Question Number: 21269

Kicks From The Penalty mark 5/4/2009

RE: Select Under 19

Kevin Wilburn of Federal Way, Washington USA asks...

At the end of a match, there were 11 players aside and the game was tied. Two 10 minute periods elaps and still tied, 'KTM' is next.What happends if one coach leaves only 8 players on the field for the KTM and the kicks are taken and remain tied after the 8th player from both teams have taken a shot on goal?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

If after the two 10 minute periods, both teams still had 11 a side, then the coach cannot take off 3 players! The players should never have left the field or been allowed to leave by the referee.

If, perchance, one team ended the game with 8, the other team would have to reduce their numbers also to 8. The only way to end up with uneven numbers after the end of the match (including any overtimes) is if during the kicks phase, players are sent off for misconduct or during the taking of the kicks become too injured to continue.

If there was an uneven number, and using your example of 8 v 11, then after the eighth kicker, the team with fewer players can now repeat kickers. The other team must use all 11 before being allowed to repeat. The order of the kickers in the second and subsequent rounds may be different - there is no requirement that they follow the same order.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The coach cannot take 3 players off after the time had expired. The coach could have decided to play with 8 before the match ended but he would have had to had the permission of the referee to take 3 off just before time expired.
For the sake of argument, let's say one team ended the match with 8 players and the other team had 11. The team with 11 would have to reduce to equate and choose 8 players to begin the kicks phase.
If during the course of kicks one team has 3 players sent off, they simply start over after all 8 players have taken a kick assuming the match is still tied. The players do not have to repeat the original order in which the players took their first kicks. The other team would have to use all 11 players before they started over.