Question Number: 24787

Law 13 - Free Kicks 4/7/2011

RE: Intermediate Under 12

Phil of Tarzana, CA United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 24771

I'm a little confused as to what the defender can do on a quick DFK (or IFK). I understand that if they are closer than 10 yards, they can't rush the kicker.

But let's say they are backing up & the ball comes very close to them. I think it would be very hard for a defender not to stick a foot out or run sideways to intercept...once the ball was kicked. In fact, they might not even be aware that they are still within the 10 yrd. distance.

Does this mean that any defender that moves to intercept the ball AFTER the kick is taken, does so completely at their peril (as to whether they were 10 yrds. away or not)?

Thanks for any clarification.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Phil
The defending team has no rights at a free kick despite the fact that they believe they have. Unfortunately through the use of the ceremonial free kick the emphasis has shifted to the defending side rather than the attacking side.
So you are quite correct that a defender that moves to stop the ball on a free kick does so as his own peril. You will notice that when a player elects to take a QFK in a ceremonial position the opponents rarely move towards the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Phil,

I understand the confusion here - not all the possible scenarios are covered in the laws of the game, and it's difficult to cover everything in education and hearsay.

On one hand, if a player takes a quick free kick and it goes straight into an opponent who isn't trying to delay the kick (either he's retreating at a reasonable pace (shuffling back slowly isn't enough to get them off the hook), or the kick was taken too quickly for him to start retreating), then that's considered tough luck.

Then there's the obvious scenarios, where a defender is clearly and actively blocking the kick. Easy caution.

It's these in-between scenarios that always try to trip us up. My personal thought on the matter is: if the defender moves towards the intended path of the ball before it's kicked, then he's failing to retire 10 yards and committing a cautionable offence. If he doesn't do so until after the ball is kicked, then it's fair game. While he has an obligation to retreat 10 yards, if the kick has been taken quickly then I don't think it's reasonable to expect him to stand there and watch a ball sail straight pass him, and I don't believe that's what the game expects.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Phil, why are you so concerned with the poor defenders? Seriously, your question illustrates what's gone wrong the past 15 or 20 years. The single most difficult thing for me to get through to coaches and players at low levels of play is the defenders have no rights other that to not be confused by the referee. No, coach your player may not stand on the ball delaying the kick until your team is set up. No coach, we don't have to wait until your team sets a wall. No coach, they don' t have to ask for 10 yards, you have to give it without asking.

This goes on all game sometimes or until I just tell the coach we'll talk about it after the game. Amazingly, it has become so ingrained that the defenders have a right to set up a wall, that even when shown in black and white, some coaches continue to deny it. Sadly, some referees know no better