Question Number: 26993

Law 13 - Free Kicks 11/8/2012

RE: Competitive Under 16

Leia of Berkeley, CA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 24356

If, at the free kick, an opponent stands about five yards away, like a log, not moving further back, is that caution able, or does the kicking team have to ask for the 10 yards?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Leia
It is a matter for the referee to decide based on the circumstances. If the free kick was to be taken quickly and the player stops the ball then the player would be cautioned for delaying the restart. Other times the ball might be passed sideways in which case it makes no difference and play continues or the shot goes past the defender also with no effect on play. In those instances play continues.
Referees should manage these situations very closely and not allow the offending team to prevent free kicks from being taken. She should also be mindful of what the attacking team wants to do and many times they might want the referee to enforce the 10 yards. That then makes the kick 'ceremonial' which means the kick should not be taken until after the referees whistle and the player/s has been moved. If a player is constantly doing this on all free kicks which is coached the player should be warned not to do it and then cautioned on any repeat.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

There is no requirement that the kicking team must 'ask for 10'. Defenders have the responsibility to move away from the site of the free kick as quickly as possible. So your 'log' would be courting a caution.

Still, the referee must take the interests of the kicking team into consideration. Perhaps they would like to take a quick kick and this opponent does not prevent that - let the team kick!

I will allow defenders the benefit of doubt if they are at a reasonable distance. Five is a little close, but maybe they can't tell the difference between 7 yards and 10 yards - I'll give them a freebie on that. Or maybe they are moving away, just not moving fast. And if the kicker doesn't like that distance, she can always ask me to move the wall back.

What gets a flash-bang card from me is if the player comes from a distance and moves directly in front of the ball, preventing the attacking team from taking the kick (whether they wanted to take it quickly or not). I'm sorry, we all know why you did that - here's your caution for your efforts.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Lea:

A defender has a responsibility to respect the distance. The kicking team does not have to ask for ten.

But, what can confuse players is that if the kicking team decides to take a quick free kick even though there is a defender within ten yards (and the defender doesn't lunge or move toward the ball), the kicking team cannot then complain about the location of the defender.

Referees can and should be proactive about the distance from the earliest moments of the match - using voice and presence. IMO, the best times to use a card is when a defender actively interferes with a potential quick free kick (e.g., by running up to and standing in front of the ball or rushing the attacker who is trying to quick free kick).

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 27085