Question Number: 25498

Law 13 - Free Kicks 9/26/2011

RE: Rec Under 15

Peter of Stockton, CA USA asks...

Hi

First of all the scenario: We were playing a team that every time we had a direct free kick, they would place a player in front of the ball (like inches away). We would have to ask the referee for our ten yards to play the ball. I asked the referee and took the matter to the referee mentor, and both times was told the same thing - referees are now instructed not to enforce the 10 yard rule unless asked to by the team taking the kick. Is this correct? I can understand ignoring when a player is 8 yards away instead of 10, but when the player stops you from even playing the ball.....

Cheers

Peter

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Peter
The blight that is placing player/s in front of the ball at a free kick to allow the defending team to regroup. To ignore this would be contrary to the Laws of the Game and I quote
'' If a player decides to take a free kick quickly and an opponent who is near the
ball deliberately prevents him taking the kick, the referee must caution the
player for delaying the restart of play.''
When a team wants to take a free kick quickly and get on with play the defending team should not be allowed to prevent that happening and the referee must take action to prevent this happening as per the Laws. The 1st time it happens with the attacking team not taking the kick the referee should intervene and warn the defending team about doing this. Next time it is a caution. If the action prevented the free kick from being taken then there is no warning and it is a caution. This needs to be repeated until teams stop doing this.
This is what the ATR has to say
'' Law 13 requires all opponents to be at least ten yards away in all directions from the location of any free kick and it is the duty of these opponents to retreat the required distance as quickly as possible without being directed by the referee to do so. It is also the right of the team which has been given the free kick to start play quickly even if one or more opponents have not yet moved back the required distance, provided the other requirements of Law 13 have been met.''
The only way to test this is for the free kick to be taken quickly as intended not just kicking the ball aimlessly off an opponent. Any referee that does not deal with a genuine attempt at a quick restart is failing in his duty to enforce the Laws of the Game.
These scenarios have been taken from the USSF's Ask a Soccer Referee site
Situation 5
No defensive wall is formed, but when kicker takes quick free kick a defender who, in the opinion of the referee, is obviously less than 10 yards away from the spot of the kick, lunges toward or makes some other type of movement to intercept and obstruct the path of the ball once it was kicked. In other words, if the defender had stood still the ball would have continued past this defender on its own path.
Resolution:
Stop play. Caution defender for FRD. No need for attackers to ask for 10 yards in this case. Restart with ceremonial free kick.

Situation 6:
No defensive wall is formed, but when kicker takes quick free kick a defender who, in the opinion of the referee, is obviously less than 10 yards away from the spot of the kick, intercepts the ball because it was directly kicked to him/her, and this defender had no intention of obstructing a passing lane to an attacking teammate nor a shot on goal.
Resolution:
Continue play, unless misconduct has been committed by the kicker.

Situation 7:
No defensive wall is formed, but when a kicker takes quick free kick a defender who, in the opinion of the referee, is obviously less than 10 yards away from the spot of the kick, intercepts the ball because he/she managed to intentionally quickly stand in the way of a passing lane to an attacking teammate or a shot on goal.
Resolution:
Stop play. Caution defender for FRD (and possibly deal with any misconduct committed by kicker). No need for attackers to ask for 10 yards in this case. Restart with ceremonial free kick.

Situation 8:
No one is within 10 yards of the ball except for one defender who tries to deceive the referee by non-chalantly walking in the path of the ball as the kicker is running up/preparing to take the kick. The kicker is affected by this action and/or the ball is intercepted by the defender.
Resolution:
Stop play. Caution defender for FRD. No need for attackers to ask for 10 yards in this case. Restart with ceremonial free kick.

I apologise for the lengthy answer and in summary the instructions are pretty clear and not in line with what you have been told.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Short answer is you were told wrong. Referees usually will not caution an opponent the first time they pull this stunt but the second time the player should be cautioned. I have grown so tired of this nonsense that I no longer give a verbal warning and the first time an opponent sets up a foot from the ball my whistle blows and a yellow card comes flying out of my pocket. Then the 10 yards are stepped off and the kick becomes ceremonial.

The team that committed the offense that led to the awarding of the free kick have no rights. They have no right to set up a wall and they have no right to prevent the fouled team from taking a quick free kick. The fouled team absolutely has the right to a quick free kick is that's what they elect to do. Your referee was rewarding the team that committed the offense and further disadvantaged the team that was fouled. It is VERY disconcerting that a supposed referee mentor was agreeing that this blatantly illegal tactic was within Law.

the team committing the offense is REQUIRED to retreat 10 yards without being told to do so by the referee.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If an opponent makes a good-faith effort at moving no closer than 10 yards, most referees will let it go. How far 'good faith' extends is up to the referee, but I don't see a few inches as being in good faith. If a player sets himself as a statue immediately in front of the ball, I will immediately caution him. If they set the wall at 7 or 8 yards, I probably will let that go without a caution - but will back them up if the kicker requests it.

I cannot understand who might have instructed referees to not enforce this or any other provision of the Laws. Somebody misinterpreted a message somewhere.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Standing in front of the ball from inches or even a few feet away deliberately (based on the observation of the referee) is unsporting behavior and should not receive any grace period or warning from the referee. The referee mentor was dead wrong.

The USSF guidance on the issue of not interfering unless a team desires it has to do with more skilled levels of play where the attacking team could take advantage of the free kick in spite of efforts by the defense to interfere. This would never be the case in recreational play. I would caution against allowing defenders to set up for defense against agree kick in this manner EVER, no matter the level.

What you witnessed and were smart enough to recognize was this was blatant cheating on the part of the defense and something that is coached. I am very disappointed that a mentor would not have had the same recognition.

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