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Soccer Rules Changes 1580-2000


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Question Number: 26838

Law 13 - Free Kicks 9/25/2012

RE: rec Under 17

matt of edison, nj usa asks...

If im a defender and I have a free kick inside my penalty area. Does the ball have to come out of the penalty box before anybody touches it? Im pretty sure if its a goal kick it has to clear the box first. Is that correct?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Matt
All defending kicked restarts must come out of the penalty area for the ball to be in play. So a free kick has to leave the penalty area before it can be touched by any player.




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Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Law 16 (goal kicks) and Law 13 (free kicks) are worded almost identically - the ball is in play when it leaves the penalty area. It is surprising that so few players, coaches and even a surprising number of referees don't know that it applies to free kicks.



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