Question Number: 25038

Law 13 - Free Kicks 5/31/2011

RE: Competitive Under 18

Darrell Peterson of Osseo, MN USA asks...

My question concerns how a referee should handle a request for 10 yards on a free kick? This question arises because of an incident that occurred the other day. Our team was awarded a direct kick just outside the top corner of the opponents box. As our player is setting up to take the kick, a player from the other team came running down the field (from their attacking end) to stand between the ball and the goal, about 7 - 8 yards away (in my estimation). Our player asked the referee for 10 yards, to which the referee responded 'She is, now take the kick.' I was a little taken aback, especially since I was positioned as close to the kick as the referee was, and I would have had trouble saying definitively how close the player was. How should this have been handled by the referee?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

1. If the referee decides the defender is ten yards from the ball, she is. The referee is not required to step off ten yards. (Indeed, marching off ten yards often results in the kicker moving the ball forward once the referee's back is turned.)

2. Far too many referees believe they've set the wall 10 yards away - - when it is closer to 8. It takes practice and experience to know the true distance. Most players get so used to eight being ten, they will be surprised when the distance is properly established. It drives me nuts when a referee can't even get 10 yards on a multi-purpose field where each yard is marked for US football.

3. In my experience, nothing good comes from protesting that the referee's indication is too close (attackers) or too far (defenders). But, next time the defender is 8 yards, have your player ask for 30 feet. The referee should pause, smile, and may give you the distance to which you are entitled. 30 feet seems a lot longer than 10 yards.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Darrell
Over many years of experience I along with many referees have developed a good estimation of 10 yards. I had an incident this season where a player questioned my estimation of where I placed the wall. He was not happy and his team was behind with minutes to play. To satisfy him I walked across and paced out 10 yards to find that it was 10 and a half yards so I moved the wall forward the half yard much to the amusement of the defending team.
It is up to the individual referee as to how to deal with these situations.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

'She is, now take the kick' is not a proper instruction. The referee should make sure the 10 yards is actually 10 yards, should then tell everybody he's making the kick ceremonial, hold his whistle at eye level, point to it and loudly say 'we start on my whistle. Wait to kick for my whistle' or something similar.

On the other hand, don't argue with the referee. If he thinks 8 yards is 10, that's just the way it is and you won't change his mind.