What constitutes a violation of the 'back pass' rule?

The 'back pass' rule is a regulation designed to promote continuous play and discourage the tactic of wasting time by repeatedly passing the ball to the goalkeeper. A violation occurs when the ball is deliberately kicked by a teammate to the goalkeeper, and the goalkeeper subsequently handles the ball.

In the situation described, a teammate intentionally kicking the ball back to the goalkeeper constitutes a clear breach of this rule because it signifies an intentional act of passing, which is the key factor in determining a back pass violation. The goalkeeper is not allowed to pick up or handle the ball in this circumstance, leading to an indirect free kick awarded to the opposing team at the spot of the infraction.

Other scenarios, such as a defender's header or players passing back and forth without a deliberate kick to the goalkeeper, do not automatically violate the rule, as headers and unforced situations do not involve intentional play aimed at the goalkeeper. Thus, the correct response clarifies the specific conditions under which the back pass rule is enforced.