Question Number: 26053

Law 13 - Free Kicks 3/10/2012

RE: High School

Mike Parker of Salem, UT USA asks...

How close to the spot of the foul must a free kick be taken. Can the free kick be taken 5 yards behind the spot of the foul.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mike
The free kick is taken from where the offence took place. Now in practise it is not possible to be exact on this so leeway of a yard might be acceptable.
Five yards would be much too far away from the offence in any direction including back.
Does it happen? Of course it does and perhaps when the offence is further away from goal less interest in shown in the placement of the ball.

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Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

While the kick is supposed to be taken from the spot, in practice the referee will typically be stricter on this the closer it is to goal. For a free kick in the defensive third, position is less critical than a free kick just outside the opposition's penalty area.

When you're around that end of the field in particular, I would argue that 5 yards in any direction is just as bad, as it all changes the trajectory of a shot.

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Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

The ball should be placed where the offense occurred. The referee may choose to overlook the distance in the interest of allowing play to flow, assuming no great benefit to either team due to the placement. Players do not get to make that decision - only the ref.

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