Question Number: 17128

Law 13 - Free Kicks 10/6/2007

RE: SELECT Under 13

Franco of Bloomington, USA asks...

IDFK just outside the penaly area.

Number 10 comes up and touches the top of the ball with her foot. It slightly moves.

Number 11 smashes the ball directly into the back of the net. A rocket that did not touch anyone or anything.

Refereee signals goal kick

Good CALL?

I say yes, but some say its trifling and should be a goal.

Franco

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Franco,
Such things are in the opinion of the referee. He might accept it if he sees that all players are accepting and think why quibble.

Yet we have been instructed that a tap of the sole and squeezing a ball in a downward motion is not a kicking motion where the ball must discernable move from here to there by a kicking motion.

Now a sole kick can move the ball the same as any other kick with any other part of the foot. The key is the ball is not stepped on but actually struck so that it rolls away from the bottom of the foot! Does not have to be struck hard or travel far but the sole of the foot can not remain in contact with the ball as it moves from there to here or back again.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

See Advice to Referees 2007 for policy on this. Watch out when you say trifling because it must be trifling to a player NOT the referee.

13.5 BALL IN PLAY

The ball is in play (able to be played by an attacker other than the kicker or by an opponent) when it has been kicked and moved. The distance to be moved is minimal and the "kick" need only be a touch
of the ball with the foot in a kicking motion. Simply tapping the top of the ball with the foot or stepping on the ball are not sufficient.

When the restart of play is based on the ball being kicked and moved, the referee must ensure that the ball is indeed kicked (touched with the foot in a kicking motion) and moved (caused to go from one place to another). Being "kicked" does not, for example, include an action in which the ball is dragged by continuous contact with the foot. Being "moved" does not, for example, include the ball simply quivering, trembling, or shaking as a result of light contact. The referee must make the final decision on what is and is not "kicked and moved" based on the spirit and flow of the match. In all events, the ball must be put into play properly.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Franco, you need to keep up with latest editions of Advice To Referees. See 2006 13.5

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

See Question: 17196