
The punishment is – a DIRECT FREE KICK FROM THE PLACE OF THE INFRINGEMENT IF OUTSIDE OF THE GOALKEEPER’S PENALTY AREA.

Or an INDIRECT FREE-KICK FROM THE PLACE OF THE INFRINGEMENT IF THE GOALKEEPER TOUCHES THE BALL WITH HIS HANDS WITHIN HIS OWN PENALTY AREA.

6. Touching the ball a second time from a corner kick. Law 17 Take me back to the top of this page

During the taking of a corner kick, the ball comes into play as soon as it is kicked and moves.

Corner kick taken by other than the goalkeeper:

(a) A player taking a corner kick may not touch the ball a second time until it has been touched by another player.

If the corner kick taker touches the ball a second time (except with his hands):
The punishment is – an INDIRECT FREE KICK TO OPPONENTS’ FROM THE PLACE OF THE INFRINGEMENT.

(b) If the corner kick taker touches the ball a second time with his hands:
The punishment is – a DIRECT FREE KICK FROM THE PLACE OF THE INFRINGEMENT.

OR A PENALTY IF THE BALL IS TOUCHED WITHIN THE PLAYER'S OWN PENALTY AREA. (This is very unlikely to happen. To do this, the corner kick taker would have to kick the ball immediately to the other end of the field of play into his own penalty area, and then handle the ball before any other player has touched it!)

Corner kick taken by the goalkeeper:

(b) A goalkeeper taking a corner kick may not touch the ball a second time until it has been touched by another player.

If the goalkeeper touches the ball a second time (except with his hands):
The punishment is – an INDIRECT FREE KICK TO OPPONENTS’ FROM THE PLACE OF THE INFRINGEMENT.

If the goalkeeper touches the ball a second time with his hands:
The punishment is – a DIRECT FREE KICK FROM THE PLACE OF THE INFRINGEMENT IF OUTSIDE OF THE GOALKEEPER’S OWN PENALTY AREA.

Or an INDIRECT FREE-KICK FROM THE PLACE OF THE INFRINGEMENT IF THE GOALKEEPER TOUCHES THE BALL WITH HIS HANDS WITHIN HIS OWN PENALTY AREA. (This is very unlikely to happen. To do this, the goalkeeper who takes the corner kick would have to kick the ball immediately to the other end of the field of play into his own penalty area, and then handle the ball before any other player has touched it!)

7: Touching the ball a second time from a goal kick. Law 16  Take me back to the top of this page

When a team is taking a goal kick, the ball is not deemed to be in play until the ball passes wholly outside of the penalty area.  Therefore, if a goal kick taker touches the ball a second time before the ball is kicked directly beyond the penalty area, the goal kick should be retaken. 

i.e. During the taking of a goal kick, the ball comes into play as soon as it is kicked and travels outside of the penalty area.

Goal kick taken by any player:

(a) A player taking a goal kick may not touch the ball a second time until it has been touched by another player.

If the goal kick taker touches the ball a second time (except with his hands) after the ball has travelled outside of the penalty area:
The punishment is – an INDIRECT FREE KICK TO OPPONENTS’ FROM THE PLACE OF THE INFRINGEMENT.

(b) If the goal kick taker touches the ball a second time with his hands after the ball has travelled outside of the penalty area
The punishment is – a DIRECT FREE KICK TO OPPONENTS’ FROM THE PLACE OF THE INFRINGEMENT.

OR A PENALTY IF THE BALL IS TOUCHED WITHIN THE PLAYER'S OWN PENALTY AREA. (This would only occur if the goal kick taker, kicks the ball outside of his penalty area, and the ball is then blown back inside the penalty area by a strong gust of wind say, and the player who took the goal kick, handles the ball a second time inside his own penalty area before the ball has touched another player - this situation is very unlikely to happen.) If the player who committed this infringement was the goalkeeper, then the restart is an 'Indirect Free Kick' and not a penalty kick to the opposing team.

8. Touching the ball a second time from a Kick-Off. Law 8  Take me back to the top of this page

During the taking of a Kick-Off, the ball comes into play when it is kicked and moves forward.

(a) A player taking a Kick-Off may not touch the ball a second time until it has been touched by another player.

If the Kick-Off taker touches the ball a second time (except with his hands) after he kicks the ball and it moves forward (and before it has been touched by another player).
The punishment is – an INDIRECT FREE KICK TO OPPONENTS’ FROM THE PLACE OF THE INFRINGEMENT.

If the Kick-Off taker touches the ball a second time with his hands after he kicks the ball and it moves forward (and before it has been touched by another player).
The punishment is – a DIRECT FREE KICK TO OPPONENTS’ FROM THE PLACE OF THE INFRINGEMENT.

9. Touching the ball a second time from a dropped ball. Law 8 (No offence) Take me back to the top of this page

The ball is dropped again:

• if during a dropped ball, a player makes contact with the ball before it has touched the ground. (A player who repeats this offence, must be warned or cautioned for unsporting behaviour.

• if the ball leaves the field of play after it makes contact with the ground, without a player touching it

During the taking of a dropped ball, the ball comes into play as soon as it touches the ground after being dropped by the Referee. A player taking part in a dropped ball is permitted to touch the ball a second time after it has touched the ground and before it has been touched by another player.

10. Questions: 

Question 1: A goalkeeper caught the ball in his penalty areas, then he wanted to throw it to a team-mate outside of the penalty area. But the ball did not reach the player. The goalkeeper ran to the ball and kicked it away. The Referee awarded an indirect free kick...was this correct? 

Answer 2: Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct states that it is only an indirect free kick if the goalkeeper, inside his own penalty area, touches the ball again with his hands after it has been released from his possession and has not touched any other player. The Referee should have allowed play to continue.

This is the end of this 'Touching the Ball a Second Time' page.

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