Question Number: 7781

Kicks From The Penalty mark

RE: Adult

David Francis of Portsmouth, England asks...

In the Holland v Sweden penalty shoot-out on Saturday night, one of the pens hit the underside of the bar and came out, only to bounce back into the goal off the keeper's back. The goal stood. At what point in these sort of circumstances does the ball become dead? One feels there might be a case for considering it as a missed pen. Certainly it would have stayed out if the keeper had moved the other way. And wouldn't a similar question arise if the ref was adding on time for a penalty to be taken at the end of a match?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

David, when asked this question by my students I look at them in a queer-sort-of-way and ask they ever studied physics? Have you? Brace yourself here comes a physics lesson. When the kicker hits the ball energy is transferred to the ball, that energy is kinetic energy, energy of motion. When that energy has dissipated the kick is complete. The kicker may not impart more energy into the ball. The goalkeeper must absorb all the kinetic energy before the kick is complete. If the ball rattles around from post to crossbar to the keeper?s head and, thence, into the goal has all the energy imparted by the kicker been dissipated? No, some is still there, or the ball would not have continued its motion. That is a goal. It could be a goal if the referee positioned incorrectly and the ball bounced off him, kicker?s energy is still present and the referee is part of the field. Unlikely, though...If this happens it is imperative that you reversed into parking before the game because you may need to make a fast getaway. A car key on the whistle lanyard is good planning, as well...Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Seems a lot of folks are wondering about this. During kicks from the mark, the same rules apply as to penalty kicks and your example of adding time for the taking of a penalty kick is perfect. The kick has "ended" when there is no kinetic energy left in the ball. What's meant by that is the ball is still in the air,or moving, or bouncing off the keeper/crossbar/goalposts/ground, or spinning etc. As long as the ball is still in motion, it's up to the keeper to stop it from going into the goal.

Answer provided by Referee Dawson

Hi David, .my colleagues are spot on as usual. If you read law 14..When a penalty kick is taken during the normal course of play, or time has been extended at half-time or full time to allow a penalty kick to be taken or retaken, a goal is awarded if, before passing between the goalposts and under the crossbar:.._ the ball touches either or both of the goalposts and/or the crossbar, and/or the goalkeeper...Cheers

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

See Question: 15020