Question Number: 23293

Kicks From The Penalty mark 5/11/2010

RE: Under 11

stephen mchugh of castleford, west yorkshire asks...

In a penalty shoot out, if a player takes a penalty and it hits the post and comes back out and hits the goalie's heels and goes in, is it a goal or after it hits the post is the ball dead? Thanks.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

It is a goal. The referee decides when a kick ends based on the momentum of the ball, not the direction.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Stephen
Law 14 states and I quote
' When a penalty kick is taken during the normal course of play, or time has been extended at half-time or full time to allow a penalty kick to be taken or retaken,a goal is awarded if, before passing between the goalposts and under the crossbar the ball touches either or both of the goalposts and/or the crossbar and/or the goalkeeper'
The same applies in kicks from the penalty mark so a goal is the correct answer to your question.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Gooooaaaallllll!

If the ball's momentum is not spent, and it continues to bounce around and hit things, including the keeper and voila, goes in to the goal, it is a score!

The ball is dead when it has no more energy to bounce around and roll into the goal, and or when it leaves the field or when the goalkeeper saves it (meaning it either stays with the keeper or it is directed away from the goal completely). Then and only then will the wise referee consider the kick complete.