Question Number: 29880

Kicks From The Penalty mark 11/2/2015

RE: State Playoffs High School

Jerrod Slaughter of Oregon City, OR USA asks...

Hello -
In a state playoff game on 10/31/15 between Oregon City (OC) & South Eugene at South Eugene the match went to a Penalty Shootout. At came to the fifth kicker from South Eugene that had to score due to OC leading on made attempts. South Eugene shoots and the OC keeper makes a forward punching save pushing the ball away from the goal. The head referee blows his whistle and signals to the middle that that game is over. Waves the Oregon City players on the field to celebrate with their keeper. The Oregon City keeper picks up the ball (laying about 5 yards in front of the goal) and then kicks the ball in to the net. South Eugene disputes the call and the referees then huddle for a discussion. The referee calls it a goal and restarts the match and continues the shootout. Oregon City then looses later in kicks.

When is the game over? How could this be a goal?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jerrod
I can tell you what the NFHS Rules state and I quote
* During all tie-breaker penalty kicks, the ball remains alive until its momentum is spent, it goes out of bounds, or it is retouched by the kicker.**
Now I believe that had the referee signalled with his whistle to end the game one would expect that the momentum of the ball was spent and the game was over.
Now perhaps the referees in the huddle decided with confirmation from the other officials that the momentum was not spent with the goal awarded.
Now have a look at this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsG0yV0wam4
Was the ball saved or dropped by the goalkeeper with momentum of the ball not spent? Many decided that momentum was not spent including the referee and the goal counted.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Jerrod,
are we sure we have all relevant information? If the ball's energy was completely spent the Pk should be declared over! If the ball was in the hands of the keeper and he perhaps disrespects the opposing team by kicking it in possibly a caution or send off for taunting or offinabus but not sure how it results in a goal? Was the ball still rolling and he reached down to get it then, accidently stubbed kicked it in? Thus some momentum was still being considered? Far fetched I agree but given the referee whistled and waved on the team I can not truly wrap my head around the reason if play was dead? I hold there must be something the AR possibly saw and was communicated later? It is a mystery to me? From an outside view I'd say some faulty mechanics, were misdiagnosed somewhere. However, it seems apparent the CR has decided the PK was NOT over and that the ball entered the goal via the energy imparted off the original PK kick even if that ball was possibly fumbled into the goal by the keeper .
A referee with integrity sees what he sees even if we might see it different. The ONLY way a goal can be awarded is the referee must feel the PK was NOT over at any time BEFORE the ball completely crossed the goal line, under the crossbar and between the posts. I would be surprised if the match is not protested or goes to some sort of board for a look see? We have a member of the NFHS on our panel Joe Majone, you can take his explanation to heart!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Jerrod,
I have researched this situation and found that the referee ruled that the spin of the ball not the goalkeeper caused the ball to go into the goal, and that the ball entered the goal before the referee sounded the whistle. You apparently saw it differently; however, I feel, as a high school championship coordinator and high school referee, that the decision of the referees in this situation has to be upheld, unless there is overwhelming evidence to the contrary (like an undisputable video). Officials often make decisions that are disputed; it is unfortunate that this decision resulted in your team not being able to advance beyond the first round of playoffs.