THE LAWS OF

THE GAME
Edition 2003

LAW 14

The Penalty Kick

Objectives
At the end of this lesson the student will
be able to:
state when a penalty kick should be awarded
list the elements necessary for a correctly
taken penalty kick
given a list of infringements during a PK, list
the appropriate restart for each

TOPICS

When to award a penalty kick

Before kick is taken
Kicker
Keeper
Other players
Law analysis
Extending time

WHEN TO AWARD
A penalty kick is awarded when a player
commits any of the 10 major fouls
inside his/her own penalty area
against an opponent while ball is in play
* Handling the ball is an exception

BEFORE KICK IS TAKEN

New bullet points: Law Changes 2000
When a team finishes the match with a Greater
number of players than their opponents, they
shall reduce their numbers to equate with that
of their opponents and inform the referee of the
name and number of each player excluded.
The team captain has this responsibility.

Before the start of kick from the penalty mark

the referee shall ensure that only an equal number
of players from each team remain within the center
circle and they shall take the kicks.

BEFORE KICK IS TAKEN

1. Clear penalty area of all but keeper and kicker
(all other players must be behind penalty mark)
2.
3.
4.
5.

Get ball into your possession

Set keeper on line - between posts
Identify kicker to keeper
Give ball to kicker to place on penalty mark

BEFORE KICK IS TAKEN

6. Tell kicker to wait for whistle (use gesture)
7. Final check - all out of penalty area, 9.15m
from ball and behind mark
8. Take position to observe keeper, kicker,
other players and assistant referee
9. Check with keeper to see if ready
10. Whistle for kick

REQUIREMENTS OF KICKER

Kick must be taken from the mark

Ball must be kicked forward
Must not fake kick
Must not distract keeper
Must not double touch the ball

REQUIREMENTS OF KEEPER
Must be on goal line, between posts,
facing field of play
May not move off goal line until kick
Must not distract the kicker
Must not engage in Unsporting Behavior

REQUIREMENTS OF ATTACKERS
Must be outside of penalty area
Must be outside of penalty arc
Must be behind penalty mark
Must be on the field of play
Must not encroach
Must not distract the goalkeeper

POSITIONING DIAGRAM

LAW ANALYSIS
The referee does not signal for a
penalty kick to be taken until the
players have taken up position in
accordance with the Law.
If the referee gives the signal and
before the ball is in play, an
infringement occurs, the referee
allows the kick to proceed

Furthermore,the IFAB expressed its concern at

the widespread failure of referees to apply the
Laws of the Game when a penalty kick is being
taken. Referees must be prepared to take
Action against a player(s) entering the penalty
Area before a penalty kick is taken. According
to the Laws of the Game it is not necessary to
caution a player guilty of this offense but the
referee must be prepared to order the kick to
be re-taken in appropriate circumstances.

EXTENDING TIME
Additional time is allowed for a
penalty kick to be taken at the end
of each half or at the end of periods
of extra time.
The referee decides when a penalty kick
has been completed

REVIEW
When someone cheats

FAIR PLAY
please!