Penalty Kick Rules

[Hitman]

In my game yesterday we had a PK called against us.

On the kick the kick taker took one full quick step and came to a complete stop, our GK'er leaned left and then immediately continued and lightly pushed the ball to the right.

Now, I know that a taker is allowed to feint in the process of running to the ball, but not allowed to stop completely and then restart.

Am I incorrect?

[Scott Zawadzki]

Originally posted by Hitman
In my game yesterday we had a PK called against us.

On the kick the kick taker took one full quick step and came to a complete stop, our GK'er leaned left and then immediately continued and lightly pushed the ball to the right.

Now, I know that a taker is allowed to feint in the process of running to the ball, but not allowed to stop completely and then restart.

Am I incorrect?

What the kicker did was allowable.

Scott

[rcleopard]

Legal.

What you just described WAS a feint.

[Keep]

Related question:

Once the kick is taken, say the ball does not go in (keeper saves or ball hits post/crossbar). The ball is live. Can the kicker touch the ball again before anyone else? Is there a difference between if the ball hits bar or if the keeper gets a touch?

[Gary V]

Originally posted by Keep
Related question:

Once the kick is taken, say the ball does not go in. The ball is live. Can the kicker touch the ball again before anyone else?
No.
Is there a difference between if the ball hits bar
No
or if the keeper gets a touch?
Yes

On any restart, the player taking the restart cannot touch the ball again until it touches another player, from either team. The keeper is a player. The goal is not. Nor is the referee.

[IASocFan]

Originally posted by Keep
Related question:

Once the kick is taken, say the ball does not go in (keeper saves or ball hits post/crossbar). The ball is live. Can the kicker touch the ball again before anyone else? Is there a difference between if the ball hits bar or if the keeper gets a touch?

The kicker can not touch the ball a second time until it touches another player. The keeper is a player; the crossbar and posts are not.

If the kicker touches the ball after it rebounds off the posts or crossbar, it is an indirect free kick for the defenders from the spot of the second touch.

[Tame Lion]

Originally posted by Hitman
In my game yesterday we had a PK called against us.

On the kick the kick taker took one full quick step and came to a complete stop, our GK'er leaned left and then immediately continued and lightly pushed the ball to the right.

Now, I know that a taker is allowed to feint in the process of running to the ball, but not allowed to stop completely and then restart.

Am I incorrect?
The kicker's action is unsporting behavior. Caution the kicker and retake the kick.

Feinting is allowed, but not that much. The run up to the ball must be one continuous motion. A little weaving left/right and speeding up/slowing down are allowed. Stopping/starting, NO.

[Hitman]

Originally posted by rcleopard
Legal.

What you just described WAS a feint.


OK, just to make sure that we are on the same page:

A feint to me is a stutter or step over move, but not a complete stop of motion.

Apparently many people have the impression that stopping on your approach to the ball is not allowed. Was there a time it wasn't allowed?

Even players on the other team told me afterward that they thought what he did was illegal.

Again, he took a step and STOPPED, almost as if he was going to take a step back and restart. My GK'er made the move to cover that side, thought the kicker was going to reset, and was completely unpreparred for him to restart and kick the ball.

I was suprised to not find any reference in the LOTG about this, as I thought (and others referred to) something about the kicker being in an "uninterrupted motion"...

again, if there is no such rule, then fine... but what he did gave him a completely unfair advantage.

[whipple]

Originally posted by Hitman
A feint to me is a stutter or step over move, but not a complete stop of motion.

Apparently many people have the impression that stopping on your approach to the ball is not allowed. Was there a time it wasn't allowed?

Even players on the other team told me afterward that they thought what he did was illegal.

Again, he took a step and STOPPED, almost as if he was going to take a step back and restart. My GK'er made the move to cover that side, thought the kicker was going to reset, and was completely unpreparred for him to restart and kick the ball.

I was suprised to not find any reference in the LOTG about this, as I thought (and others referred to) something about the kicker being in an "uninterrupted motion"...

again, if there is no such rule, then fine... but what he did gave him a completely unfair advantage.

A feint can be a stutter, misdirection, a complete stop and restart, running up to the ball, stopping and then chipping it after the kicker sees what direction the keeper seems to be moving, etc.

To quote Ed Rae, MA SDI: "It is important to note, however, that wasting time, unnecessary delay, or if the kicker engages in unusual or excessive change of direction, that behavior can still be deemed, unsporting behavior. If, in the opinion of the referee, it is unsporting, then it shall be sanctioned with a caution (yellow card). That is valid at any time, not just at the taking of a penalty kick."

Sherman

[MassachusettsRef]

Originally posted by Hitman
Apparently many people have the impression that stopping on your approach to the ball is not allowed. Was there a time it wasn't allowed?
There used to be a much more liberal definition of what 'feinting' was, and, about 3-4 years ago, this would have certainly not been allowed.

However, FIFA was of the opinion that, similar to a free kick, the team who was fouled should have as much advantage as possible. Just like a free kick, you can halt your run up on a PK and attempt to catch the goalkeeper going in the wrong direction. It is excessive 'stutter-stepping' and multiple halts, which cause encroachment from other players, that is considered illegal deceit. One full-halt, like you describe, is probably not enough to be considered illegal, as others have said. But, then again, it really is a 'you had to be there scenario'.

[Hitman]

Originally posted by MassachusettsRef
One full-halt, like you describe, is probably not enough to be considered illegal, as others have said. But, then again, it really is a 'you had to be there scenario'.

Well maybe not, but then again, it might be something that FIFA wants to flesh out a little further because there was not a single person out there that didn't think what had occured was legal.

Time and time again the line about "a continous motion" was repeated by different people, but that is not something that is in the LOTG...

I dunno. I have three GK'ers on my team and they all SWEAR that what happened isn't supposed to.

I will admit that my GK'er gave up on it WAY too easy because he assumed that the kick would be retaken.

Oh and let me add, because of the "stop", players from BOTH teams came into the box. There was no less than 7 field players a step or two in the box before the kick was taken.

...like they always tell ya, "play to the whistle"....

[rcleopard]

FIFA has fleshed it out more than enough. They've made it clear that it is the referees discretion, and that short of changing directions multiple times, the PK is the result of a penal foul in the penalty area and therefore the kicking team does have leeway to gain an advantage. There have been position papers and rulings and judgements and such, and the end result is that FEINTING, which includes stopping and restarting, switching directions, and stutter stepping is legal so long as it does not cross over into unsporting behavior.

I msyelf would let it go the first time.. but then say that future occurances of it might be considered USB.

RC

[jacathcart]

Originally posted by rcleopard

I msyelf would let it go the first time.. but then say that future occurances of it might be considered USB.

RC

If it isn't USB the first time how can it become USB the 2nd time? It is either unsporting and not allowed or it is allowed for the reasons described previously in the thread. USB is sort of like pregnancy - yioui can't be just a little bit USB, you either aren't or you are and a caution is delivered.

Jim

[steever]

I'm a little surprised noone has brought NFHS into this yet. Continuous movement by the kicker is required (Rule 14, Section 1, Art. 4 in the 2002-03 Rules Book) and stopping is specifically addressed in Play Rulings 14.1.4 Situation B. Perhaps this contributes to the confusion.

[rcleopard]

NFHS is not Fifa and from what I gather at AtR is someone disliked by the USSF for all their rules. Probably is where the confusion comes from though.

As for how something can be Unsporting behavior the second time? Because I'm the ref and it's my discretion. Without trying to be a prick, because I say it is.

It's like how if players continue to foul the same player over and over, and after you've nailed 7 people with a yellow card you say that the next one you will consider serious foul play. Because you can do that.

The important thing to note here is that the PK is for the fouled team. Letting them know that you might consider it USB next time does not take away their advantage this time.

Another event that might be USB the second time is if a player cusses out of frustration. Generally, if they're in a proper age group (like U19), that gets first a stare from me. The second time, though, they go in the book.

Redcard Leopard

[Gary V]

There are many actions that are borderline USB, or are of such a nature that we will give the player the benefit of doubt before cautioning. When it happens again, we find that doubt has gone away, and out comes the yellow plastic.

One firm example, again involving the PK, is encroachment into the PA/arc before the kick. We are specifically told that the first occurance need not be cautioned, the player is only warned. The player is cautioned for a subsequent offense. Exact same offense - it's the timing of it that determines the caution.

[whipple]

Originally posted by rcleopard
NFHS is not Fifa and from what I gather at AtR is someone disliked by the USSF for all their rules. Probably is where the confusion comes from though.

As for how something can be Unsporting behavior the second time? Because I'm the ref and it's my discretion. Without trying to be a prick, because I say it is.

If it is UB, then it is UB the first time, the second time, everytime. Your discretion as a referee is not whether it is misconduct, but how you deal with it. Feinting at a PK is not misconduct, the first time, the second time or the thousandth time. Therefor there is nothing to deal with.

Originally posted by rcleopard

It's like how if players continue to foul the same player over and over, and after you've nailed 7 people with a yellow card you say that the next one you will consider serious foul play. Because you can do that.

Wrong. Fouls are offenses covered under Law 12. PI is cautionable misconduct. It is not SFP and you as a referee are not allowed to make up your own laws as you go along.

Originally posted by rcleopard

The important thing to note here is that the PK is for the fouled team. Letting them know that you might consider it USB next time does not take away their advantage this time.

Again, this is totally wrong. This exemplifies the worst kind of officiating.

Originally posted by rcleopard

Another event that might be USB the second time is if a player cusses out of frustration. Generally, if they're in a proper age group (like U19), that gets first a stare from me. The second time, though, they go in the book.

Here you are correct. Incidental foul language is misconduct and the first time you deal with it by a stare or word. If this does not work, you can get ini the player's face, or caution. If it still does not work, you caution again and the player is off for a second cautionable offense.

This is not, however, the situation when what you observe is neither a foul or misconduct.

[rcleopard]

Wrong. Fouls are offenses covered under Law 12. PI is cautionable misconduct. It is not SFP and you as a referee are not allowed to make up your own laws as you go along.


USSF answer (August 21, 2003):
Under the Laws of the Game, there is no other option available to the referee than to caution the players individually. However, at least one other possibility does exist. The intelligent referee might consider chatting with the captain of the team that is engaging in the pattern of fouling and suggest that he will regard the next foul on the target player as serious foul play. Surely the referee in such a case can recognize serious foul play. Finally, after the game the referee can take advantage of the duty assigned in Law 5 to provide the appropriate authorities with a match report which includes information on any disciplinary action taken against players, and/or team officials and any other incidents which occurred before, during or after the match.



----

The things on the PK being for the other team are referenced in the feinting position paper as well as the FIFA's answers to the laws. What you are calling the worst kind of officiating is being put into position papers.

Jarrod

[whipple]

Originally posted by rcleopard
USSF answer (August 21, 2003):
Under the Laws of the Game, there is no other option available to the referee than to caution the players individually. However, at least one other possibility does exist. The intelligent referee might consider chatting with the captain of the team that is engaging in the pattern of fouling and suggest that he will regard the next foul on the target player as serious foul play. Surely the referee in such a case can recognize serious foul play. Finally, after the game the referee can take advantage of the duty assigned in Law 5 to provide the appropriate authorities with a match report which includes information on any disciplinary action taken against players, and/or team officials and any other incidents which occurred before, during or after the match.



----

The things on the PK being for the other team are referenced in the feinting position paper as well as the FIFA's answers to the laws. What you are calling the worst kind of officiating is being put into position papers.



Jarrod,

I think you are reading a little too much into both Mr. Allen's answer and the position papers. Note the opening sentence: "Under the Laws of the Game, there is no other option available to the referee than to caution the players individually."

I am also aware of instances where referees (ie. Essie) have indicated by such measures and throwing their yellow card away, as a means of indicating that the limit of tolerance has been reached. These are exceptional circumstances, they are not a license for you to exceed and abuse your authority or get creative with the laws.

Sherman

[jc508]

Doesn't the USSF position paper answer most of these questions. To me, if a player completely stops in his approach to the PK, I would consider it USB and deal with it accordingly.

The USSF position paper is at http://www.ussoccer.com/templates/includes/services/referees/pdfs/position_papers/feinting.pdf