Question Number: 28213

Law 13 - Free Kicks 2/24/2014

RE: Recreational Under 19

Bruce of Mount Sinai, NY USA asks...

Is there a new application of the IDFK that says the ball must oscillate, or move from its resting spot as opposed to just be tapped as it has in the past?

Is there no longer the rule that an illegal throw in can be called if the ball is spinning due to uneven hands behind the head?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Bruce,

The Laws say that the ball is in play at a free kick when it is 'kicked and moves'. Whether that means wobbling on the spot is sufficient is a matter of interpretation. But if the ball doesn't visibly move, then it is not in play.

As for throw ins - spinning the ball isn't illegal. In the past some referees have considered it as such, but spinning the ball doesn't mean it hasn't been thrown with both hands, so isn't automatically a sign that the throw was taken incorrectly.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Bruce
On any kicked restart the ball must be kicked and moved. If the ball is 'tapped' that is a kick but the ball must also move. Tapping the ball on the top with no movement is not a proper restart. At one time the Laws required that the ball had to move its circumference for it to be in play. The reason was to allow players to see that the ball was clearly in play. That all changed in 1997 with the Law being changed to 'Kicked and Moved' with the principle remaining the same. Has the kick clearly put the ball clearly in play?
Now many referees once they witness that the opponents have seen the tap and 'understand' that the ball is in play, as it has moved slightly, simply allow play to continue.
On you second question prior to 2008 Law 15 stated that at a throw in the thrower had to use both hands. Some in the game felt that 'spin' was a tell-tale sign that both hands were not used so it was deemed to be an incorrectly taken throw. In 2008 the Law was amended from 'uses both hands' to 'holds the ball with both hands''. Now once the player holds the ball in both hands it is legal and he can put all the spin he wishes on the ball or use a dominant hand to throw the ball as long as both hands are touching the ball throughout the throwing action.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The interpretation in the United States is that tapping the top of the ball with the bottom of the foot is not a 'kick' - a kicking motion is required.