Question Number: 30806

Kicks From The Penalty mark 9/23/2016

RE: Intermediate Under 14

Phil of Tarzana, CA United States asks...

I have a question about kicks from the penalty mark regarding reduce to equate. Suppose you start out with 8 players on each team (blue & red). During the KFTPM, blue GK can't continue.

Are there 2 possible scenarios?
1. Blue takes another player who is already on the field & makes him a GK. This new GK may take kicks & red team must reduce to equate, since one blue player leaves the field.
2. Blue puts in a substitute (if available) or previously reduced to equate player as GK, but this new GK may not take any kicks. Therefore, red team doesn't have to reduce to equate because each team still has the same number of players eligible to take PKs, even though blue team has one more player on the field.

Do I have this right? Have I overlooked anything?
Thanks again,

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Phil
When the scenario in 2 does happen I think many referees will be somewhat confused with this law change wording in that if the goalkeeper is replaced by a substitute or excluded player, the goalkeeper can not take a kick. My impression when I first read the new Law and Q&A that it referred to the new GK. I believe now it refers to the replaced goalkeeper not the substitute or the excluded player. If he is replaced by an onfield player that player has to take a kick so one would imagine that it applies to substitute and excluded player as well.
** A goalkeeper who is unable to continue before or during the kicks and whose team has not used its maximum permitted number of substitutes, may be replaced by a named substitute, or a player excluded to equalise the number of players, but the goalkeeper takes no further part and may not take a kick**
** When can a goalkeeper be replaced and who can replace the goalkeeper?
The goalkeeper can be replaced at any time. The replacement can be one of the players who is allowed to take a kick, a substitute (if the team has not used its maximum number of substitutes) or a player who was excluded from KFPM to make the number of players in each team equal. A goalkeeper who is replaced by one of the other kickers, may take a kick but if the goalkeeper is replaced by a substitute or excluded player, the goalkeeper can not take a kick.**

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I think this is a case where we have to interpret what they meant to say, even if that's not exactly what they wrote. It's clear the intent is that both teams have the same number of players taking part in kicks from the mark.

If a goalkeeper must leave the game, there has to be another player appointed as goalkeeper. There's no way that this new keeper wouldn't be counted in the number of players taking part in kicks. I agree with my colleague that the wording applies to the goalkeeper who left the game, not the new keeper.