Let’s talk a little about penalty kicks and perspective

I like to give my profession a little talking to every now and again, reminding my media brethren that part of our job is to add context. It’s not good enough to parrot the prevailing wisdom, to say what everyone else is saying, perhaps just endeavoring to shout it out a little louder.

Perhaps you heard about a madcap Sunday night in Portland, where referee Geoff Gamble ordered two penalty kicks retaken. D.C. United ‘keeper Bill Hamid stopped Kenny Cooper’s spot shot, but was adjudged to have moved off his line too early. So Cooper retook the kick. Hamid turned it away once again. And Gamble ordered the kick retaken once again.

In my opinion, Gamble was absolutely correct. Hamid didn’t just move a little bit. He moved a lot a bit. The second time may have been a little debatable, at least. But the first violation was ridiculous, it was so obvious.

Still, I keep hearing or seeing that “referees never call that.” While that’s more or less correct on its face, it needs context. Here’s what I mean:

First, referees do occasionally call it. I’ve seen it. Maybe you have, too. We see more PKs retaken for encroachment, but a whistle for a goalkeeper moving prematurely is not unprecedented.

But here’s the more important point: No, we don’t see this called very often. But why is that?

Major League Soccer referees have called 31 penalty kicks this year. Two have been saved. So, yes, in 105 other games this year, we did not see a goalkeeper cited for moving too early. But when you add a dash of context, that doesn’t seem like such a relevant stat. Because there were only two opportunities to do so.

I went back and looked at both PK saves in MLS this year. Kasey Keller expertly turns away a Red Bulls attempt. Keller is dancing all along his line – which is perfectly legal – but he never leaves his line until the kick. So, well done, Mr. Keller.

That was in March. Earlier this month, Red Bulls goalkeeper Greg Sutton moved off his line a smidge early to block Jeff Larentowicz’s shot. But the Colorado midfielder immediately put away the rebound, so there was never a need to revisit the scene, even if someone had wanted to.

When someone writes or says “referees never call that,” they are implying that Gamble did something wrong. I just don’t agree. I think he made the right calls – with no caveat attached.