Question Number: 27283

Law 1- The Field 3/29/2013

RE: rec Under 13

mason of swansea, west glamorgan u.k asks...

when taking free kicks or penaltys can you use a kicking tee like they use in rugby?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

No, that's not allowed. While there is nothing specifically in the Laws of the Game that says that, players are expected to play the game without artificial aids like kicking tees. That's a long-standing principle, something that IFAB, the writers of the Laws, thinks that "everyone knows" so it doesn't need to be said..

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mason
The use of an artificial aid to assist in kicking is not allowed in the game. It is not specifically mentioned in the Laws yet referees 'know' not to allow it.
What can and does happen is that most pitches have loads of divots, marks etc and players position the ball carefully so that the ball is sitting up rather than in a depression at a restart.
An example is the positioning of the ball by a goalkeeper at a goal kick. You will notice the careful placing of the ball in that situation. The same does happen at free kicks while at a penalty the choice of positioning is much more limited due to the fact that the ball has to be touching the penalty mark. Players though still find a 'favourable' spot for the placement of the ball again through careful positioning.
Prior to 1995 kicking tees were not allowed in rugby and the player had to make a 'tee' by digging the ground with his heel and forming a 'tee' by hand or he could ask for a small pot of sand to help make a tee. That was then seen to be holding up the game and damaging the ground so kicking tee were introduced around 1995. These tees are now compulsory in rugby. I cannot see it happening in football