Question Number: 1925

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct

RE: Club

Denis Schoenfelt of Strongsville, Ohio USA asks...

I read am understand the general rule requirding impeding. My question is regauring held positions. If a player is a head of the ball and the ball comes free say 10 feet in front of him. He sees that a team mate will get the ball so he holds his position for a possible pass. If in holding his original position he blocks an opponent from moving to the ball is this a foul. In other words is soccer like basketball in that a player is allowed to keep the space he already has or is he required to move out of the opponents way????

Answer provided by Referee Lamb

Denis,.From what you are describing, this is a legal move; I am not much of a basketball buff, but I belive that is called a "pick". He may hold his position in order to receive a pass, however, if he is deliberately preventing an opponent from acquiring the ball while the ball is out of playing distance, then an infringement (either obstruction or holding depending on whether physical contact was made) has occured. I hope this helps.