Question Number: 27014

Kicks From The Penalty mark 11/17/2012

RE: Junior College College

Steven Elonich of Council Bluffs, Iowa United States asks...

I just finished watching the junior college semifinals between Paradise Valley and Iowa Western on Ihigh.com (if you want to reference the play). It had already finished both overtimes and the penalty kicks were under way. It was 4-3 Iowa Western and Paradise Valley was on its fifth kick. The girl began running to do her kick but stumbled and hopped. Her foot went ahead of the ball, but never made contact. She was given a yellow card and was still allowed to kick the ball. She made it and Paradise Valley went on to win. Should she have been allowed to still have her penalty kick?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

He Steven,

The penalty kick has been taken when the ball is kicked and moves forwards. Without this taking place, no kick has occurred - and a referee cannot 'take away' a kick for misconduct.

So despite the misconduct she should still have been allowed to kick the ball.

It seems like the referee thought the player was trying on some trick at the kick, which could justify a caution - but if it was truly an innocent stumble then she probably should not have been cautioned.

Lucky for the player that she didn't unintentionally kick the ball as she stumbled!

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Steven
NFHS & NCAA Rules are broadly similar to the Laws of the Game in that a penalty kick is not in play until the ball is kicked.
NFHS Rule 14 states and I quote '' To be in play, the ball shall be moved forward. Once the kicker starts his/her approach toward the ball, he/she may not interrupt his/her movement. Failure to kick the ball as specified shall result in a re-kick.''
while NCAA Rule 14 states ""The player taking the kick shall kick the ball forward in order for it to be in play. If the ball is not put into play properly, the kick shall be retaken.""
So the re-kick was the correct decision.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The general rule is that misconduct that occurs before the ball is in play does not change the restart.

Penalty kicks provide for one exceptions to this rule. When the kicker kicks it backwards (on a PK, the ball is not in play until it moves forward), the restart is a changed to an indirect free kick. Normally, however, the referee will permit the kick to continue (notwithstanding an attacking player's infringement of law 14) and the restart will be change if the kick does not result in a goal (to an IFK).

Here, it appears that the ball was never put into play. So, the referee properly ordered the penalty kick taken after dealing with the misconduct. (Note: merely slipping and falling while taking a penalty kick is not misconduct.)