Question Number: 23613

Kicks From The Penalty mark 7/4/2010

RE: Select Adult

Anthony Saba of Rochester, New York Monroe asks...

This question is a follow up to question 23582

This is a follow up the the original question referenced below. I would like my question answered.
I repeat 'How many (practice) attempts is a kicker allowed in a penalty shoot out???'

If you say that there is no limit to the number of times a player can make a practice kick before the 'whistle', then I will tell you that soccer lacks rules! Everything in this game seems to be at the discretion of the referee!

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Anthony
I was very clear in my answer. The penalty cannot be taken until the referee signals for it to be taken under Law 14. There is no allowance for practise attempts and a goal cannot be scored/missed until the signal is given.
Now let's say that the goalkeeper was not ready in the goal and the penalty taker simply kicked the ball into the goal before the signal should that be allowed? Is that a 'practise' attempt?
To quote Law 14
Procedure
# After the players have taken positions in accordance with this Law, the referee signals for the penalty kick to be taken.
# The player taking the penalty kick must kick the ball forward.
# He must not play the ball again until it has touched another player.
# The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves forward.
If the player took the penalty kick without waiting for the referee's whistle, after being told not to, the player is cautioned for unsporting behaviour. If the player does it again he/she is dismissed for receiving a second caution and another player has to take the penalty.
That's what the Law states and yes the referee could have used better mechanics to ensure that the whistle was blown immediately the ball was placed to prevent this. Unlike a regular PK he has no concern about player encroachment or positioning outside the penalty area. However I have seen many goalkeeper in KFTPM delay getting in place and playing all sorts of mind games preventing the referee from giving the signal. Unfortunately the Law insists that the GK, the penalty takers and all other players are in the correct position according to the Laws before the kick can be taken. I have seen goalkeeper's cautioned for not doing so after being asked to do so by the referee on previous kicks.
You may have noticed in the WC that the referee in the Spain v Paraguay game the referee asked for the Spanish PK to be taken again due to a breach of Law 14 . Alonzo scored the first penalty but he subsequently missed the second.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

First of all, there are no 'practice' kicks. It is either a legal kick or it is not. When a kick is taken before the referee's signal, it is not a legal kick and must be retaken, regardless of what happened to the kick.

Second of all, when a player does not wait for the whistle, the referee should warn the first time, and caution the second time. If the player is foolish enough to do it again, they should be sent off for a second caution (both are for unsporting behavior), and another member of that team will complete the kick - hopefully waiting for the whistle this time.

Referees are entrusted with the enforcement of the Laws of the Game, and Law 5 gives the referee several powers and duties to perform in accordance with and service to the Laws. We do have some discretion as to how or when a particular part of some Law is applied. However, there are many things over which we have no discretion at all, and the question you posed is one of them.