Continuing our discussions on the potential Laws of the Game changes, this post would like to gather your thoughts on Law 9 and in particular the nuances of the height restrictions law. The current law states: 

A height restriction must apply, which cannot be less than the height of the crossbar and not greater than 2 metres.

If a height offence occurs within the penalty area and is committed by the goalkeeper an indirect free kick should be awarded 3m from the penalty area line nearest to where the offence took place. The exception to this rule shall be when the ball rises above the designated height restriction resulting from a save or block performed by a goalkeeper.

In this case the goalkeeper gains possession of the ball and must restart play with a goal clearance.

In the proposed change, it was felt that this law is too favourable towards the defending team and could be used tactically by the goalkeeper to regain possession for their team. As such the proposed change is:

The exception to this rule shall be when the ball rises above the designated height restriction resulting from a save or block performed by a goalkeeper and returns directly into open play outside of the penalty area.

In this case the goalkeeper gains possession of the ball and must restart play with a goal clearance.

Essentially, this would mean that any save made my the goalkeeper that goes above the height restriction but out of play would result in possession to the opposition, i.e. a corner or a kick in. If the ball went over the height restriction from the goalkeeper's save and entered the goal, then a goal would be awarded. If the goalkeeper makes a save and it goes above the height restriction and re-entered open play (outside of the penalty area) they would return the ball to the goalkeeper to maintain the safety of players in open play.