Question Number: 30677

Kicks From The Penalty mark 8/19/2016

RE: Masters Adult

Romeo of Toronto, ON Canada asks...

Hi:

We had a very good referee in a recent game. We were tied, played extra time (each team scored another goal), and went to penalties.

The other team had a red card. The referee told us we needed to go down a player. I asked him if our goalkeeper could be the one not to take kicks.

The referee, and I know he is very experienced, said, 'Excellent question. I'm not sure of the answer, but I'll give you permission today because it makes sense and is still fair.' The other captain agreed it was. We decided in the end to use another player.

Can a team choose the keeper to only make saves and not kick in this situation? I checked the book online and I can't tell.

R

Answer provided by Referee James Sowa

Romeo,

No. The principal of reduce to equate is used to make sure that teams have an equal number of players for KFTPM. It does not allow a team to designate 10 players to kick and a different 10 players to play GK. This 'roster' of 10 players must be the same throughout the kicks. This scenario presented is actually a mistake in the application of the LOTG and would result in a successful protest.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Please have someone in the know get in touch with the referee so he can be corrected as well. KFTPM are relatively rare happenings - most youth and amateur games don't need a winner unless you're playing in a tournament. And having KFTPM after someone was sent off is even rarer. So it's not surprising that the ref wasn't aware of the conditions. I'm not faulting him, but someone should instruct him so if it happens again in 12 years or so he'll know what to do.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Romeo
That was not possible. The reduce to equate law requires that a team must remove a player from the field of play so that an equal number of players are on the field.
The basis behind the law is that generally teams put their weaker kickers last. Without equating the teams a team with a sent off player would have an advantage with it strongest kicker taking the 11th penalty kick should it get to that whereas the team with eleven would have its weakest and last player take the 11th kick. That is deemed unfair. As you know goalkeepers have to take a kick as well if on the FOP. A GK cannot have it both ways of participating in goal and excluded from kicks.