Question Number: 16372

Kicks From The Penalty mark 8/20/2007

RE: Select Under 14

Doug Crawford of Rocklin, CA USA asks...

At Kicks from the Mark to break the tie, the kicker approached the ball for her kick. The keeper yelled "KEEP" loudly when the kicker was 1-2 yards from the ball. The kicker hesitated, and looked around for a moment with a quizzical look. The kicker then continued her motion toward the ball, took a fair shot, without as much power as I was expecting. The keeper was able to catch the shot on the ground.

The center allowed play to continue, recorded no goal, and allowed the next kicker and goalie to take their turn. I was AR, and I did not think the call was obvious, so I let him make the call.

I am concerned that the keeper was likely trying to distract the kicker. There was no teammate for her to talk to. She could have said she was talking to herself, but I did not think so.

I would have awarded a retake of the kick, probably given the keeper a yellow card for UB, and told her not to use words to distract her opponent.

What do you think? /Doug

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Doug, I'm with you. There's no need for the keeper to call for the ball in Kicks From The Penalty Mark. Clearly by doing this she distracted her opponent. Caution and retake. Unless the ball was scored, then count it and caution at your discretion - give stern words if you elect not to caution.

If she wants to yell "Keep" after the ball has been kicked, to develop a habit of doing it whenever the ball is headed her way, that's OK. Just don't do it before the kick.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

This goalkeeper is going to learn the "facts-of-life" much sooner rather than later if I am the match referee, regardless the result of the kick. She has infringed the Laws of the Game, specifically she has been unsporting.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Select U14 - this usually means they have a GK coach, who would have taught them such nonsense. And like Referee Fleischer, I would see yellow! Next time, they will know better than their coach - how sad is that - he actually gets paid to teach them this load of horse manure.