Question Number: 21506

Kicks From The Penalty mark 6/8/2009

RE: Under 15

Terry Allen of Coffs Harbour, NSW Australia asks...

My question relates to the AR's job at 'Kicks from the penalty mark'.

The LOTG say the AR's 'main duty' is to judge if the ball has crossed the line, but on penalties during normal time he also judges the goal keeper's movements.

Does this mean the AR does not flag the goalkeeper for coming off his line before the ball is kicked during KFTPM?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The AR's 'main duty' is to check for goals at other key scoring opportunities, such as penalty kicks during the game, even though the Laws may not spell that out. That's because the AR's position at the side of the field often gives her the better view of whether or not the ball has fully crossed the goal line. At other times, the main duty might be offside or ball out of play over the touch line.

Having one main duty does not preclude other secondary duties. The referee team must continue to act as a team. The referee and assistant must work together to get things right. Subject to the instructions of the referee, the AR would continue to assist in watching goalkeeper movement off the end line.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

We generally get eye contact and the AR does a simple step into or off the field and back over the goal line to indicate the keeper did step out too early but this private communication leaves it in the referee's court as whether he wants to do anything about it. Whereas a unnecessarily raised flag then brings it to the AR being the one that is making the decision!

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The AR may indicate blatant infringement by the goal keeper during KFTPM .

In the US, there is a new flag signal for the assistant referee which is more discreet than raising the flag straight up for keeper infringement (the flag is held accross the hips). This may replace some of the other subtle ways that the assistant referees communicate to the referee about keeper infringment.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

O would disagree that the LOTG say the "main duty" of the assistant referee is to judge whether or not the ball has crossed into touch. It's listed first but I think most of us would argue that offside is the Ar's "main duty". This also seems reasonable as Guide To Procedures says the AR's position should be:


In line with second to last defender
or the ball, whichever is closer to the
goal line

As to positioning ARs at KFTPM, 1 AR is managing the players participating in the kicks phase at the center circle while the other stands on the intersection of the goal line and left goal area line. He indicates if the keeper is to penalized by his flag.

From latest Guide to Procedures:

? If the goalkeeper moved
illegally and thus
prevented a goal from
being scored, stays in
position and signals by
holding the flag across
the lower body as shown