Question Number: 23512

Law 3 - Number of Players 6/20/2010

RE: german childrens league Under 12

mrs toni turner of gutersloh, germany asks...

My daughter and her friend were in a comp at the weekend they had played all there games then it went to a penalty shoot out the German team had a goal keeper through all the rounds it came to the shootout then they put one of their other team members in goal. We as parents put in a complaint to no avail. Is the German team allowed to do this would be grateful for an answer
signed

a group of very unhappy British army wives

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mrs Turner
A team is allowed to change its goalkeeper at any time in the game which includes kicks from the penalty mark. This does happen quite frequently at underage as sometimes the team can have a talented player who can play both in goals and outfield. The team decides what is the best use of players. I cannot recall it ever happening in the professional ranks due to the specialised nature of the goalkeeping role but that should not be taken that it not allowed. I am aware of many teams at underage that have excellent goalkeepers playing outfield with perhaps less talented outfield players in goal. In KFTPM the better goalkeeper can be then put into goal.
To you and your group it may seem unfair but it is entirely legal. Indeed if a team has not used all it substitutes in a game there is special provision to allow an injured goalkeeper to be substitued during kicks from the penalty mark unlike an outfield player.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

The keeper is a player like all the rest on the team. She can be substituted for just like any other player, at any time that is appropriate under the rules of competition. If the keeper trades places with a player on the field, with the referee's permission, this is not a substitution, and the referee has no right to refuse it, if it is properly requested.

During KFTPM, any player on the field can trade places with the keeper before any shot, after receiving the permission of the referee. Should the keeper, whichever one is in goal, be injured during the taking of the kicks, and the team still has substitutions available, the keeper can be substituted out.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Any team is allowed to change keepers at any stoppage. During kicks from the penalty mark, there can be a new keeper at every kick. Nothing done wrong here.