Soccer Rules Practice Exam

The correct answer is that only the goalkeeper is allowed to use their hands to play the ball during a soccer match, but this is limited to their own penalty area. The laws of soccer clearly state that the goalkeeper is the only player on the field who can handle the ball with their hands, and this is a crucial aspect of their role in the game. They are tasked with protecting the goal and can use their hands to stop or catch the ball when it is within the designated area.

Using hands outside of this region would result in a free kick for the opposing team, which emphasizes the importance of the penalty area as a boundary for the goalkeeper's privileges. Other players, including the captain, and those involved in throw-ins are not permitted to use their hands to play the ball for various reasons, including maintaining fairness and flow within the game. This rule is fundamental in ensuring that different roles within the game are respected, allowing the goalkeeper a unique position of strategic defense.