Goalkeeper (association football)

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The goalkeeper (sometimes written as goal-keeper and often shortened to "keeper") is a position in association football. It is the most specialised position in the sport. The goalkeeper's main role is to stop the opposing team from scoring a "goal" (i.e. putting the ball over the goal line). This is accomplished by the goalkeeper moving into the trajectory of the ball to either catch it or re-direct it away from the vicinity of the goal. Within the penalty area, goalkeepers are allowed to use their hands, giving them (outside throw-ins) the sole rights on the field to handle the ball. The goalkeeper is indicated by wearing a different coloured kit from their teammates and opposition. The back-pass rule is a rule that disallows handling passes back to keepers from teammates in most cases. Goalkeepers usually perform goal kicks and also give commands to their defense during corner kicks, direct and indirect free kicks, and marking. Goalkeepers play an important role in directing onfield strategy...

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