[Poose]

Here is the situation: a game goes to penalty kicks. Is it OK to switch the keeper out with one of the other 10 players who were on the field at the end of the game?

Once the PK's have started, can you switch keepers?

[jc508]

Sure you can switch keepers as long as it is done in accordance with the Laws of the Game - during a stoppage, changed uniform and notification of the referee.

[Bill Archer]

But that brings up a point I've often debated, to wit: While I agree with the principle that, handled correctly, a team has the right to exchange the keeper for a field player.

But is this right unlimited?

I was a spectator (thankfully not the Referee) at a U-15 match. I won't get into why it happened, but the Official called THREE PK's in one half against the same team.

Each time, the defending team notified the Ref and had a forward go back to the goal and exchange shirts and gloves with the GK.

Then, after the kick, at the first dead ball opportunity, they changed back.

This routine took probably two or three minutes every exchange. It was ridiculous.

Now obviously you can add the time, but in this case we're talking at least ten minutes JUST FOR THIS.

It ruins any flow the match ever might have had, the parents and coaches for the opponent were livid, and I had to say that to an extent I sympathized.

Do you feel that it is within our authority to say "No, you've wasted too much time on this crud, pick a guy and let's play"? or, as the referee in this match said later, he just didn't feel he had the right to intervene.

[billf]

I think Bill raises an interesting point. A team must have a goal keeper and the referee has to be notified when the keeper is changed. A referee can't deny a team a substitution, but this isn't a substitution, it's just two players switching positions which can be done freely all over the field. A team can't wast time, but consuming time is not illegal. Is this wasting or consuming? Of course a referee awards a PK to punish the offending team, if a referee allows this sort of switching, does this take some of the advantage away from the team that suffered the foul? If so, you could disallow this as a violation of the SOTG, but you would be on shaky technical ground.

I'd think that you'd have to allow it. It's a situation where half of those involved are going to complain no matter what you decide. You already have one team upset because of the pk, so run the risk of upsetting both teams or further upsetting the team that has to defend the pk. It's a tough situation. Okay, now why do I like to referee again?