Question:
Some folks were having a discussion on exactly what is required for a player to meet the requirement of being “outside of the penalty area” at the moment a PK is taken. Could you please address the following situations in terms of whether they are technical violations of the law and also as to whether they might well be deemed to be trivial by a referee:
1. As the PK is taken, an attacker has a foot on (but not over) the 18-yard line. Other foot is OK.
2. As the shot is taken, an attacker has one foot touching the line and partly over it. Other foot is OK.
3. As the shot is taken, an attacker has one foot behind the line and one foot significantly over it (i.e. closer to the goal line).
4. As the shot is taken, a player has both feet behind the line but is leaning forward so that the upper part of her torso is over the line.
Thanks for your help.
USSF answer (July 15, 2011):
Technical response: The lines are part of the areas they delineate. Ergo, the lines marking the penalty area are part of the penalty area and thus any particle of a foot on or over the line constitutes a breach of the procedure for penalty kicks.
Practical response: Use common sense and punish only that which needs to be punished for the good of the game.
