Question Number: 23581

Law 3 - Number of Players 6/29/2010

RE: competative Adult

brad paton of hamilton, Ontario canada asks...

This question is a follow up to question 107132

in the flow of the game a penalty is given. can the defending team change their goal keeper for the penalty shot.
would it not be similar if the right back moves to striker in the flow of the game. A ref does not even need to be notified of this switch.
I would think since there is a stoppage in play( to take the penalty), the team should be able to put a player who is already on the pitch in net.

thanks

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

The referee needs to be notified before the goalkeeper changes positions with any player - and if the change is between the goalkeeper and a field player they'll need to either swap jerseys or acquire new jerseys to suit their new positions.

The goalkeeper may be switched at any stoppage - even at a penalty kick, or even between retakes of a penalty kick!

The keeper can also be replaced by a named substitute, assuming there are sufficient remaining substitutes and all other requirements have been met.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Brad
It is surprising the number of people that have a problem with switching the goalkeeper at a penalty kick or at kicks from the penalty mark. They rarely have problems with it in normal play? The Law allows for the goalkeeper to be changed at any stoppage in play with the referee being informed of the change.
The team is in sole charge of who plays where and if it decides that it wants to change its goalkeeper then so be it.
Indeed in KFTPM if a team has not used all its substitutes an injured goalkeeper may be replaced.

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Brad, a team has all the right to change their goalkeeper at any stoppage. Some restrictions apply as notifying the ref or if the new goalie is a substitute, the team obviously could not have used up their allotted number of subs.
In your example, the team must be allowed to change. There is a stoppage and obviously the ref is notified.