When a defender commits any of the penal fouls inside the penalty area against an opponent while the ball is in play, the restart is a penalty kick to the offended team. |
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SURPRISED SPECTATORS
Many who view a soccer game are amazed to see a referee award a penalty kick when a defender strikes an attacker in the penalty area while the ball is in play at midfield. Teammates, coaches and fans will howl abuse at the referee for the "mistake." That is not a mistake. That is the correct interpretation. Be strong.
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QUICK PENALTY KICK - NO SUCH THING
Look for cunning players who attempt to take a quick penalty kick, hoping to catch the goalkeeper off guard. It should be a given that a penalty kick takes time to set up, clear players out of the arc, etc. Look for verbal sparring between opponents if a player kicks the ball early.
A number of things prevent a quick penalty kick, including the need for the kicker to be properly identified and the players to be properly positioned. However, the main thing preventing it is the law XIV provision: "The referee does not signal for a penalty kick to be taken until the players have taken up positions in accordance with the law."
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WORKING AS A REFEREE TEAM
The Lead Referee will generally act as the goal judge and may also look for goalkeeper movement off the goal line. The Trail Referee should come up to the Lead Referee's penalty area to administer the kick.
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DEALING WITH EMOTIONS
Perhaps because players view televised matches and see big stars cluster around the referee, sharing their opinions as to why a mistake is being made, they fell obligated to share their wisdom with you. It would be the rare decision that is not greeted by at least minor levels of dissent. Understanding that emotion is natural helps you deal with it when you hear it. There is a limit. When players shout or gesture in such a way that it becomes demeaning to your office as a sports official, or accuse you of cheating, they overstep their bounds. Use your personality and distance to decrease some of the comments.
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DON'T STAY ON THE MARK
You need to signal toward the penalty mark to convey the next restart. It is a mistaken impression that you must run to the penalty mark to give that signal. It is poor mechanics to remain on the penalty mark after you've given the signal. It's logical for players to run to you and surround you if you mistakenly stand on the mark.
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BALANCE
Now is a good time for you to read the tenor of the game. While the difference is only a few seconds, you need to find the right balance between getting the ball in play (usually the best recommendation) and slowing things down with an extended ceremony. Read the players and their emotions. Perhaps taking an extra 10 seconds to walk over and triple check something may allow that simmering pot to cool off a bit. Read and evaluate.
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TRICKS
As young players come into their first referee training classes, they seem eager to know if the tricks they've thought up or been taught by their coaches are legal. "Can I tap the ball ahead to my teammate who will run up and score?" yes, but why would you want to? On average, you stand an 82 percent chance of scoring off the kick. Why go through all those extra steps with the inevitable likelihood of inducing errors. Goalkeepers will attempt to move off the goal line early. Non-kicking field players will attempt to rush the penalty area, some with a running head start. Not all of them time their entry well. Some kickers hesitate during their kicking motion, just after they place their plant leg on the ground and before they begin their kicking motion.
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- MECHANICS -
PENALTY KICK
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ACTION ON THE FIELD
The referee awards a penalty kick to the white team and signals the decision.
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LEAD REFEREE RESPONSIBILITIES
Unless needed at the spot of the foul for game control, move to a location away from the penalty mark to avoid confrontation and dissent. Use your personality and hand gestures to dissuade players from arguing to overturn your decision. If players persist, some referees move several yards off the field to position, which gives players two detrimental choices - leave the field of play without your permission or dissent more loudly so you (and everyone else) can hear the dissent. If players make either of those choices, the reason behind the caution is more evident. |
When it is time for the kick, move to a position to judge goal/no-goal decisions. Make eye contact with the Trail Referee to confirm that you are ready for the kick to be taken.
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TRAIL REFEREE RESPONSIBILITIES
The Trail Referee must quickly get to the Penalty Area to help his partner. Use your personality to quell dissent and make the kick happen quicker. Your responsibility will be to administer the kick.
Players must outside the penalty area, outside the penalty arc, and behind the ball. Identify the kicker and have the kicker spot the ball on the penalty mark. As a courtesy, tell the goalkeeper which opponent will take the kick. Move to position where you can see encroachment and the kick, check with your fellow referee, double check player positioning and signal for the kick to be taken.
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- MECHANICS -
PENALTY KICK - PROBLEMS BETWEEN OPPONENTS
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ACTION ON THE FIELD
The referee awards a penalty kick based on a penal foul committed by a defender within the penalty area. There have been ongoing behavioral problems between Number 9 and Number 2 - untoward comments, bravado ad snide remarks. LEAD REFEREE RESPONSIBILITIES
The Lead Referee has the responsibility to judge goal/no-goal decisions. The referee, therefore, needs to be positioned on the goal line near the intersection with the penalty area.
TRAIL REFEREE RESPONSIBILITIES
The referees have the responsibility to control the game. The Trail Referee must be in position to see all the critical elements of the kick: the Lead Referee, the kicker, the ball and the goalkeeper. By moving to the position shown, within the D, or penalty arc, the referee has overview overall the essential elements and is nearby to hear comments made between the antagonists. Your presence on the scene may prevent the problems during that emotional stage of the game.
Although not a standard mechanic, the position is used by some officials. Check with the appropriate governing bodies to see if you can use it.
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