Question Number: 24073

Law 13 - Free Kicks 10/3/2010

RE: Under 13

Brian of Mahopac, NY USA asks...

On an indirect free kick does the ball have to make a full rotation before it is kicked again

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

No - that is no longer the Law.

According to Law 13, the ball is in play when it is kicked and moves. In the USA, kicked and moves means the ball was moved with a kicking motion of the leg from here to there (can be a small distance). The referee decides if the ball has in fact been kicked and moved.

The kicker cannot kick it again until it has been touched or played by any other player, and of course, an IDFK cannot score until it is touched by a second player, either team.

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Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Brian
A ball is in play when it kicked and moves at any restart. The full rotation of the ball has been taken out of the Laws for many many years.

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Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

And I should point out that it's official USSF policy that tapping the ball with the bottom of your foot does NOT constitute kicked and moves.

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