Question Number: 12739

Kicks From The Penalty mark 5/6/2006

Andrew Sanders of Simpsonville, SC USA asks...

In recent game that I was watching as a parent, the situation occurred during kicks from the mark to determine the outcome of the game.

Both kicker and Keeper had taken their positions. Kicker takes ball from referee, places it on the mark and readies herself for the kick. Referee checks both players and signals (whistles) to proceed. Kicker takes a step forward, stops, and leans over and repositions the ball on the mark. Referee blows whistle, walks to the kicker, speaks to her and restarts the her PK attempt sequence again. I think to myself that it is a handling violation and kicker's turn is over. Was the referee correct in starting the PK?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Actually a referee decides when a penalty kick has been completed.
This is not an infringement YET, simply because although the referee had indicated it was ok to begin the PK the extra ball repositioning is not following the restart protocall. According to proceedure the player taking the penalty kicks the ball forward. THe referee is likely giving the player an earfull as he HAD oked the ball as being on the PK spot originaly he must again ensure it is so and all players are back in the correct restart position. I suspect if the PK player tried this a second time a caution show the yellow card could accompany the verbal warning. Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Sometimes this is a contrived thing, the kicker repositions the ball and instantly kicks it past the, now relaxed, goalkeeper. I would have reset things as well. Because the ball is not in play there is no handling, just possible misconduct, especially if it happens again.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The ball was not in play so there's no handling involved. I likewise would have a talk with the kicker. If she did it again, a yellow card would be in her near future.