Question Number: 24844

Law 13 - Free Kicks 4/21/2011

RE: USSF Grade 8, Club Soccer Under 17

JP Miller of Chesapeake, VA USA asks...

This question just occurred to me after thinking about your last player interference question: if an IDFK is awarded to the attacking team for an offense that happened inside the defenders' goal area, do all of the defenders -- including the Keeper -- have to stay 10 yards clear of the kick when it is taken from the top of the goal area line? Does this in fact, leave the goal open for the attackers to use 2 players to tap-then-shoot the ball into an open goal?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If an inbound free kick (must be indirect by default) is positioned less than 10 yards from the goal, the defenders may stand on the goal line between the posts. Any defenders not standing on that line must be at least 10 yards from the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi JP
When an IDFK is awarded on the 6 yard line all defending players must retreat to either goal line (6 yards) or be 10 yards away to the side and rear of the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

No, of course not. They are allowed to stand on the goal line. They do NOT have a right to set up a wall. The attacking team DOES have the right to take a quick kick and the referee should stay out of their way if that's what they want. From the current LOTG under Law 13:

Indirect free kick to the attacking team:
? all opponents must be at least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the ball until it is in
play, unless they are on their own goal line between the goalposts

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

See Question: 24849