Question Number: 22234

Kicks From The Penalty mark 10/13/2009

RE: ALL Other

David Arcese of Attleboro, Ma USA asks...

On Penalty Kick shoot outs does the coach have to give the ref the order that his kickers will be kicking in prior to the start of the shootout or can eligible players kick in any order, understanding that each player has to kick once before a player kicks a second time ?

I don't see anything in the LOTG that indicate a certain order must be followed but some refs I've spoken with seem to think that an order must be given prior to the start of the shoot out and do deviation is allowed from that order.

thanks

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

This is an unfortunate referee myth that there must be a certain order. When coaching a U16 team awhile back we were at a tournament and out game went to KFTPM. I handed the referee the players names and numbers that were eligible to participate. He then started calling them in the order I had listed. I politely told him I was also a referee and he did not have the authority to pick the order of my players and if he insisted on this I would have to write to our SDI as protests were not allowed at this tournament but that he needed to be properly instructed. I ended up writing the letter.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

What causes the myth to continue? It is because coaches are allowed (if they want to) to tell their players to kick in a certain order or to arrange them to sit in a certain order, and at lower levels, we would permit the coach access to his players to talk to them about this.

But, nothing requires an order. Nothing needs an order. They kick in the order they kick. The referee's only concern is making sure no one kicks twice before every teammate has kicked once.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

USSF has confirmed time and time again, There Is No Order. This is one of the enduring myths of the game, in this case unfortunately one perpetrated and kept alive by the refs themselves.

The referee simply keeps track of the players as they approach the mark for their shot, and ensures that no one takes a second shot before all players have had their first try.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Sigh. The LOTG do not require an order to which kicker kicks when - only than no player may kick before all others on his team have taken a try.

Even in high school, all the coach does is choose 5 players at a time - no order required, and if it is tied after those 5 kick, he picks a new five, again no order required.

You ought to get with the assignor for this group of non-informed referees and get it straightened out - pronto.

The procedure is well detailed in the Advice to Referees, available on the USSF website.