Question Number: 20675

Law 7 - Match Duration 12/17/2008

RE: Rec, Select, NFHS High School

Joe Griego of Bishop, CA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 20668

This is an interesting question for NFHS referees. Since time is never added under NFHS 'rules' (the Referee or official timekeeper actually stops the clock during play under NFHS rules for things such as goal kicks, kick-offs, and fouls), then technically speaking if a foul occurs very close to the end of the 40-minutes (for California High Schools, we play 40-min halves), then the referee simply stops the clock, and allows the PK to be taken during the last few seconds left in the period.

I asked the question of my NFHS instructor, 'What happens if there's only a few seconds left in the period? Since you're not adding time, you're allowing full play for those few seconds, so it's possible that if the PK is struck hard, bounces off the keeper, crossbar, or posts, then a teammate should be able to strike the rebound in, and it should count.

This can't happen under FIFA law, since time would be added just for the kick, but no rebound could be played by a teammate or the original kicker, correct?

My instructor said 'no' under NFHS rules, but he could not find an NFHS rule to support his answer. If I were coaching, I'd have my team right up on the line to punch in a rebound, if possible, assuming there was even one second left to get off a shot.

Any NFHS referee experts care to comment on this scenario?

As for the original question, it was Kicks From The Mark, and NOT a clock stoppage for the PK, so I believe even under NFHS rules, the goal should have counted, as no other player touched the ball, and the ball was still rolling by its own momentum (I'm assuming backspin caused the deflection to roll back into the goal off the keeper).

Again, any NFHS officials care to comment?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

You are correct in your interpretation as to what happens under FIFA Law if time is added for the taking of a penalty kick. The kick is taken and if it rebounds or is blocked it can't be kicked again. However, it's still true that until the ball stops it's in play from the keeper's standpoint.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

Let's say that time is stopped with 3 seconds left in NFHS for a penalty.

If the kick is taken and time expires before the kick is completed, the referee allows the kick to be completed. Once time expires it may not be touched by another player. Until it expires it may be touched by any player provided that the rules haven't otherwise been infringed.

So if the forward gets to the ball with 1 second left and puts it in the goal before time expires, it counts. If the ball is still bounding around in the area and could go in, I would have to imagine that the ball would be deemed dead if it were then touched by any other player except the keeper after the time expires... Very confusing rules in the NFHS at times.