Question Number: 22665

Kicks From The Penalty mark 12/21/2009

RE: any level

Joe Iano of Seattle, WA USA asks...

There has been a lot of discussion recently here and on the US Soccer site about kicks from the mark. One thing I've never seen in writing: When the coin toss is conducted to determine who will choose to kick first or second, which team calls the toss? Home or away? Is there any reason for one or the other?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Mostly, coin tosses alternate, beginning with the visiting team calling the pregame toss. If there is overtime/extra time, the home team will probably call it. Then at the KFTPM, it would be back to the visiting team.

But there are those that would always go with the visiting team. It is both a matter of tradition and a matter of fairness.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Given a fair coin and a fair toss, it does not matter which team chooses. Either one has equal chance of winning the toss.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I usually let the visiting team call it. What difference does it make? Unless you have a 2 headed coin each team still has a 50-50 chance regardless who calls it.

Answer provided by Referee Tom Stagliano

Referee Iano

Referees Maloney, Voshol and Contarino are perfectly correct for games conducted under the FIFA LOTG. Under FIFA LOTG it only mandates that a coin toss be conducted.

However, there is an IMPORTANT Distinction with High School (NFHS) and College (NCAA) rules. Under those rules the visiting team captain will call the coin toss. Therefore, to be completely correct under NFHS and NCAA rules, for each coin toss conducted in a game (pre-game, before the first OT and before KFTPM) the referee will toss the coin and the visting team captain will call the toss. The winner of the coin toss then makes the first choice.

NOTE: For many high school games there is no overtime during the regular season. For college there is the possibility of OT in all games, but KFTPM are only coducted in knock-out tournaments (like most post-season tournaments). For high school, it is up to each state to determine whether OT will be used in regular season games, and how a tournament game will decide a tie.

Thank you.

- Stag

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

For FIFA, this is another example of the approach that what everyone already knows doesn't need to be written down. Ref Maloney indicates the traditions.

For high school, the NFHS rule book procedures for Kicks From the Penalty Mark are 'recommendations' and, thus, checking local adoption of the rule becomes important. In my area, we've seen hybrids.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Referee Iano
When KFTPM were first introduced to decide a game, the team that won the toss had no choice but to take the first penalty. The Law was changed in 2003 to allow the captain who wins the toss to decide whether to go first or second.
As regards the coin toss call that is a matter of discretion for the referee. He/she can ask either captain to call depending on his preference (my pref is to ask the visitors) or indeed if he does not want to have either call he can say 'Okay Red Captain you are Heads/colour and Blue Captain you are tails/colour' and flips. If it comes down say heads the Red Captain has the choice. Indeed in some International games you might notice the referee showing each captain his side of the coin and then points to the winner for his choice after the toss. It helps with language issues and communication as the ref makes the call
Many referees find that complicated and simply go with the normal toss which has a 50% chance no matter who calls.