Is it automatically a penalty when the goalkeeper leaves the cage and fouls?

No. This is a 2026-28 NFHS point of emphasis.

• A goalkeeper who leaves the goal area and fouls is not an automatic penalty foul just for leaving the cage. Goalkeepers can commit ordinary and exclusion fouls like any field player.
• Award a penalty foul only when the foul denies a probable goal-scoring opportunity.
• It is not a probable goal if:
  • one or more defenders are between the attacker and the goal, or in the direct path to it
  • the attacker is at a poor shooting angle
  • the attacker is otherwise not in a clear scoring position

In those cases, award an ordinary or exclusion foul to match the nature of the foul.

New Rule 8-2 notes also set criteria for judging a probable goal when an offensive player has the ball inside 6 meters in situations not otherwise covered by Rule 8.