Besides the goalie, can a soccer player, for any reason, at any time, touch the ball, with their hands?

Question

Was I dreaming or have I heard or seen that a player can stop a flying ball with their hands to bring it to the ground. I swear I've seen it and heard it. Thanks for your response

Answer 1

The previous answers are correct.

However, a player may also take measres to protect certain sensitive body parts prior to a free kick.

In youth games it is considered acceptable and is not a foul, if a player reflexively rasies his/her hands to defend himself/herself from a point-blank shot to the face. For the purpose of this, I tend to define "point blank" as from less than 5 yards out.

Answer 2

The answers above are basically correct. However, the standard answer that says the keeper can touch the ball with his hands when he is in his own penalty area (the large box around the goal, not the small box) is not fully accurate. The actual rule is that the keeper can touch the ball with his hands when *the ball* is in the keeper's own penalty area. The position of the keeper's body is irrelevant. For example, sometimes the keeper will be out near the edge of the penalty area. With both feet and his body inside the area, the keeper will reach out over the line and touch the ball with his hands. Since the ball was not in the penalty area, the keeper is guilty of deliberate handling. The opponents are awarded a direct free kick just outside the penalty area. Conversely, on rare occasions (I've seen it only twice in 28 years of officiating) the keeper will be outside the area and the ball on the penalty area line. The keeper then puts his hands on the ball. Since the penalty area line is part of the penalty area, there is no offense (lol, despite much protest from the attacking team!). Less uncommonly, sometimes during frantic action the goalie will wind up inside the goal. Stopping the ball with his hands while the ball is outside the goal is legal, and is not a goal (again often contrary to the opinions of the attacking team). As you can see in these examples, its the position of the ball which counts, not the keeper's body.

Answer 3

As far as I know the only time a player can touch the ball with their hands is to throw the ball back onto the field when it has gone out of play. That's why when people start playing soccer it's so hard for them not to touch the ball with their hands because they are so use to touching the ball that way before they joined soccer.

Answer 4

Only in a throw-in or if a foul is called and the play stops. Otherwise, no, the player cannot touch the ball with his hands.

Answer 5

Sometimes if the ball is kicked and hits a players hand the ref will not call a handball because if it wasn't the player's intention to touch the ball.

Answer 6

Only if there is a throw in or the goalie. You can't throw the ball in the net from out of bounds. so only on a throw in.

Answer 7

Only if they are taking a throw in...Other than this an outfield player cannot touch the ball while it is in play....

Answer 8

In my times, when I was still playing football, you could stop the ball with your hand if it was going to hit you in a place of your body wich could be injured. I don't know if that rule is still in existence.

Answer 9

Dude.........
1)During a throw in
2) During training Session
3)After the match.

Answer 10

Only if they are throwing the ball in. :)