Question Number: 22918

Law 14 - Penalty kick 3/8/2010

RE: Rec Under 13

Joan of El Cajon, CA USA asks...

Can a kicker start a PK with his/her back to the keeper? example: The ball would be a step or two behind the kicker; after the whistle is blown, the kicker would immediately turn, take a step and kick the ball. Trying to determine if this would be allowed by the referee. Thank-you.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Joan
The referee has to be certain that all the conditions necessary for a penalty kick are in place before blowing the whistle to allow the kick to be taken.
This is what Law 14 says
The ball:
• must be placed on the penalty mark
The player taking the penalty kick:
• must be properly identified
The defending goalkeeper:
• must remain on his goal line, facing the kicker, between the goalposts until the ball has been kicked
The players other than the kicker must be located:
• inside the field of play
• outside the penalty area
• behind the penalty mark
• at least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the penalty mark''
Now I personally would have no difficulty with the kicker facing away from the goal before the run up. I would however ensure that the goalkeeper was totally ready through his position and demeanour and probably with the word 'Ready' which should draw some affirmative response which then allows me to blow the whistle. Having said that I believe that there are referees who require that the kicker should face the goalkeeper in the same way as the law requires the goalkeeper to face the kicker. While it is not specifically mentioned in the Law the referees instruction should be followed on this.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

I would not blow the whistle for the penalty kick until the kicker is facing the keeper. IMO, it is unsporting behavior but other referees could differ.

More importantly, the referee needs to read carefully how the players are reacting. If, as I would fear, the players treat it as a sign of disrespect for their keeper, this can escalate with other forms of taunting and retaliation. Penalty kicks are times of high emotion, and match control can suffer unless the referee is ready to snuff out things that lead to trouble. Of course, if the players are laughing and enjoying themselves, the referee can let it go.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

It's hard enough to score a PK while facing the keeper - especially for players just starting out. I would not teach my players this kind of a trick play, because they are as likely to be confused as the other team and the referee crew.

Whether it is allowed or not will depend entirely upon your referee of the day, and how she sees this tactic - whether fair, although not well advised, or as unsporting behavior.