Referees

‘Tis the playoff season.  The play-off match ends in a draw.  The next phase is ‘kicks from the penalty mark’ (KFTPM).  Remember:

Only players who are on the field of play when the match ends (this includes any overtime period) are eligible.

 

There is a new coin toss to determine who goes first (winner of toss decides).

 

All eligible players are to be in the center circle before the first kick.

 

The initial round of kicks starts with five players from each team.  First team A, then team B, and repeat until the ten kicks (five from each team) are taken or a winner is decided.  In fact, all five kicks from each team may not need to be taken.  If, for example, team A scores on its first three attempts and team B misses its first three attempts, a winner has been decided (with only two kicks left, it is not possible for team B to overcome the three goal disadvantage so neither team takes these final two kicks).

If the score is tied after the first five kicks from each team, then the KFTPM goes into a ‘sudden death’ phase with the score determined after each pair of kicks.  For example, on the sixth kick, team A misses but team B scores, so Team B is declared the winner. 

 

I.

Is each team required to inform the referee team the numbers or names of the first five players who will take the kicks?

 

No – the referee and ARs only record who has taken the kicks.  Any player who was on the field when the match ended and has not yet taken a kick is eligible to take the next kick (more below).

 

Note that the 2007 Advice to the Referee States:

19.1  The procedure for kicks from the penalty mark does not require that players kick in any particular order, that an order be established ahead of time, nor that a list of kickers must be provided to the referee.

 

II.A

Player # 5 steps up to take her team’s third KFTPM.  She kicks the ball toward the goal but it is stopped by the goalkeeper. However, the ‘keeper had encroached and stepped off the goal line prior to the kick.  The kick is to be re-taken.  Unfortunately, #5 is shaken and does not want to take the kick.  Can another player replace #5 to take this third kick?

 

Yes, if there was an infraction and the kick is to be re-taken, another eligible player may take the kick.

 

II.B

Following up on the above scenario, the score was tied after the first five kickers from each team completed their kicks.  The score remains tied as each additional kicker completes her kick and #5 is the only eligible player remaining on her team.  Must #5 take the next kick? 

 

Yes she must take the next kick (barring any injury that may have occurred during KFTPM).

 

III.B

In the final pair of kicks, both player #5 and her opponent score.  Since the eligible players have all taken the ‘first round’ of kicks, the second round continues with the ‘sudden death’ format and all eligible players once again can participate.  Having made her previous attempt, #5 wants to be the first of her team to take the second round kick.  Is this allowed or must the same sequence of kickers be followed as in the first round?

 

No, the order of kicks taken in the first round has no bearing on the order taken in the second round.  #5 can take the first kick in the second round for her team.

The referee whistles after time has fully expired. After blowing the whistle, the referee sees the trailing AR waving his flag and a fight happening between two opposing players in the penalty area far away from the ball. After the fight is settled, the AR tells the referee that the defender struck the attacker inside of the defender's penalty area before the final whistle.  Assuming the referee accepts the AR's version of events, how should the referee respond:

 

a) The foul occurred before the whistle blew.  A foul by a defender in his own penalty area results in a penalty kick for the opponent.

 

b) The match has ended since the referee blew.  No further play – final is final!

 

c) The foul indeed occurred prior to the whistle but the ball was not in or near that penalty area.  The referee can caution the defender and start with a free kick at the location of the ball when the foul occurred.

 

d) The referee did not see the foul and cannot use the word of the assistant referee to make a decision.

 

a) is correct.  A foul that occurs before the whistle is blown is still a foul.  The referee may take any advice of the assistant referee when running a match.  The referee does not have to see the infraction or foul – consider an offside call that an AR is positioned to make but the referee is not positioned to make – to make a call.  However, a referee does not have to follow his AR’s calls.  Back to the offside call.  The AR raises the flag to signal offside but the referee sees that there is another defender and the goalkeeper closer to the goal that the defender that the AR is tracking.  If the AR is in error, the referee will not accept the AR’s signal (as the center referee, think about the importance of maintaining good communication and teamwork with your ARs– give a quick wave and point to the other defender and carry on).

Red is awarded a free kick.  Red #10 takes the kick but the ball is poorly struck and only travels a short distance.  Red  #10 realizes that he cannot touch the ball a second time but sees an opponent, Green #10 approaching.  Red #10 is within playing distance of the ball and shields the ball from the opponent until her teammate can play the ball.  You are the referee.  Your reaction should be:?

 

a) The shielding is legal; no whistle.

 

b) If there is a Red teammate within a short distance, allow play to continue.

 

c) The shielding is not legal – this is an impeding foul.

 

d) A red player must be the next one to touch the ball so whistle for a foul on Green #10

 

The correct answer is c).  It is impeding and the restart is an IFK for Green.

 

THIS ALSO APPLIES TO KICK-OFFS AND THROW-INS

 

The ruling on this situation has changed recently. 

 

In the USSoccer.com “ask a referee” section, there is this note:

 

http://www.drix.net/jim/past062.html

SITUATION REVISITED/REVISED ANSWER (March 23, 2006)
Questions have been raised concerning a narrow and rare situation in which the player performing a restart (for example, a free kick or throw-in) moves to shield the ball despite the fact that this player could not make contact with the ball directly without violating the Law (the "two touch" rule). In the past, the answer has been that the player may legally shield the ball as long as it remains within playing distance. This situation is now interpreted differently. Being within "playing distance" should not be considered sufficient to allow the kicker to shield the ball--the ball in fact must also be playable by that player. In other words, the concept of "playing distance" must include being able to play the ball legally.

If the player can legally play the ball and the ball is within playing distance, the player may shield as a tactic to prevent an opponent from getting to the ball (provided, of course, that the shielding does not involve holding). If the player cannot legally play the ball or if the ball is not within playing distance, such shielding becomes "impeding the progress of an opponent" and should be penalized by an indirect free kick.