Question Number: 25295

Law 13 - Free Kicks 8/9/2011

RE: High School

Richard Saccoia of Stanton, California USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 25273

The law says the ball must be kicked and moves. In this question the ball was tapped. What is the difference between kicking and tapping?

Kicking is using a kicking motion with the lower leg.

Tapping is putting pressure on top of the ball.

Tapping the ball is NOT kicking the ball.

Regarding this question the ball was not properly put into play.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If the ball is tapped so that it does not move 'from here to there', that touch does not put the ball into play. But the next kick does.

Question 25273 did not involve whether the ball was in play or not, but whether the defenders unfairly distracted the kicking team by their yells.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Richard
The assumption was made that the tap did in fact put the ball in play legally as per the questioner's comment that once the ball was in play it was kicked over the bar and the referee ordered a retake. One has to assume that the referee was satisfied that the ball was put into play properly.
I agree that if the description of tapping is to only put pressure on the top of the ball then that is not kicked and moved and the ball is not put into play properly.
However to tap the ball lightly when it is a motion with the foot that visibly moves the ball from here to there then that is okay. The same can be said for a visible roll of the ball with the sole of the foot.