Question Number: 20612

Kicks From The Penalty mark 11/30/2008

RE: Rec Under 15

Manny of Downey, California USA asks...

Championship game ends in a tie after regulation and overtime, so we go into penalty kicks from the mark.

On the 5th kick (if we score we win by one) our player takes the penalty kick. The goalkeeper stops the ball with his hands, but the ball bounces on the ground next to him and the ball keeps rolling on the outside of the line. The ball is still rolling and spinning slowly and eventually goes into the goal.

The goalie was walking the other way, so he didn't attempt to stop the ball from going in.

The ref called the ball dead and disallowed the goal. The assistant ref went to talk to him to let him know that the ball went in, but the center ref called the ball dead even though the ball kept rolling without stopping until it went in.

I've been doing research trying to find an answer, but I can find this specific rule about the ball being dead after a penalty kick once it hits the ground near the goalie in the field of play.

I've read the rule that if the ball hits the crossbar and hits the golie in the head and goes in, then it's a goal.

Can anyone point me to a document on the PK dynamics?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

In the Laws of the Game section on Procedures to Determine a Winner, it 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.' That means Law 14 is still in effect.

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 referee decides when a penalty kick has been completed.'

While the referee decided the kick was completed, in my opinion based on your description he decided that too early. Please report this referee through your league or tournament so he can be trained properly.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

My colleague gives you the straight goods, unless the energy imparted to the ball is used up, the ball into touch , controlled and stopped with possesion in the keeper's hands or rebounded out and away into the field past any chance of a rebound off the keeper the referee should wait and see a RESULT, not deem the ball dead too early. Backspin an rebounds of the ball off the posts, crossbar or keeper in any order can still permit a moving ball to finds its way into goal. Only in very strong windy situations could I as a referee deem a ball dead before its movement was finished if I was CERTAIN the ball had no chance on its own to enter the goal.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Stupid goalkeeper but even more stupid referee. The ball was still moving so the ball was still in play. This referee needs some additional training asap. If you want to see something dealing with this specifically, the Q&A section by Jim Allen at US Soccer's website has answered this question numerous times