Question Number: 20371

Mechanics 10/26/2008

RE: Competitive Under 13

John B of San Diego, CA USA asks...

In a recent game, my boys were awarded a DFK about the top of the penalty area. The wall was being set up about six yards away. When my player was set to take a quick restart, the coach of the defending team began screaming at the referee to hold up the kick and pace off ten yards. The referee then turned his back on the play and started walking off the ten yards. I told my striker to take the shot and a goal was scored. The referee then ordered that the kick should be retaken. It is my understanding that the only a player on the attacking side may ask for the ten yard distance when taking a free kick. Am I wrong?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi John,
the defending team has NO rights on a free kick except to expect the noninterference of the referee.

If the kick WAS retaken the referee best be cautioning the too close players and dismissing the defending coach off to an early shower as he must be dealing with the misconduct .

If this was a ceremonial kick the referee needed to indicate it to ALL especially the kicker. Once the referee unwisely started to obey the other coach, for whatever reason, it was unfair to expect anything but a ceremonial restart simply because the referee for Gawd knows why has inserted himself into the middle of something he needed not too.

Referees should stay out of the way of free kicks, unless, as you indicated, they are requested by the team taking the kick to intervene. If as referee is forced to intervene because the opposing players are NOT withdrawing in a preemptive fashion those opposing player(s) likely need to be cautioned and shown a yellow card for either delaying the restart or failure to respect the ten yards. A screaming coach disciplined for unreasonable behavior and then a whistled restart of play

If I was a referee pacing of ten yards, this really can be done by judgment, but some do follow that mechanic and the shot whizzed by, it is quite likely I would caution the kicker and show him a yellow card because I would never DO ANYTHING without FIRST instructing verbally, eye contact, affirmative head nod response as I point at the whistle held aloft WE WAIT FOR THE WHISTLE!
Bad mechanics, lead to bad choices and bad decisions, note nothing good comes from all this bad. Referee could use some mentoring and a course in the etiquette of free kick procedures.

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Sigh. First of all, a referee should always be looking to see if the attacking team wants a quick free kick - free meaning without interference from anyone, including the referee, especially so close to the goal!

Second of all, if it isn't clear if the attacking team wants to take the quick kick, the referee should be clear to all - especially the kicking team - if a ceremonial free kick will be done. This is done by holding up the whistle for all to see and indicating no restart happens without the whistle.

Telling your player to take the kick when the referee is clearly pacing off 10 yards is exposing the player to the risk of a caution for unsporting behavior.

Talk to the assignor for this referee. A little mentoring could be very useful.