Question Number: 23827

Kicks From The Penalty mark 8/24/2010

RE: Competitive Under 10

Mike Mezey of Carlsbad, CA. USA asks...

In the final game of a tournament, if the teams are forced to go to PKs it is my understanding that the only player that can go in goal for the PKs is the player that was in goal at the end of play (regular and any over time). Is this correct, or could I put any of the players that were on the field at the end of play in goal. I've seen refs allow it both ways, most recently in a tournament that my team played in where the ref would only allow the player in goal at the end of play to go in goal for the PKs. Cheers.

Mike

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mike
Any player on the field of play at the end of play can go into goal for Kicks from the Penalty Mark. There is no restriction whatsoever in this regard and any referee that does not allow that is incorrect. He simply is informed that player x has gone into goal and that the GK is now wearing y shirt. Indeed if a team has not used all its quota of substitution an injured GK can be replaced by a substitute GK during KFTPM.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Any eligible player (those on the field or temporarily off the field at the direction of the referee) will take part in Kicks from the Penalty Mark. Any one of them may be the goalkeeper for any of the kicks.

But why is a U10 game going to KFTPM? This is against USYS recommendations. Games at this level are to be played for fun and participation, not to determine a tournament winner. This may be why you get differing ref opinions. The refs are not used to the procedure because they don't normally use it. In addition, since the tournament is disregarding the age-level recommendations to begin with, it may come up with its own funky rule about who can play keeper.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

No. Only players who were on the field of play can participate in the kicks phase, but any of them can act as the keeper.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

No, that would be incorrect and any referee that only allowed the single keeper should know better but for some reason referees keep screwing up the procedures for KFTPM.

Only the keeper, if injured, may be replaced by a teammate that wasn't on the field of play as a player when all playing time ended. But any onfield player may go in goal