Question Number: 28687

Mechanics 8/24/2014

RE: rec Under 19

adam wallace of NAKAYAMA, yamagata japan asks...

This question is a follow up to question 28507

i have a followup question to ref wickhams answer.as i understood it as long as the ref doesnt start measuring the dist out and just tells the defence to move back then this does not become a ceremonial freekick..
ref wickhams answer indicates that any action by the ref means a ceremonial fkick..any further explanation would be much appreciated.
thanks!

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The defense has no rights on a free kick, except not to be misled by something that the referee does.

The problem is that when the referee tells the defenders to move back, the defenders reasonably may believe that the referee has converted the kick to a ceremonial. On free kicks near the 18, the referee ought to say or do nothing to interfere with a quick kick until it is clear that the attacking team does not want one.

One way that I believe referees can be proactive about enabling both a quick free kick and the distance is very early in the match - particularly when the free kick is in the midfield. The referee can use voice or presence to enforce the distance without taking the time to establish a wall. A quick snip of the whistle grants permission to put the ball into play.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Adam
Once the referee becomes involved in the free kick management which includes use of the voice to move back / direct players many assume that the free kick has now become ceremonial. Is that a reasonable assumption. If the kicking team want to take a quick free kick then it is important that the referee is only involved with the kicking team so that the assumption does not arise.
In the past these quick free kicks have caused referees much grief. I'm extremely mindful of almost being invisible now to the defending team on a QFK and I try to move away leaving the kicker on his own. I recall one occasion when the defending team were extremely upset accusing me of allowing the restart when they believed it was on the whistle. I had to deal with the complaint for the rest of the game. Now I tried to think what I could have done differently and some thought were that the time taken by the kicking team was slightly longer than normal plus my presence behind the ball may also have been a factor. I learned from that in I now don't allow the free kick if the set up has been tardy and I'm close to the ball for a period of time involved with players.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Adam ,
the simple fact is if a referee uses poor mechanics to manage a free kick and the defenders feel cheated, it leads to further complications. A good referee tries very hard to avoid complications.

As stated the defenders have zero rights when THEY foul an opponent and the opponents right to take a free kick quickly is sacrosanct. The USSF tries very hard to instill a set of procedures for all their referees to follow, to limit these misunderstandings.

If a goal is scored there is no likely protest that would be upheld if the defenders tried to point the finger at a referee's poor mechanics in setting or not setting the wall.

As a non USSF referee I use a very definite arm point and call out the colour of the team awarded a free kick and even state when it is an INDFK as I then raise my arm. I also call out on occasion, 'Ten yards now!' A reminder of the law is not, in my opinion, a precursor to a ceremonial free kick. My attempt to avoid showing a yellow card is limited to this one deviation. I am very quick to caution for delaying restarts and failure to respect ten yards. Once teams are used to my peculiarities. I have almost zero issues with the trival BS I see so much of in other matches.

This is likely frowned upon as a type of intervention. To clarify though, I do not engage in debate if I am specifically addressing an individual's conduct or well being then I accept I have intervened and inclined not to accept a quickly taken kick if preoccupied .

The majority of matches I do are adult or youth recreational more than professional and I find I have excellent match control using these methods. I generally set a wall upon the team taking the free kick request. Then I will restart with a whistle after PLAINLY indicating to all it is in fact a whistled start!

I will whistle restart after any cardable free kick incident and manage the wall as it likely requires my attention and on all corner kicks thanks to the useless jibber jabbing that goes on inside the penalty area which draws far too much attention. I use the snip whistle restart on goal kicks as well as throw ins to indicate lets get play moving, also on any free kick where the attacking team is dawdling and there was no reason to intervene .

The whistle is a tool and how we choose to weld it assists us in managing a match. Same as our presence and voice. The statement, a referee is not be noticed only rings true if players play not to be unfair! Our tolerance, their acceptance need to find a common ground within the spirit and letter of the laws.

Cheers