Question Number: 17483

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/23/2007

RE: High School Coach High School

Tony Lima of Marysville, Ca 95901 asks...

This question is a follow up to question 17311

I understand that on a direct kick outside the penalty box the defense team should have no time to set up a wall but the referee in our game in awarding the free direct kick didn't point with the arm sign for a direct kick. He let the other team pick up the ball and he may have pointed down to the ground but this was confusing to my team and the other team quickly kicked it in with no wall being formed. I have no problem with the quick kick but at least use the arm signal for a direct kick. A foul commited inside the penality box, the ref will point down for the penality kick but I can't recall for a direct kick outside the penality box. Please help me understand.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Hi Tony. Sorry I'm a little dense, let me see if I understand what you ask. Your team gave up a free kick just outside the penalty area. They knew it and you knew it. The referee ensured the ball was at the proper point for the restart. Your opponents restarted play quickly and won a goal.

The "arm signal" is used to indicate the direction the free kick is to be taken. You already indicated you knew and your team knew they had committed an offence. The absence of an indirect free kick signal, a raised arm, indicates the free kick is direct.

So your guys committed a direct kick offence, his guys took their free kick and didn't leave adequate time for your guys to get back on defence. They won a goal. Sounds like you have a number of things to work on in practice sessions. You know a better quality of foul play so the referee won't see it, getting back on defence faster, keeper's paying closer attention, little stuff...

Especially this: the team committing foul play has NO RIGHTS with regard to delaying things, setting a wall, or anything else because they have just given up a FREE [operative word here] kick. The only rights they have revolve around their being able to continue living, breathing, beating their hearts, circulating blood -- that kind if thing. They do have one obligation and that is from the moment the ball is on the floor at the point of the infraction they MUST retire the required distance in all directions. Failing that they are cautioned and shown the yellow card by the referee.

I trust this helps you understand...

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

As Ref Fleischer succinctly notes, if you knew a free kick had been awarded against your team, your options include moving back 10 yards quickly in all directions, but tactically in defense of your goal, I would think. They don't include delaying the kick. If it was an indirect free kick awarded and the referee didn't indicate it, it would have to be taken over, but absent that one possibility, I can't see you have a leg to stand on in complaint. The referee should indicate direction with an arm pointing in the direction the kick will be taken, but if it is obvious, it isn't required (suggested, but not required).

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Tony. Make this simple. If the referee's arm is raised in the air it's indirect. ANY other time it's a direct free kick. Besides, what difference does it make to the defenders? At the taking of any free kick they should be hustling to defend it be it indirect or direct.