Fair Charging

Youth Goalkeepers

May goalkeepers be fair charged in youth games?

In a word, "No."

Goalkeepers need special protection from overzealous players. In this regard, you should already know what you are going to do in the event of aggressive play against the goalkeeper, and you should err on the side of safety. (As an extreme example, you may decide in advance that you will call as “dangerous play” any action that leaves the goalkeeper injured on the ground, regardless of the outcome of the play.)

Charging the goalkeeper is not permitted by youth rules when the goalkeeper is within his/her own penalty box. This is normally interpreted to mean that, when the goalkeeper has possession/control of the ball (in his/her hands), a player from the other team may not fair charge (shoulder) the goalkeeper in order to get the goalkeeper to drop the ball.

However, running towards a goalkeeper who is coming off his/her line in an attempt to gain possession of a ball is permitted. Colliding with the goalkeeper is not necessarily a foul if both players were attempting to play the ball fairly. However, you may want to discourage such play by making a “dangerous play” call, and giving the ball to the defense.

Kicking the ball out of the hands of a goalkeeper who has the ball under control is not permitted. Technically, kicking the ball when the goalkeeper is merely touching the ball but doesn’t have complete control of the ball is permitted. However, it is difficult for referees to know if and when the ball is under complete control. Therefore, you may wish to adopt the interpretation that the goalkeeper has control of the ball “if a hair of his/her body is contact with the ball” and call all such challenges as “dangerous play”.

Kicking a ball that has been fumbled or dropped by the goalkeeper is permitted as long as the kick is safe. More often than not, a kick directed at a fumbled ball will also be a kick directed at the goalkeeper.