Question Number: 13951

Law 1- The Field 9/27/2006

RE: Recreational Under 11

Parsa Barhaghi of Fremont, CA Almeda County asks...

I was wondering for a penalty kick how many feet should the ref take to place the ball at. In other words where do they put the ball on a penalty kick. I know all the other rules.
Thanks

Answer provided by Referee Nathan Lacy

The penalty mark is to be 12 yards away from the goal line and centered. All the best,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Unless you are playing on a small field designed for youth players in which case the penalty mark will vary with the dimenaions of the penalty area.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

12 yds away from goal line centered in front of goal.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Parsa this can be avoided by asking the gent who marks the field to paint a penalty mark too. Establishing a location for an unpainted penalty mark is very hard to do and look like you know what you're doing. I suggest you just take up a position midway between the top of the goal area and the top of the penalty area and walk parallel to those lines until you are centered on the goal. Believe it or not, that is the penalty mark. AND it looks to the world like you know exactly what you're doing.

Regards,