Question Number: 14480

Law 14 - Penalty kick 11/20/2006

RE: Adv. AYSO ref, Level 8 USSF ref Adult

Dennis Klinedinst of Valencia, CA USA asks...

Here's the scene:
GU14 in AYSO, Tied game ending with kicks at the penalty mark.

The goalkeeper begins slapping her gloves together, slapping her legs, making a lot of noise and quite a scene.

The question is: Is this considered unsporting behavior? Is the GK allowed to attempt to distract the kicker in this way?

Thanks for your help.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

That depends on the referee. If in the opinion of the referee the keeper is doing this to distract the kicker, then the referee stops the kick if he has not signaled, cautions keeper, and restarts with a PK. If the referee has already signaled, then the kick proceeds, keeper is cautined, and if its a miss - redo, if ball goes in net, then goal. If the referee feels that the keeper is doing the slapping to help her momentum, then nothing is done. The referee must evaluate the circumstance.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I think you have to also look at the kicker. If this seems distracting the first thing I would do is to verbally tell the keeper to stop it. Then I'd proceed as does Ref Mueller

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

What ever happened to the referee having a chat with both keepers before kicks start? Telling them what is expected and not expected goes a long way. Once they know what you'll accept they won't test you. If they do, it ain't your fault any more.

Regards,