Question Number: 31128

Kicks From The Penalty mark 12/25/2016

RE: Adult

T.J. of Wasaga Beach, ON - Ontario Canada asks...

Does the ball get moved back from the penalty
line after the first five shots are done.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi T.J.
Under the Laws of the Game all penalties, whether during normal play or kicks from the penalty mark (aka penalty shoot-out) are taken from the penalty mark. On a full-size pitch this is located at a point 11 m (12 yds) from the midpoint between the goalposts.

I have never heard of this being changed during a series of kicks, even under modified competition rules - and it is not a part of the Laws where changes are permitted.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi TJ
In Kicks from the Penalty Mark all kicks are taken from the mark or spot which is 12 yards from the goal line. I am not aware of any competition rule that changes the location of the kicks are the first five. Such a competition rule would be contrary to the Laws of the Game.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI TJ,
NO is the quick answer!

You see the penalty mark is a fixed location on the Field of Play that CAN NOT be moved for any reason. It is spotted 12 yards away from the goal line in line with the center of the goal , 6 yards away from the middle of the 18 yard Penalty area outer edge boundary in the middle of the penalty area arc. The penalty arc is a semi circle, whose sole reason for being there is to maintain the ten yard distance required on a free kick when a penalty shot, taken from the exact location of the penalty mark, is being taken.


There have been EXPERIMENTS with shoot outs and match ending situations where the traditional (KFTPM) -kicks from the penalty mark have been adjusted but the spot itself remains. fixed . The run up shootout where a player dribbles the ball well outside the penalty area and the keeper is free to move about was briefly toyed with but as for now there is NO provision within the IFAB/FIFA LOTG to allow for anything else than shooting from the mandatory 12 yard mark until a victor emerges.

After the first 5 cumulative penalty shots are taken . IF both teams are tied with the same number of misses and goals. The match reverts to sudden death whereby each team is granted, a one for one opportunity to score. The shootout continues tit for tat if both miss or both make it. Only when the one team makes their shot and the other team fails will the one team scoring would be declared the winner. That is the PURPOSE of the shootout, to decided a winner of the match when regulation play ends in a draw and a victor is required!

Cheers & Merry Christmas