Question Number: 22159

Law 13 - Free Kicks 10/5/2009

RE: Competive High School

Scotty of Syracuse, NY USA asks...

During a high school varsity game, on an IFK, the defense set up a wall ten yards away. One of the coaches seemed to instruct the player taking the kick to drive the ball hard into the wall, I guess as a way to intimidate the defenders or ensure a rebound. The player actually kicked the ball over the wall and out of play.

But I wondered, is it unsporting for a player, for no apparent reason, to drive a free kick low and hard intentionally into a wall?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

The fact is a free kick can occur immediately if the kicker spots it correctly and while the opposition is required to withdraw a MINIMUM of 10 yard except in the attacking INDFKS around the goal a minimum of 6 yards if on the goal line between the posts.
It is conceivable opponents could be in line with where the kicker wants the ball to go and they get hammered accidently or on purpose there will be no real way of determining such.

Unless for example a defender after fouling the attacker was on the ground and the attacker placed the ball kicked it into his face from 2 feet away and tried to sell the BS he was only trying to take the kick quickly. We are gullible at times but not overly stupid! This is obviously VC and should be treated as such!

The tactic of intimidation is one that permeates the game be it trash talk or efforts like these. The wall is permitted to set themselves with arms over vital areas to mitigate this and yet some players will duck or turn or cringe because it is scary!

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

This happens all the time. It insures that the ball has been played at least a second time so a goal may be scored

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

It is possible for a player to commit violent conduct by kicking the ball directly at an opponent, but trying to score a goal by deflecting the ball off an opponent is well within the spirit of the laws.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Dear Scotty
Thanks for your question. There is nothing in the rules to prevent this. There are many other legal 'ruses' used by team that do not infringe the laws and they are not highlighted as blatantly as this.
When teams and coaches develop a win at all costs the 'spirit of the game' suffers with the introduction of these type of tactics. The reason could be to ensure that on the next kick that the players might be 'intimidated' into not defending a free kick in the defensive wall. If as you say maybe the reason is to deflect off the wall that would not be as cynical.or it could also be a call by the coach to 'unsettle' the players in the wall even though a shot is planned. However if a team wants to waste an opportunity and ensure that the defensive wall does its job easily then so be it. Thats why its there.
I recall many years ago a very prominent coach in the UK, whose team had allowed a 'soft' goal from a free kick by ducking out of the way, spent hours at Monday training having hard shots kicked at the team's defensive wall to toughen up their reactions.