Question Number: 28148

Law 13 - Free Kicks 2/1/2014

RE: School Player (and CYSA) Under 14

John H of San Mateo, California United States asks...

I was playing in a soccer game for my school in which the opposing team was awarded a free kick. The player who was going to take the kick had not asked the referee for ten yards so I stood about five yards away blocking the ball. I was under the impression that the player has to ask for ten yards or I could be wherever I wanted. The referee moved me back when the player did not ask. I did not argue the call because I was not positive about the rule (and arguing never works). Could you please clear this up for me? Thank you.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi John
You were indeed fortunate that the referee did not caution you as well for ''failure to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick, free kick or throw-in''
Basically opponents are expected to move back 10 yards at a free kick without the kicking team having to request it or the referee having to intervene.
Many times players run in front of the ball to stop the free kick and the kicking team then have to request the 10 yards from the referee. That should not happen but it has become so common that many referees just accept it and then make the free kick 'ceremonial' which means pacing off ten yards and the kick is then on the whistle when it all set up.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

'They have to ask for 10' is one of the abiding - and WRONG - myths of the game.

Referees will give the attacking team the opportunity to take a quick free kick. So they won't immediately interfere if a player is too close. But if the team doesn't take the kick quickly, the ref can certainly enforce the Laws by requiring the defenders to back up and caution if necessary to emphasize the point.

If you make a good faith effort to retreat from the site of the kick - say maybe 8 yards instead of 10 - I'll probably let it go as trifling. I may ask you to try to better estimate 10 yards next time.

With you at 5 yards, I might be somewhat lenient (the first time) and just tell you to move back. Do it again - or if your team has already been giving me grief - and you will likely see yellow.

Coming from a distance to stand one or two yards from the ball gets an immediate caution from me.