Question Number: 17942

Kicks From The Penalty mark 11/17/2007

RE: AYSO regular season play Under 12

Jacque McNeely of Norco, CA USA asks...

During a shootout (kicks from the penalty mark)in the semifinals, one of the kickers kicked the ball before the referee blew his whistle (gave the signal to take the kick). The ball missed the net and went wide. The referee awarded a re kick to the same kicker. This time the kick entered the net for a score. The kicker's team won. Was this a correct call? Many of the spectators thought that the miss should have counted a miss and should only have been retaken if the first kick scored. Thank you.

Answer provided by Referee Debbie Hoelscher

Shootout and kicks from the penalty mark are two totally different things. I am assuming, however that you meant kicks from the penalty mark to decide the winner of the match. The referee must signal for the kick to be taken. The player took the kick prior to this signal. The referee must allow the kick to be retaken and instruct the kicker to wait for the signal before they can kick the ball. The kicker could be cautioned and shown the yellow card for unsporting behavior, but at this age level and experience level, it's unlikely that would be necessary for the first incident.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

I will admit that according to the letter of law the kick is to be retaken. In spirit this miss is a miss because I am *VERY* sure I must have said go, otherwise why did the PK kicker take his turn?

A referee who does not convey the importance of waiting to a PK kicker for the CORRECT signal in my opinion has failed in the mechanics or the PK kicker is as dense as an ox and wishes to be shown a yellow card.

As protocol I recommend that the referee conduct a PK as a ceremonial restart indicating to the PK kicker that nothing goes with out the whistle. This includes eye contact, verbal and visual communication with an acknowledgement back from the player.

I MIGHT cut the PK kicker slack if he goes early and scores only to bring the PK kick back for a do over with no caution. No matter what age, if we are 11 versus 11 soccer, I will most certainly caution show the yellow card if the early take misses and we retake.

In a gold cup semi final match a few years back we had KFTPM to decide a winner the PK kicker jumped the gun, the opposing keeper injured himself while making a great but unnecessary save. The referee had the kick retaken with no caution only a warning, The keeper had to be replaced and the replacement keeper was scored upon on the retake forcing sudden death. Lots of interesting comments from the touchlines at that event I can tell you!.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

By the book we do this one over. We also caution the player for his unsporting effort. If it is the second caution in the same match he is sent-off.

I do tend to agree with Ref Dawaon in his thoughts. The only person on the park who saw my signal was the kicker because I couldn't even think he would kick without my signal. Just because no one else saw it doesn't mean anything, especially when he cheated to go and missed. That's just too bad...

Pass an assessment, no I probably wouldn't but in the Spirit of The Game I'm right. In Law, I'm busted.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

I agree with my colleagues here. The book answer is that the referee did not signal and thus regardless of outcome...the kick must be retaken. It takes bad mechanics on the referees part to allow this to happen. Within the spirit of the game, the referee must have signaled for the shooter to kick early.