Question Number: 24584

Kicks From The Penalty mark 2/14/2011

RE: Competive College

Mark of Miami, FL USA asks...

So, I am a goalkeeper. While at match that was a tie game and went into PK shootouts. The other teams goalkeeper was starting a few steps behind the goal line and would move forward as the player moved forward. Though his feet did no leave the goal line until after the ball was kicks.

It contradicts two rules I am aware of being I know you are not supposed to move forward until the ball is kicked, but also the goal keeper kept to the rule and stayed behind the line until it was kicked.

I am unsure about this and would like to sort it out. The referees did not call it and I was not informed enough to call it out.

Is this against any rules?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Not sure about NCAA rules but everywhere else the keeper is to stay ON his line until the ball is kicked. Standing behind the goal line and running up is illegal.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mark
The Laws of the Game state that a goalkeeper must remain on his goal line, facing the kicker, between the goalposts until the ball has been kicked. So he cannot be behind the goal line nor can he move forward until the ball is kicked. NCAA, I understand , has a similar position and the referee was incorrect to allow a starting position off the field of play
Now the implementation of the encroachment part of Law 14 is very difficult. On average 80%+ of penalty kicks are scored. On many of those the goalkeeper and players have infringed the Law by moving forward and into the penalty area (not in KFTPM) before the ball is kicked. As a goal is scored any infringement by the defending team is ignored. This then leads to GKs taking a step before the ball is kicked on most penalties. It has become accepted that referees only call the blatant breaches of Law 14 where the GK has gained a significant advantage by advancing significantly towards the ball, narrowing the angle or by players moving into the penalty area patently affecting play. Those blatant breaches are called while perhaps one step is seen as trifling and are rarely called.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

NCAA rules, like the LOTG provide:

'The opposing goalkeeper, who shall remain on the goal line facing the kicker, between the goal posts, is permitted to move laterally (i.e., from side to side) but shall not step or lunge forward until the ball is kicked.'

But, at higher levels, the referee may not voice anything to a keeper who has infringed the requirements for a penalty kick if the kick results in a GOAL. Silence may not have been the same as approval. The same referee may have ordered the kick retaken if it did not result in a goal.

Any part of the feet on any part of the line will suffice, so most of the foot can be in front or behind the goal line. As Ref McHugh notes, minor movement by the keeper often is ignored as trifling.