Question Number: 16739

Law 13 - Free Kicks 9/17/2007

RE: ussf grade 8

Ed of new carlisle, ohio usa asks...

On a free kick restart where the attacking team requested the 10 yd distance, the attacking team did not wait for the CR signal for the ceremonial restart. They scored on the DFK and the goal was waved off, and the defending team was awarded a goal kick rather than the attacking team having the chance to take the DFK over. I say the CR was correct in that call, others say I'm wrong. I should point out this was in during a high school game (ohio). What are your thoughts? Thanks

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Ed,
if the referee has decided to restart ceremonially with a whistle as the clear signal then any action before the whistle is at best misconduct and could be sanctioned as such. In my opinion the free kick would be retaken and the kicker cautioned for jumping the gun as USB or delaying the restart!
If the restart was only an indfk and the referee had raised his hand to indicate it then he could legally award the goal kick if the ball entered the net directly! Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

As soon as the kicking team needs help the referee MUST emphatically establish the restart will not happen until there is a separate signal from him to proceed. This signal is usually the whistle and the referee usually holds the whistle up and points to it.

Right, we wait. Now the referee needs to attend to the "other" problem at hand. Other problem? What other problem? Ooohhh, that one...

Yup, he needs to establish the defenders must always retire the required distance once a free kick has been awarded and the ball is located for the restart. He must establish the kickers need no help in retrieving the ball and the referee doesn't need help in giving the ball to the kickers. He is going to do this loud enough for all to hear because when it happens again he is going to caution those who feel it necessary to delay things. This is an absolute must! Now the defensive wall is set to a distance of at least 10 yards [which could be 14]. Then and only then will he sound a whistle to take the kick.

If the kicking team begins before the signal to do so they are trying to exploit an advantage they see after asking the referee to intervene. This is because the defenders are looking at the referee and not prepared to defend. It is an act of, possible, unsporting behaviour. The free kick is going to be taken properly and after the previously established signal is given. There may be certain disciplinary measures taken against the kickers as well.

Now there are some referees that believe, me amongst them, that when a team cheats and doesn't have the skill to find the goal [kicks the ball to touch for goal kick] there isn't going to be any discipline and there isn't going to be another go at that particular free kick because I signaled. The reason I say I signaled is the kicker must have seen or heard my signal or he wouldn't have taken the kick, right??!? Now if the ball is in the back of the net -- I hadn't signaled yet and we need to chat about that, don't we??!?

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Pnce the kicking teams requests the 10 yards, the referee should be VERY clear that the kicker is to wait for his whistle. Since the kicker did not the kick should be retaken and perhaps the kicker cautioned for unsporting behavior.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

The kick must be retaken.

It really gets me irked when a team asks for 10, agrees to wait for the whistle, and then kicks the ball before the whistle. So when you go to let them know they are losing out on the goal, but they get another try to take the kick - you should let them know you're not too happy.