Question Number: 35911

Law 3 - The Players 5/1/2025

RE: Rec Adult

A. Povi of The villages, Fl USA asks...

Can we put our #9 in goal to defend a penalty. Then immediatly change their positions back at the restart?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
The answer is yes. A goalkeeper can be changed at any stoppage including a penalty kick provided the referee is informed.
The change can be with any field player or a substitute

The change back though has to wait again until another stoppage in play.

It only happens at underage because perhaps a team has a couple of goalkeepers with one playing out field. It can also be that one player is a better shot stopper.

Personally I don’t like it during a game as it requires a jersey change and probably gloves being put on which holds up the game. The change back is also a delay

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Povi,
Yes it is permissible to switch the keeper on a penalty shot with your #9 or in fact any of the players on the field of play at the time of the stoppage. While it might be a strategic decision at the youth level to want to use an athletically, larger faster player with quicker reflexes thus well suited to be keeper, I doubt it does much for the confidence of the regular keeper. As my colleague pointed out this change is occurring during a stoppage with the referee’s permission. It could simply be a switch with a field player or an actual substitution if there are no by-laws or restrictions preventing it. The key point here would be clear identification of who is who. Once the PK has commenced the two players cannot switch back to their original positions until the next stoppage! So, while this can happen quickly, if the new keeper saves and keeps the ball in play just not necessarily immediately. There must be another natural stoppage at some point. Again, when that stoppage occurs there must be clear identification of the two players once they switch back and once again the referee must be notified. Now while this is a legal maneuver the referee will expect it to occur quickly. I suggest that you don’t dilly dally and get yourself cautioned for delaying the restart. Nor is it wise to switch places without notifying the referee, as to who the keeper is must be clearly identified at all times. Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Povi,

As indicated by the other referees, changing the goalkeeper as you indicated is legal. The following is the high school rule concerning the goalkeeper change:

"The goalkeeper may change places with a player on the field whenever the clock is stopped or when a substitution takes place provided the uniforms are legal. Any time the goalkeeper is changed, the referee is to be notified."

"If a change is made without the referee being notified, both players are to receive a warning at the next stoppage of play."

The uniforms do have to be legal. Thus, the goalkeeper must have a legal goalkeepers jersey to be recognized as the goalkeeper. A field player who takes the place of the goalkeeper without having a goalkeepers jersey would remain a field player and could not handle the ball.

I usually do see a goalkeeper change for a penalty kick several times very a year in high school play. Thank you for this question - it is something all officials need to be aware of.