What are the rules of a goal keeper?

Answer

The goalkeeper adheres to the same rules as any other player when outside his area, but when he is inside his area he can touch the ball with any part of his body including his hands and arms.

Answer

very true but you forgot that the goalie can be a little ruff to the other players and the other team can not.

Answer

Once the goalkeeper has possession of the ball, he/she has 6 seconds to distribute the ball into play. The ball can be distributed by kicking it or throwing it to a team mate, or the keeper can drop the ball at his/her feet and it is deemed to be "in play."

The rest of the answer

There are some holes in the current answer(s) as posted that someone who has refereed competitive matches numbering, say, a couple of thousand would have a problem with, so let's take it from the top, okay? Pull up a chair and we'll get started.

First, someone has cited that the keeper can be rough on the other players. He cannot. The rules do not permit it. Be clear on that. But there is a practical consideration that has everything to do with the dynamics of play. Let's look.

A major foul committed in the penalty box by a defender if called by the official results in a penalty kick. A referee doesn't like being put in that position. So what happens is that all the defenders play a bit tougher in the box. Including the keeper. Yes, they are trying to prevent a goal, but there is a minor consideration. They are betting on the referee's restraint. If one considers it, games are generally low scoring. So a goal is very precious. And a penalty kick is a precious opportunity. The referee may be giving a team a clear opportunity to win a match by giving that team a penalty kick. And because the ref doesn't want to have to "decide a game" like that (which his call could effect), he will only call a "tougher" foul while a "minor" foul is let go. That's the thinking. All players, coaches and officials know this, and it kinda makes for officiating challenges when things are tough in the box.

There is a bit more on this, and it concerns the keeper's vulnerability when he jumps up to play a ball. Incoming attackers obviously can't jump high enough to head a ball at the level a keeper can play it with his hands, but they are coming in fast and hard. They have the right to try to get to a ball. The keeper can be hammered in plays like this, and the referee must act to protect the keeper. Ever see a keeper jump up to catch a ball and lift one knee in front of him when he does, even though no attacker might be near? He's sending a message: "rush at me when I'm up in the air and you'll get a knee in whatever body part I can hit with it." In sum, the keeper has his hands full. Literally. But the "roughness" rule applies to him as well. Just to be clear, okay? Under the rules, he has no right to rough up attacking players any more than they have the right to rough him up. Onward.

The goalkeeper is subject to the Laws of the Game as other players are when he is outside of his own penalty area. Inside his own penalty area, he may play the ball with his hands, but there are instances when he cannot (even though he is within his own penalty area). Let's look at those.

If for some reason one of his team-mates throws the ball in to the keeper and the ball does not touch an opponent before coming into the penalty area, the keeper may not use his hands to play it. This is most unusual, but it is covered in the Laws.

Additionally, if a team-mate intentionally passes a ball back to his own goalkeeper by kicking it, the keeper cannot play it with his hands even though he is within his own penalty area. (He may play a ball with his hands that is headed to him, however.) This portion of the Laws can be seen in action frequently in a game.

If a keeper puts a ball back into play by dropping it or rolling it on the ground in front of him, he cannot again pick it up with his hands even though he is within his own penalty area. (He has put the ball in play; he has put in on the ground to kick it and must now kick it.) This isn't something that happens often, but it can with an inexperienced keeper.

If a keeper is playing a ball outside his own penalty area (and he'll be playing it without using his hands, of course), he cannot maneuver the ball back into his own penalty area and pick it up.

Oh, and you already know this one instinctively, but it wasn't cited. The keeper must dress in a way as to be easily differentiated from his team-mates, his opponents and from the officials. And for exactly the reason you think.

Now you're up to speed. In case something else comes up, the link provided will take a surfer to the FIFA Laws of the Game. And if it isn't clear, there's always Wikianswers for a backup. See you on the field. I'll be the one wearing black and carrying a whistle.

First answer by Andrew Clements. Last edit by Quirkyquantummechanic. Contributor trust: 613 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 202 [recommend question]