Question Number: 27286

Law 13 - Free Kicks 3/31/2013

RE: rec Adult

todd Bailey of atlanta, ga us asks...

does the ball need to leave the goal box on a offside kick or can the keeper pass the ball to one of his players in side the box?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Not only must the ball leave the goal area, it must also leave the penalty area. Law 13 (free kicks) and Law 16 (goal kicks) are worded almost identically. But while most people know that a goal kick is not in play until it goes beyond the penalty area, surprisingly few know that it also applies to free kicks.

Since play resumes with an indirect free kick after an offside call, the ball must exit the penalty area before it is in play. If anyone touches it before that, the kick must be retaken.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Todd
On all kicked restarts inside the penalty area by the defending team the ball must leave the penalty area for the ball to be in play.
If the ball is touched inside the penalty area by any player the kick is retaken.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

ANY kick leaving the Penalty area (including Indirect Free Kicks after an Offside infraction) must completely leave the Penalty Area before the ball is in play.
If the Keeper passes the ball to a teammate inside the Penalty Area and the teammate touches the ball before it leaves the Penalty Area, the kick must be retaken. This is also true if an opponent touches the ball before it has exited the PA.