Question Number: 24684

Law 13 - Free Kicks 3/12/2011

RE: All Star Under 13

Tony of tulare, ca usa asks...

U12 boys Allstar game. Blue team is awarded an indirect free kick just outside the penalty area. red team makes their wall 10 yards away. Player A on Blue team taps the ball on top. The ball does not move, but it was tapped on top by player A. Player B from Blue team shoots the ball into the goal. Goal or No goal ?? If not, why and what is the restart ??

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Tony
The ball must be kicked and moved for it to be put into play. A tap on top of the ball does not meet that requirement so the ball is deemed not to be in play. The restart is a goal kick as a goal cannot be scored directly from an indirect free kick.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

No goal. the ball was not 'kicked and moved' by the tap on the top of the ball so it was not put into play until the shot on goal. On an indirect free kick, a goal may not be scored directly as happened here. Unless the keeper touched the ball the restart is a goal kick.

It has been 4 full years since the USSF has specifically ruled the tap on the top of the ball does not put the ball into play and it amazes me that coaches still do not know this. Coaches should make it their business to keep up with rule changes. Here is what the most current Advice To Referees has to say. Every coach at every level should download a free copy of this publication at the US Soccer website.

13.5 THE BALL IN PLAY The ball is in play (able to be played by an attacker other than the kicker or by an opponent) when it has been kicked and moved. The distance to be moved is minimal and the 'kick' need only be a touch of the ball with the foot in a kicking motion or being dragged with the top or bottom of the foot. Simply tapping the top of the ball with the foot or stepping on the ball are not sufficient. When the restart of play is based on the ball being kicked and moved, the referee must ensure that the ball is indeed kicked (touched with the foot in a kicking or dragging motion) and moved (caused to go from one place to another). The referee must make the final decision on what is and is not 'kicked and moved' based on the spirit and flow of the match.

The 2007 edition of Advice contains almost identical language.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Tapped and wiggles is not the same as kicked and moves. It is the referee who gets to decide if the foot was used in a kicking motion and if the ball moved from here to there (even if that is a very small movement).

This move is sure to cause all kinds of trouble for teams - best leave it out of the repertoire.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 24724