Question Number: 28949

Law 13 - Free Kicks 11/6/2014

RE: All Other

George of Parangarecutirimicuaro, California Sacratomato asks...

I would like to take a moment to thank you all in helping us newcomers improve as officials. I always resort to this website with difficult questions regarding LOTG and applications.

On IDFK outside the penalty box, it used to be common for two players to line up next to each other or in close proximity. Player 1 would run past the ball and tap it while player 2 would blast it hoping to score.

I would like to hear from the panel what the new interpretation is/should be on this type of play. I have seen some referees that are OK with it and I have seen a couple different interpretations from referees who don't agree with it and will have players re kick.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi George,

Glad to hear you're finding the website helpful - that's why we do what we do!

According the the Laws Of The Game, at a free kick restart (direct or indirect), the ball is in play when it is kicked and moves. So, as long as the ball moves on the first 'tap', it's in play.

Sometimes the ball will wobble on the spot and not actually roll - there is disagreement amongst referees as to whether this is enough to be considered 'movement'. That's the only possible reason I can see for a retake (unless the players were instructed to wait for the whistle and they didn't).

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hey George,
we appreciate the kind words, it is great you are able to glean some insight from our mussing's about the LOTG! Those here who dedicate their time and expertise to educating and encouraging those who seek to improve their understanding are rewarded with something that makes us all better every time someone such as yourself takes a moment to pass on a simple thanks.

All free kicks, INDFKS as well, can not be touched twice by the same player and have movement criteria attached. I often say each referee is a match condition and what passes for movement by one, might not in another, hence the discrepancies you have noticed! Basically the referee must accept the kicking motion be it a foot roll or toe tap or side foot or back heel as VISABLY moving the ball in a discernable manner. It really should not require a detective agency to figure it out.

If we look at each possible incident where INDFKs can occur there is usually NO directional criteria as in a pk or kick off which must move forward.
Neither is there a set measurement of distance for the movement other than the word 'discernable.' Although any INDFK from inside ones own penalty area must clear the PK area to be in play same as a goal kick..

An old adage was, did that ball go from here to there? with there, not being exactly where the start was! A wobble or a roll, where the ball basically stays put, is difficult to discern accurately from distance or if blocked from view. Plus if a team tries to get cute and do the old foot squish of the ball by rolling it with the sole of the foot, then pretend to tap it over for another as a placement then blast it are trying my patience if I have to try and figure out if the ball is really kicked and moved or is it being placed. You do the step on sole foot wobble and it moves the ball and I allow it because it was discernable you can not complain if I blow for double touch when you step on it move it, then kick it again.

I find there is no reason to retake an indfk unless I as referee have incorrectly not signaled it as so?? Or some sort of misconduct is occurring prior?

If I recognize the team taking the indfk with their first touch as putting the ball in play then their second touch fulfills the law requirement if a goal is scored? If I fail to see the ball was moved on the first touch then their second touch knocking the ball forward would in fact be (from my perspective) be the first touch and another player must make contact with the ball prior to a goal being scored! This is easily discernable to the players because I raise my arm to signal an INDFK then I drop my arm when I see the second contact moment.

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi George
The question has to be asked as to whether the ball is kicked and moved which put the ball into play. A tap that simple oscillates the ball is not a kick that visibly moves the ball and therefore does not put the ball in play.
Here is an example
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46pnEQXfIu8
Clearly White #25 does not touch the ball to put it into play and the referee assumes incorrectly that he has. AR is probably watching offside while the Ref may have been watching players in the penalty area. Red #18 plays on as if it has been kicked and then berates the referee along with his team mates afterwards.
The correct decision here would have been an IDFK to Red for a double touch infraction as the ball was not kicked and moved. If it had been an IDFK with the single kick entering the goal the restart would have been a goal kick.

Now compare it to this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mkQyFE2or0
The last player # Purple 8 touches the ball and it does move which meets the kick and move condition. Note there was no complaint from Blues who clearly saw the ball move. One player checked his move towards the ball until it was kicked.
I tend to take the lead from players. If the players see the ball being kicked albeit slightly and they believe that the ball is in play then I allow play to continue. If it is a tap on top of the ball with no movement then it has to be decided that the ball was not put into play.
I also take Referee Voshols point of the ball even if it does not move on the first touch it certainly does on the second. I also think that prevention is better than cure. The referee may see this tap like start at kick off and he should step in to prevent that by asking for a retake telling the players that the ball has to be kicked not simply tapped on top with no movement.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

USSF's publication 'Advice to Referees' has backed of of the 'from here to there' construct. It only says that minimal movement is required. However, it does still say that a kicking motion must be used and that tapping the top of the ball is not sufficient to put it into play.

I'm questioning why a referee would order a retake. Either the first touch puts the ball into play, or the second touch does. If the first touch was just a tap that doesn't qualify as 'kicked and moves', then when the second player blasts the ball goal-ward it is put into play. So maybe a goal could not be scored on that touch, but it did put the ball into play.