Question Number: 26678

Law 14 - Penalty kick 8/24/2012

RE: competive Under 14

dave of hudson , quebec canada asks...

we had a game where the Ref awarded a penalty shot. The ball was placed by the ref at the 12 yard spot the team identified
their kickker the Ref blew his wistle to start.... the kicker then walked up to the ball and replaced it using her hands on the penalty marker .
Is the player allowed to set the ball with their hands after the ref blows his wistle to start?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Coach:

The whistle is just an indication from the referee that the player is permitted to take the kick. As in any free kick, a great deal of latitude is given to adjust the ball - - including with the hands. (Note: the ball is out of play until it is kicked and moves forward. The whistle does not put the ball into play.) So, the general answer to your question is 'yes, it is allowed.'

The answer would change if the kicker had begun making a run toward the ball and then stopped to adjust the ball. In that circumstance, the kicker is not permitted to stop. Players were using a strategy of stopping when they reached the ball to confuse and embarrass the keeper, and Law 14 was recently changed to end this practice. The circumstances will inform the referee whether the kicker had commenced the run up for the kick or whether it was clear that the kicker was only trying to adjust the ball prior to taking the kick.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Dave
This just reads like poor mechanics here by the referee.
The referee should leave it to the player to place the ball on the penalty mark and when all the conditions have been met such as the goalkeeper on the line, players outside the penalty area and arc, the referee blows the whistle to allow the kick to proceed. If the player wants to adjust the ball say because it moved then she should ask the referee for permission and the kick is set up again to the referee's satisfaction.
In this case I see nothing wrong with the player walking forward to place the ball. The referee though has to be alert though that it is not done as an illegal feint and the goalkeeper's reaction is a good judge of that. It would also be appropriate for the referee to use the whistle again to signal that the kick can be taken.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Players are allowed to place the ball for a PK, provided they place it on the spot. Many refs hand the ball to the kicker and indicate where they are to place it. That gives the player the option of which divot or hump the ball is resting on.

A player may decide to move the ball once it has been placed, if he's not wasting time or attempting to game the goalkeeper. The referee should whistle again to indicate that the kick may be taken.