Question Number: 27856

Law 13 - Free Kicks 10/6/2013

RE: Travel Soccer Under 14

Stefan of Chicago, Illinois United States asks...

I understand that any free kick inside the penalty area must be kicked completely out of the area to be in play. For the age group of U-13 to U-14, what would the restart be if the kicking player passes to another teammate in the penalty area? Would it be a 'do-over' or an indirect free kick from where the ball was touched by the second player?

Thank you very much,

Stefan

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Stefan. You answer your own question. What do we do anytime something happens to interfere with any restart before the ball is put into play? For example, you award a corner kick but before the kick is taken a player punches an opponent. What do you do? You blow your whistle to stop the corner from proceeding and send off the player and show the red card. Then you proceed with the corner kick as the ball was never put into play,

Same thing applies to any kick leaving the penalty area (including goal kicks). If the ball is touched by any player before it leaves the penalty area, you blow your whistle and have the kick retaken as the ball was never put into play. If the ball was purposely played to a teammate inside the penalty area, it's likely the players did not know this wasn't allowed so you would want to have a word with the players, explain what the Law says, and tell them not to do it again.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Stefan
All kicked restarts by the defending team inside the penalty area must leave the penalty to be in play. When that does not happen or the ball is touched for a second time inside the area the kick is retaken.