Question Number: 15704

Kicks From The Penalty mark 6/4/2007

RE: Rec, Select Adult

Bob Kalina of Snohomish, WA USA asks...

Re: Kicks from the Mark.
I've had conflicting reports on this issue:
I was watching the Boys U-15 championship game for a local tournament. The game went to KFTPM to determine the winner. The player placed the ball, signal was given and the player properly kicked the ball. The keeper jumped to block the ball. I'm not sure if he touched it at all (whether he did, or didn't, I don't think that would affect this question). The ball hit the crossbar and bounced down (never crossing the goal line) and out. It came up and hit the goalie on the back and deflected back into the goal.
I assumed it was a goal. However, the opposing coach started yelling about the "forward momentum of the ball had stopped" and shouldn't be allowed. The center had a quick conference with his AR and signalled 'no goal'.
I went to the nearby referee trailer and inquired and a couple of the refs said that was the correct call.
Since KFTPM are not, technically, part of the game - just a method of determining a winner - that some of the rules are modified. One of the rules being that if the balls forward momentum is stopped, the kick should be finished...no matter what happens to the ball after the forward momentum has stopped.
I've searched AskTheRef as well as other places and never found a definative answer. One site referred to that fact that the kick is completed once the ref decides it is completed and once the ball has stopped.
Technically speaking, since the ball DID stop for a fraction of a second when it hit the crossbar, should the ball be signalled dead (since it's KFTPM - play doesn't continue)
I had never heard of this situation until this happened.
Had I been the center, I would have signalled this a good goal.
Additionally, I was told if the keeper dives and saves the shot by hitting it back towards the kicker, but it has sufficient "spin" that causes it to come back and score, that too would not be allowed. Again, I would be calling that a good goal.
Now I am a bit confused and hoping you can point me in the right direction. [Until I learn otherwise, I would be allowing both goals in the situations I described above].

Thanks so much in advance,
Bob

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Law 14 says, "When a penalty kick is taken during the normal course of play, or time has been extended at half-time or full time to allow a penalty kick to be taken or retaken, a goal is awarded if, before passing between the goalposts and under the crossbar:
* the ball touches either or both of the goalposts and/or the crossbar, and/or the goalkeeper"

The procedure for Kicks From The Penalty Mark in the back of the Laws book says, "Unless otherwise stated, the relevant Laws of the Game and International F.A. Board Decisions apply when kicks from the penalty mark are being taken"

I don't see anything in the KFTPM section that negates the part about the ball touching the goal and/or the keeper.

Also, if I remember my physics correctly, momentum doesn't have a direction. It is the product of mass times velocity. Until the referee is convinced that the momentum imparted by the original kick has been dissapated (by the action of the goalkeeper or by friction), the ball remains in play.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

This goal should have counted. The referee should have waited for the kinetic energy of the ball to diminish to nil before declaring no goal.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Bob regarding conflicting opinions, those saying the goal is invalid are only on the planet to demonstrate how important the ability to read and understand is.

Regards,