Question Number: 16339

Mechanics 8/17/2007

RE: Competitive Under 11

Caroline Nastasi of East Norwich, New York United States asks...

How does a referee signal a direct free kick?

How does a ref signal an indirect free kick?

Answer provided by Referee Debbie Hoelscher

When a referee decides to stop the game to award a free kick to a team, they blow their whistle and "point" in the direction the team awarded the free kick is attacking. "Pointing" actually describes the act of raising a straightened arm away from the side of the body to a 45 degree angle from the head, with hand open and fingers together. An indirect free kick takes it a step further by raising the arm up straight over head and holding it there until another player has touched the ball once the ball has been kicked and moves. Further illustration can be found in the 2007 Guide to Procedures published by USSF (US Soccer) on page 4 and throughout the publication.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Usually by pointing in the correct direction...as referee Hoelscher points out that it usually is nice to have the arm at a 45 degree angle from the horizontal. The Guide to Procedure book does not specify the 45 degree angle on signaling for a free kick though. Many referees choose to signal with a striaght arm or at a 30 degree angle on a free kick. On an IFK, the arm must be raised in a vertical position until the ball touches another player besides kicker.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The free kick signal is an arm pointing to the goal of the offending side. If the free kick is indirect the referee holds an arm vertically until the ball has touched another player. As referee I prefer to differentiate between a free kick and a throw-in by pointing parallel to the floor for a free kick and at a 45 degree angle for a throw-in. The players pick up on this almost instantly and I usually had no questions when something happened close to a touchline. They knew what I meant by my signal.

Regards,