Question Number: 25348

Law 16 - Goal Kick 8/22/2011

RE: Adult

Jimmy of Rogersville, TN USA asks...

After the ball is placed by a player on the goal box line for a goal kick. Can it be picked up and rolled to another player for the kick to be taken?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

There's no law stating that once the ball is placed, it must be taken from there - however players have an obligation to take the restart quickly. When a player puts the ball down in one spot in the goal area, only to them move it to another, he could be guilty of delaying the restart of play.

Generally that isn't the intent, and a verbal warning by the referee to 'get on with it' should generally suffice to manage the situation.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Referee Wright gives the answer per The Laws Of The Game but since Tennessee is still part of the United States, you must follow guidelines of the USSF which have changed over time. In 2008, moving the ball after it had been placed in the goal area for a goal kick WAS usually considered time wasting and a caution often was deemed appropriate. As of 2011, this has changed. Here is the USSF's most recent direction:

USSF answer (January 26, 2011):
Unfortunately, we cannot lay our hands on a particular document, but the general rule is that If, upon being awarded a goal kick, the defending team blatantly wastes time by placing the ball within the goal area for the restart and then subsequently moves it unnecessarily to another location within the goal area, this act can be deemed as timewasting.

The option of placing the ball anywhere in the goal area was intended to speed up play. Given that guideline and goal, the only factor then is to avoid undue delay or timewasting. If moving the ball after being placed is not permitted, what should the referee do?

As with most questions of this nature, the only correct answer involves how the referee interprets the action and how he or she uses common sense and. If there were a real, worldwide problem in this area, the IFAB would include the answer as a Decision under Law 16. Here is a clear and simple rule: Moving the ball around like that is wasting time, pure and simple. Unless the movement is blatantly outrageous and used in the closing seconds of a tight game by the goalkeeper or other player of the team in the lead, the referee should warn first and, on repetition, caution the guilty player.

As you can see, the USSF position is now in line with that of FIFA

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jimmy
The answer depends on why it is being done. If it is done to blatantly waste time then the referee should not allow that to happen. Rarely are these situations one offs so it is usual for the referee to give a warning on the 1st occasions followed by a caution on a repeat.
If a player simply positions the ball say on an old divot to assist with kicking and it move into a poor position I see no problem with a repositioning of the ball to improve its lie.