Question Number: 13343

Law 1- The Field 7/14/2006

RE: competive Under 18

Molly of Madison, WI United States asks...

If a penalty mark isn't present on the field, how can you be most accurate when positioning a player to take the penalty?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Molly,
in truth a referee should not commence a match until he or she has checked the field to ensure it is PROPERLY marked. I carry a can of spray paint and a tape measure in my car so I can fix it if the groundskeepers is lax or no one in the area can fix the problem. Realistically we often see matches played on poorly marked fields so it is conceivable you could match your 6 strides with the goal area width and take 6 more strides out into the middle and spot the ball a bottle cap or a quarter pushed into the ground could mark it. Be sure and report any field conditions that are unsuitable in your match report. Many leagues fail miserably to correct such details. Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Position yourself midway between the top of the goal area and top of the penalty area near a perpendicular of the goal area. Walk to a point centered on the goal using peripheral vision to keep yourself centered. That is the penalty mark. Put the ball there, don't give it to the player. This works when you run out of paint and it looks like you know where the mark is instead of having to find it by pacing off the distance

If the penalty mark is marked give the ball to the player and let him place it.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Molly - I too am from WI. I am about 1 hour east of you in Milwaukee. Great to see some referees from the GREAT state of WI on here. I don't feel as lonely anymore :) To answer your question...the penalty mark is 12 yards from the goal line exactly in the center of the goal. The penalty mark is located exactly half way between the top of the goal area and the top of the penalty area. The penalty mark should be marked on the field prior to the game. This is something you will want to check out before the game starts. Whatever you do, don't step off the yards. Just place the ball half way between the top of the goal area and top of the penalty area. I shake my head when I see referees mark off the 12 yards with their steps. Do me a favor and tell other WI referees about this great site. As Always,