Question Number: 24799

Law 13 - Free Kicks 4/10/2011

RE: rec High School

fpitonzo of pasadena, md usa asks...

If the defensive team has a DK or an IDK within 6yds from own goal line, not in goal area, either inside or outside penalty area, I place ball up level with the top of 6yd line extended. Essentially giving the defensive team kick 6yds from goal line. Could not find this in rule book.

Thanks

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
Rule 13- Free Kick - Section 1 - Description of a Free kick
ART. 2 . . . All free kicks, with the exception of kickoffs and penalty kicks, may be taken in any direction. Free kicks are taken from the spot of the foul except for restarts following certain temporary suspensions of play, e.g., fouls for misconduct committed by bench personnel during a live ball and fouls committed in the goal area by either team.
ART. 3 . . . Any free kick awarded to the defending team within its own goal area may be taken from any point within the goal area.
ART. 4 . . . Any indirect free kick awarded to the attacking team within its opponent?s goal area shall be taken from the part of the goal-area line which runs parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the offense was committed.

What this all means is that in the case of a defensive free kick the kick is taken from where the offence took place. If the offence happened inside the goal area the free kick can be taken anywhere inside the goal area. Most teams chose the goal area line to take the kick. Generally no team is going to be too concerned about a free kick being taken 6 yards from the goal line if the offence say happened 2 yards from the goal line. Indeed they might not even notice.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Absent some local rule, the defense has no right to place the ball six yards from the goal line on a free kick (outside the goal area).

But, as Ref McHugh notes, referees do not need to be precise that a free kick occur at the location of the foul when it is so near the team's own goal line. It rarely provides any disadvantage to the opposing team, and a quick restart usually makes the match more enjoyable for the players.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I'm really confused. The ball is either inside or outside the penalty area not in the goal area???? What exactly are you describing? The High School Rule Book and The LOTG both describe very clearly where the location of all free kicks take place. In general, free kicks are taken from the point of the infraction. The exceptions are penalty kicks and free kicks taken by the defenders for infractions inside their own goal area.

If the infraction against the defending team did not take place within their goal area, you have no business placing the ball anywhere other than where the infraction took place.

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

See Question: 24830