Question Number: 15097

Law 14 - Penalty kick 4/1/2007

RE: Competitive Under 15

Ed HIghtower of Gilbert, AZ USA asks...

Can the penalty kicker approach the ball and reset the ball with his or her hands (the ball did not move) after walking back from the ball and setting up and the referees whistle to start the play?

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

No. The referee supervises the placement of the ball. The referee MUST allow the kicker to place ball. Then once ball placement meets approval of referee (basically ball is on penalty mark), referee takes position and signal for kick once keeper is ready. At that point, kicker is not allowed to touch ball with hands anymore.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Ed,
The Pk is generaly not signalled until AFTER the kicker has placed the ball and the referee approves of where it is!. Unless the wind moved the ball or it visibly rolled into a side divot off the pk point once I signaled for a Pk to begin there will be NO repositioning of the ball or gamesmenship by the pk kicker to waste time or walk or run up to the ball reach down and touch it then walk away to start again. I would likely either caution the PK kicker for delaying the restart and then resignal for the pk to begin again or possibly wait for the shot and then award an indfk out if missed or caution and retake if made. Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The referee will not signal until all players have taken up their places according to Law and the kicker and goalkeeper are ready. Replacing the ball shows the kicker isn't ready...