Question Number: 25915

Law 13 - Free Kicks 1/24/2012

RE: Competitive Under 18

Scott Hollis of Winchester, CA United States asks...

On an indirect free kick, does the ball have to rotate or move or can the first player simply tap the top of the ball to start play??? I am pretty sure it used to have to move and that is why there is usually three players around an indirect free kick at the highest level? Thanks

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Scott
At any restart the ball must be kicked and moved. Simply tapping the ball on top is not good enough.
At the highest level if a team wants to have a direct shot at goal the team will position one or two players around the ball so that it is kicked, put into play and a direct shot can then be attempted.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

On every free kick, the first judgment call for the referee is whether the ball has been kicked. In most circumstances, a tap on the top of the ball with the bottom of the foot is not a kick. But, the wise referee also observes the players, the level of play, and uses a feel for the game to make that decision.

The problem, of course, is that the players do not know if the referee has judged that the first tap was not a kick. The second player who approaches the ball may think she can kick the ball directly into the goal on an indirect free kick (IFK). But, if the first tap was not a kick, a goal cannot be scored directly by the second player on an IFK. The wise coach will set up the play so that the first player do more that tap the top of the ball - - she should kick it.

The second judgment call is whether the ball has moved. A minimal movement is enough. There is no requirement that the ball make a specific rotation. A inch will suffice. So, the wise coach can set the player so that first player kicks the ball a very short distance so that the second player can shoot it quickly.