Goalkeeper

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Goalkeepers

In many team sports, a goalkeeper (termed goaltender, or goalie in some sports) is a designated player that is charged with directly preventing the opposite team from scoring by defending the goal. Such positions exist in association football (soccer), Gaelic football, International Rules Football, handball, field hockey, netball, water polo, lacrosse, floorball and a number of other sports. In ice hockey he or she is referred to most commonly as a goaltender or "netminder".

Overview

Usually special rules apply to the goalkeeper that do not apply to the other players. These rules are often instituted to protect the goalkeeper, being an obvious target for dangerous or even violent actions. In addition, in certain sports like ice hockey, goalkeepers are required to wear special equipment like heavy pads and a face mask to protect their bodies from impact from the play object (e.g. a puck).

Examples

Association football (soccer)

In association football (soccer), each team's goalkeeper defends his team's goal and has special privileges within the game. Most notably, the goalkeepers are the only players who may touch the ball with their hands or arms during play; however, they are restricted to doing so only within their penalty area and are subject to other restrictions (such as the pass back rule).

Field hockey

In field hockey, the goalkeeper generally wears extensive protective equipment including helmet, face and neck guards, chest and leg padding, gloves, lower leg guards (known as pads) and shoe covers (known as kickers). Only the helmet is compulsory, as is a shirt of a different colour from any of the other players. The goalkeeper is allowed to use any part of their body to deflect the ball, although they can't obstruct its play (for example by lying on top of it), and they can only do so within the goal circle (or "D").

Gaelic football

In Gaelic football, the goalies main task is to prevent a goal from being scored against their side by directly defending their goal. A goal occurs when the ball passes through the goal; the attacking team is awarded 3 points. The goalie is the only player who may handle the ball on the ground, and only inside the small rectangle.

Hockey

Hurling

In hurling, the goalkeeper's main task is to prevent a goal from being scored against their side by directly defending their goal. A goal occurs when the ball passes through the goal; the attacking team is awarded 3 points. The goalkeeper has no special rules pertaining to him, although he still wears a different colour jersey.

International rules football

In International rules football, a hybrid game between Australian rules football (which does not have a goalkeeper) and Gaelic football, the goalkeeper's main task is to prevent a goal from being scored. A goal occurs when the ball comes off any part of an attacking player and passes through the goal; the attacking team is awarded 6 points.

Lacrosse

In men's lacrosse, once a goalkeeper makes a save and has control of the ball in his crosse (stick), he may only remain in possession of the ball inside the protective crease for four seconds (the length may depend on the level of play). Before the four seconds is up, the goalkeeper must either pass the ball or leave the crease. After leaving, he may not reenter the crease with possession of the ball.

While inside the crease (nine feet in diameter), offensive players may not make contact with the goalie or his stick. Doing so is declared "interference with the goalie" and is penalized by a free clear to the half field line. In addition, a goalie is allowed to make contact with the ball with his hand, although he is not allowed to control it or pick it up.

In women's lacrosse, once a goalkeeper makes a save and has control of the ball in her crosse, she may remain in possession of the ball inside the crease for ten seconds. The interference rule is similar to men's lacrosse; unlike in the men's game, a woman goalkeeper is allowed to control or even pick up the ball in her hand.

In both men's and women's lacrosse, goalkeepers are required to wear a helmet and 4-point chinstrap, a throat protector, gloves, and a chest protector. (Use of a protective cup is, for obvious reasons, required in the men's game.) Many goalkeepers elect to wear optional protective equipment, including elbow and shoulder pads, thigh pads and shin guards, and long sweat pants.

Interestingly, in international competition, American and Canadian goalkeepers seem to only wear a minimum of protective equipment, while European goalkeepers "bundle up". Asian and Australian goalkeepers tend to split the difference. Humorously, Canadian Chris Sanderson, starting goalie for the Canadian team in the 1998 and 2002 World Games, plays with a "bulls eye" target painted onto his chest protector.

Netball

A netball goalkeeper is one of two players who are permitted to remain within their defensive shooting third, and is restricted to the defensive third of the court.

Water polo

Goalkeepers in water polo are granted three special privileges when inside the four metre area:

The ability to touch the ball with two hands.
The ability to touch the floor of the pool.
The ability to strike the ball with a clenched fist.

However, they have one limitation that field players do not have: they may not cross the half-distance line.

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