Question Number: 15512

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/18/2007

RE: All Under 15

Joe Sereno of Gaylord, MI USA asks...

Thanks for your efforts to help all of us understand the game better.

The setting is varsity high school girls. I have watched this happen over the years and now would like some help with it. Twice within five minutes one team took a DKF close enough that the opposing team set a wall. Each time they were clearly too close at around 7-8 yards.

My comment was, "Why do they do that?" People around me said the what you always hear, "The kicker has to ask for the ten yards." The second time I went to a friend (who is also a ref with many more years of experience) and asked the same kind of queston. His comment was basically the same.

Now the rules list #5 under Cautionable Offenses as "fails to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick or free kick." You can also add "persistent infringment" and "delays the restart" to this as well.

Now I am not saying start showing cards all the time as everything needs to be done properly. I also understand how it works when a player does ask for ten yards. But where does the "ask for ten yards" show up when the rules state the opposing team must give it?

Another way I look at it is if you are spit on, do you have to tell the ref what to do? As a ref you do not want everyone asking for you to call fouls and the like!

If I am off base then please let me know but I would appreciate your thoughts on this.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

This is one of those Myths of the Game that arise from reading the Laws backwards. For example, Law 12 says that it is a foul if a player makes contact with an opponent before the ball while tackling. Far too many read it backwards and we get, "But ref, I got the ball!"

Refs are not supposed to interfere with a team's right to take a free kick quickly, except under special circumstances (to administer misconduct, for example). If the kicking team asks for the ref to intervene, then they give up their right to a quick restart. Too many people have misinterpreted that to mean, "They have to ask for 10." No, the defending team is supposed to immediately retreat at least 10 yards. The fact that they didn't is what drives the kicking team to ask for assistance in enforcing that requirement.

That special circumstance, to administer a caution - that applies to failure to respect the distance as well. If a player comes from some distance to stand directly in front of the ball, 2 yards or less away, she's not going to get much sympathy from me as I hold up the restart to caution her.

It's not a clear black-and-white distinction when players are 7-8 yards away. Do they really think that's the correct distance? Maybe, but how can you tell? If the kick is not taken quickly, the ref can direct the players to the correct location. "OK guys, 10 yards, move back. Good - you do know where it is. Next time let's go there immediately and we won't have any problems, OK?"

If the kicking team asks for the ref's assistance, they must wait for a signal (usually whistle) to take the restart. The ref should specifically tell them this to avoid problems.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Bottom line is they are REQUIRED to retire instantly! Speed is not mentioned but moving back is.

I have, for years, been an advocate of: the first time I must show players where the required distance is I show 13-15 yards. They complain mightily. That's when the lesson begins -- the Law says AT LEAST 10 yards, this is AT LEAST 10 yards, right??? Next time 10 yards might be back there and pretty soon you might not be able to see the ball from where "at least" 10 yards is. If you guys get to the required distance before I have to show you all this can be avoided. Even i6 year-old boys understand this logic!

Another thing I advocate is when Rosie runs from her attacker's position to near where the ball is and suddenly finds her shoe needs attention I stand behind her with my card in hand, she is the only one on the park who doesn't know what happens next. Sooner or later she is going to notice the quiet and look around. She is met with Howzit, whats happenin, may I have your name please? You are being cautioned for failing to respect the required distance, do you understand? I write these things in my book which lays on a little yellow table. Once that is done I say, well you delayed them enough, was it worth it? By the way, you might not want to do this again... Up comes the card, followed by "need any help finding where ten yards is?"

One or two of these is all it takes to convince players their coach has told them an untruth, again...

Regards,