Question Number: 32637

Kicks From The Penalty mark 8/11/2018

RE: Rec Adult

Andrew of Glenmore Park, NSW Australia asks...

My question is regarding kicks from the penalty mark and determining the outcome of a match.

What action does a referee take when a kicker makes his way and into the penalty area to take the kick and the referee notices that the kicker is not wearing shinguards?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Andrew
Law 4 tells us that to be properly attired a player must be wearing shin pads. That technically includes Kicks from the Penalty Mark. The AR at the centre circle with the players should ensure that the player before he comes forward has no obvious issue with his attire. It would only really be apparent if the player had his socks down around his ankles as to be honest no one including the referee is going to pay much attention to whether the player has shin pads under his pulled up socks having removed them at the end of the game.
If it becomes an issue the referee would be obliged to ask the player to correct his equipment before taking a kick. If it is not picked up I would be advising referees not to make it an issue as it would be seen as jobsworth. Once the equipment check is done before kick off and there is no apparent removal during play then it is unlikely to be picked up in KFTPM unless one is being ultra picky or very observant.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Andrew,
true the LOTG do state shin guards for the game but the KFRPM are actually a way to decide the outcome and truthfully I would not be as concerned if the shin guards were in place. I had a striker off one team have a huge bruise knot on the shin from a hard tackle earlier in the match so he had taken the guard off as it pressed against the knot while sitting at centre circle. I did not make him put the guard back on to take his shot. No one made a fuss and he scored. I felt bad for him as I could not recall the tackle that caused the knot? lol
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Andrew,
While shinguards are listed as a mandatory part of a player's equipment, the reason they are required is for player safety, to protect them from injury during a tackle. During kicks from the penalty mark, there is no tackling going on so the underlying rationale for wearing shinguards doesn't really hold true any more.

I also think that there is no particular reason why a referee would re-inspect player's equipment before kicks from the penalty mark and so as mentioned by my colleagues, it's something that is unlikely to be noticed in normal circumstances.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 32638