Question Number: 30995

Law 14 - The Penalty kick 11/5/2016

RE: High School High School

Scott Wiseman of Zebulon, NC USA asks...

The game ended up going into penalty kicks where one of their players kicked the ball before the ref blew the whistle. The player missed. It, but then got to re kick the ball and kicked it in the second time after the ref blew the whistle. Should the player have been disqualified because he kicked the ball before whistle blew?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Scott,
Unfortunately the laws are quite clear here - if the player takes the kick before the referee blows the whistle to signal the kick, it's a retake no matter the outcome.

There are certain occasions where the laws may not be fair and I'd argue this is one of them.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Scott
NFHS Rules are the same as FIFA on this in that a whistle is required to restart play for the taking of a penalty kick.
So the only option available to the referee is a retake. It can work the opposite way in that a goal that is scored has to also result in a retake. I believe statistically that the success rate on penalty kicks is up around 90% so the more likely event is a retake after a goal which *benefits* the defending team.
The referee could also determine that if the player willfully disobeyed his instruction to wait for the whistle that a caution for unsporting conduct can be given. Most times though it is just poor mechanics by the referee that allows this to happen.

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Scott,
A whistle is required to start play. The normal procedure on a penalty kick is for the referee to tell the kicker to not kick the ball until the whistle is sounded. If the kicker then kicks the ball before the whistle is sounded, a caution could be given for unnecessary delay (NFHWS Rule 12-8-1f2). The cautioned kicker would then have to return to the team area and a substitute must replace the kicker to take the kick. (Tie Breaking Procedure Rule B-1-b) However, if the referee did not tell the player to wait for the whistle, the referee should verbally warn the kicker to wait for the whistle on the next kick. With either a caution or verbal warning, the kick would be retaken.