Question Number: 35814

High School 11/24/2024

RE: Comp. Under 15

Larry of Danville, CA United States asks...

Hello again. I’m getting ready for High School ball and was re-reading their rules, when I came across something I thought was odd. Rule 7, Section 1, Article 4 states “Play shall be extended beyond the expiration of a period, in regulation time and overtime, to permit a penalty kick to be completed.” Rule 14.1.6 confirms and clarifies this stating “If a PK is taken after the expiration of time, (a) only the kicker may play the ball and the kicker may only play the ball once”. This is consistent with my understanding of FIFA’s Laws. However unlike FIFA, High School Rule 7.4.1, states the clock shall be stopped for a penalty kick. So if you stop the clock for a PK, there is always going to be some time left after the PK kick, which would allow an attacker to follow up on a rebound. Am I missing something?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Larry,
A referee can add time, but if time is expired, it CAN NOT be added! Stopping clock for the PK is like an injury stoppage so time is not squandered by deceit or pretence. The extended PK occurs only if the last tick of time was a PK moment, we do not say sorry, time was up. For example I see the obvious foul, a PK but I hold off on the whistle as the ball deflects to another player who is looking like he just might poke it away. During this time the match time is over horn sounds! Guess what we are taking an EXTENDED PK!

Now if this PK occurs in the final minute. We stop the clock and allow the clock to resume ONCE the kick occurs BECAUSE there is sufficient time to do so. Lets examine if say there was a brief debate if this PK or DFK was inside or outside the PA between the officials using up time? A referee SHOULD add that time but if time expires during the discussion? If it was a DFK outside he can legally end the match if it was decided to be a PK then the PK CAN be taken as an extended PK.

It is CRUCAL to grasp the management quandary that if it IS a PK and time is NOT yet expired, but will VERY soon do so, and you are allowing a rebound or a goal and a kick off? Be VERY CLEAR in your body language and verbal commands so neither team is surprised by the results!

I recall a goal of a last minute PK. They scored, the other team although disheartened to trail quickly set up for kick off, the team that scored was still cavorting about in delight when the opposing striker set the ball back heeled the ball and his midfielder team mate smashed a 50 plus yard goal over top the inattentive keepers head to retake the lead. Needles to say Time issue was a big complaint! Was there still 1 or 10 or 20 seconds to allow for the ball flight into that goal? The fact the referee did NOT reset with a kick off enraged the one team that gave up the 50 yard goal. lol
Still the VERY fact a PK occurs with ALL 22 players on the FOP should indicate it is not an EXTENDED PK. Just a late stage of the match normal PK.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Larry
Thanks for the question.

Last second penalty kicks are rare in the game. When it does happen it is likely that the time will have expired before the clock say in NFHS is stopped.

So if say the penalty is awarded with the clock stopped in a NFHS game and seconds still left then time does not have to be extended to allow the kick as there is still time left. It means that play will be stopped seconds after the kick when time expires.
,
Now in the situation where a penalty is awarded right on the stroke of full time it may result in time expiring before the clock is stopped. In that unusual situation the kick is the last action possible.

In FIFA games as you know the referee’s timing is not stopped at a penalty kick award so time will expire before the kick is taken. That kick is the last possible action in the game as time is extended to allow that.

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Hi Larry,

Referee McHugh is correct. This rule was put into effect for penalty kicks that occur just as time is to run out and the game comes to an end. It was added to cover this situation since time cannot be added to a high school game.

Because of the increased efforts for teams to score as the remaining games time lessens, it is a situation that does occur. However, as you can guess, it is not a frequent occurrence.

I see the high school soccer season in Danville starts next week.

Have you read the new NFHS Soccer Officials Manual? This is a first time publication for the NFHS and provides excellent guidance. Also, the NFHS soccer 2024-25 pre-season guide published in cooperation with Referee magazine is another publication that should be read by high school soccer officials.

I hope you have a very successful high school season.