Question Number: 15737

Law 13 - Free Kicks 6/9/2007

RE: Rec Under 15

John Bowen of Portage, IN USA asks...

We had a game today where the defender pass the ball back to the goalie. The goalie picked up the ball a few feet in front of the goal line. If this is a IDK, where are the defenders to be since they would closer then 10 yards?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

On the goal line but keep in mind the kicking team does not have to wait for them to set a wall

Answer provided by Referee Jon [With held]

The kicking team does have to wait however, if the referee says on my whistle please. which i would be inclined to do in this situatoin. Having said this, if the attacker places the ball correctly and the IDF was taken and put in legally having been touched twice, i would probably award the goal. If players were slow to react, i would slow things up. A player must be 10 yards or on the goal line if 10 yards is not applicable as it's not here. Attackers forfit this right with a quickly taken freekick.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

H John,
an indfk that occurs for an attacking team within the opponent's penalty area between 10 t0 6 yards away from the goal the defenders have the opportunity to stand directly on the goal line between the posts under the crossbar. It is a fact that no attacking indfk can occur closer than 6 yards from goal as any infringement within the goal area is always moved out to that distance. In my opinion the confrontational aspects and the proximity that there will not be 10 yard plus the blade of grass where upon this infringement occurs is likely to be adhered to is what often makes the indfk within 10 yards of goal more of a ceremonial restart to avoid further unpleasantries. We are not mandated we must be ceremonial only that a whistled restart is prudent!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

What your keeper did was give the referee the most difficult restart in Football, except maybe a penalty awarded the visitors at Roma in the 96th minute of a drawn match with three minutes of added time showing on the scoreboard...

The difficulty is in the proximity of your defenders to the ball. They are permitted to be on the field between the goal posts. The opponents may choose to start quickly if they see advantage and most referees are going to be happy with this because the other choice, a ceremonial restart is way hard. The kicking team is going to try baiting the defenders to rush forward before the ball is in play and that is a cautionable offence, though most referees do not have the courage to caution. In many cases your defenders on the goal line are going to assume protective positions with their arms and hands covering sensitive areas, these need to be watched to see if they are active in their protection. There is always the chance of the ball entering the goal without a second touch as well.

Bottom line is the referee MUST manage the players in a heavy handed way if he is to prevent all the bad things that can happen during one of these ceremonial free kicks.

Regards,

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 15971