Question Number: 24282

Kicks From The Penalty mark 11/6/2010

RE: High School

Nicole Aucoin of Saugus, massachusetts Usa asks...

Hi.In a state game we went into a shootout after two over times. Both teams picked an order for the players to choose. If a player went out of order or switched and took the shot, what happens?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Nicole
In USSF/FIFA games there is no offence and kicks simply continue.
The requirement to provide an order of kickers is not required in Law and it is up to the team to decide who takes a penalty kick and the order of the kickers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

NFHS does not require the players to kick in any particular order. It is up to the coach NOT the referee and no referee should insist a coach give to him an order of players as, quite frankly, it's none of the referee's business. The referee crew is to make sure no player gets a second kick until all eligible teammates have had their first kick. Further, if the Kicks phase progresses to a second round of shots, it's again none of the referee's business what order the players go. They may proceed in the same order as the first round or they may go in any order their coach wants as long as no player takes a third kick before everyone has taken a second.

The only time a referee should insist on the coach providing a player order is if the competition rules call for this modification. I would also point out (although not applicable here as this is an NFHS question) that such a modification is NOT allowed by FIFA and should not be done.

I have seen, and been involved with, referees attempting to insist on a shooter order and it causes a lot of trouble. Referees that have not coached before tend to find this behavior petty on behalf of the coaches but it is not petty at all and coaches that know the Law take great affront towards referees when we interfere with their legitimate right to strategy.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

NFHS provides recommendations for kicks from the penalty mark, and the procedures are very different from those under the laws of the game. Moreover, because they are only recommendations, federations may adopt different rules (and Mass. may have done so). It is essential that the coaches read and the referees understand the KFTPM procedures before arriving at the match. It is a smart idea for the referees to go over them with the coaches before the match begins. I carry a copy.
The NFHS recommendations are for each coach to designate five team members from the roster to take the first set of kicks. There is no requirement that these be players at the end of regulation time. If the match is still tied after the first five, the coach will designate five different players for the next round.
Your question is: what happens if they don't kick in the correct order?
My answer begins with: this should never happen. KFPM are match critical elements: the referee team cannot let the wrong kicker take the kick.
When the coach provides the order, write the numbers down and repeat the numbers to the coach before leaving. The referee has the order of the kickers, the AR1 has the order of the kickers. It is pretty simple to check the number on the list against the number on the player's jersey. (Nothing requires the lists to be provided to the opposing team or the announcer, and my preference is that the they not be exchanged.)
My answer ends with: if what never should happen actually happens, my opinion is that nothing in the NFHS recommendations prohibits a coach from changing the order during the kicks phase and nothing provides a penalty (unlike the complex rules in baseball for batting out of order). As long as the kicker was eligible to kick (that is, the player has not previously taken a kick), then treat this as an unannounced change by the coach in the list. Correct the number on your list, and move to the next kick.