Question Number: 29015

Law 13 - Free Kicks 11/28/2014

RE: Youth-Adult rec and comp Other

Barry Stewart of Chilliwack, BC Canada asks...

This question is a follow up to question 29009

It was said, ' if YOU interfere with play (by asking if they want 10, requesting the defense move back, etc.), that the kick automatically becomes ceremonial.'

So¦ what if the player says, 'No thanks' and boots the ball?

It sounds like asking 'Do you want 10?' is the same as saying, 'Hold on, I'm giving you 10, whether you want it or not.'

I understand the points about pausing and looking for cues, though. It is unwise to immediately ask, 'Do you want 10?'

While we're here: on the measuring 10 yards, I think I've read it here (or elsewhere) that it looks 'unprofessional' to actually count off 10 steps.

Why would this be? I've practiced against a tape measure (and field markings) and have a feel for how I can make 10 steps come out to very close to 10 yards. I could take 11 shorter steps to come to the same mark¦ but then I might get someone saying 'That was 11, ref!'

BTW, especially if I'm on my own, I give a look back, to make sure the ball isn't being moved while I'm pacing. (We did that to a colleague at our training session and had the ball 3 yards behind him when he was done pacing it off, LOL! A good laugh¦ and a good lesson.)

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Barry
Management of free kicks in the scoring zone is important for match control. I posted the USSF video on the management of free kicks which I believe is a good resource.
http://refereeinstructiononline.com/custpage.php?cid=73
Now if it is a QFK the onus is on the kicking team to put the ball down and demonstrate that it wants to get on with the kick quickly. The player may ask the referee to take the kick and that request would be normally acceded to except where there is a caution or an injury or for some other reason that the referee does not want the game to restart.
Now the tricky part is getting involved at the location of the kick when there is no need to. If the referee is not involved then the restart just happens. The example of the player declining the 10 yards and kicking the ball into the players was seen as the referees fault as he was seen to be involved. If the kicker takes the quick free kick and the ball is intercepted then its play on. If the kick is prevented or the player come towards the ball then it is a retake.
My advice is that if the ball is located and there is no desire / urgency for the kicking team to get on with the kick then make it ceremonial in the scoring zone. That takes all of the hassle out of it for both teams.
As regards the 10 yards pacing you did not read that advice on this site. There is nothing unprofessional about pacing 10 yards and most if not all referees do it. Some pace backwards other do the normal pacing and keep an eye on the ball. If your using 11 paces and being counted then start a yard in front of the ball and then do ten. Repeat the instruction of on the whistle, show the whistle and then step forward 10 paces either forwards, backwards or a combination of both.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Barry,
poor mechanics by the referee likely will not undo a poorly organized free kick that goes great or horribly wrong just irritate the crap out of which team feels to some degree they were disadvantaged! The difficulty in perception or the perceived truth is what is, is not as important as what one thinks it was!

Attackers will be upset if the defenders get to hassle and the kick goes poorly with no recourse after no goal and defenders will get upset if they feel the referee is manipulating their actions and distracting them from what is going on especially if a goal is scored!

I agree for the most part the USSF video is a great resource although I hold the opinion a verbal warning to respect the distance or not to interfere is a not a lock on a ceremonial restart.
I also hold the opinion the disappearing foam use at the pro and WC level is a generational result of referees FAILING to deal with free kick infringements by NOT sanctioning the disruptions and trying to force ceremonial free kicks as the norm.

If I use foam then mark the ball with the half moon you can bet that my pace is an enlarged version to BE SURE I get the MINIMUM distance away before I lay the line down. As my colleague Ref McHugh indicates we pace the free kicks just usually without striding them out and counting them aloud ! My backward pacing or side stepping I can get the distance down quite easily!
As you adroitly pointed out the manipulation of the wall line where they inch forward or if the attacking team get cute to roll the ball sideways or forward thinking your attention is on the wall always a bit of a dance if no ARs.

Both teams deserve and in fact should be aware the free kick is in full blown ceremonial mode BECAUSE the referee will actually say and indicate WAIT FOR THE WHISTLE! Then and only then should the teams count on a whistle to restart.

If a referee indicates to the two teams it will be a whistled restart and while the referee is setting the wall and the attacking team tries to sneak a goal on a non whistled restart and the referee allows it I would certainly protest it as unfair. but it only states a whistle in the advice section? I would be interested to see if a disciplinary committee could rule it as an actual err in the letter of LOTG even as it is against the spirit of the LOTG!

However UNLESS the referee has actually stated and shown for all to hear, 'We wait for the whistle!', the attacking team has the RIGHT to go whenever it feels like, no exceptions! If a referee foolishly intervenes by getting in the way without actually stating/indicating by holding the whistle at eye level, We Wait, then yes he is likely to get an ear full but it does NOT make the restart illegal!

I recall an EPL game the free kick was awarded and the defenders were backing up when the kicker turned to the referee and said can I go? The referee said yes so he took the kick and scored! Defenders screaming about how unjust the restart was how the referee by being close to the attacking kick and nodding his assent had implied it was ceremonial Bah! tough nooggies good goal and a lesson for defenders the game is ALWAYS on! UNLESS the referee has ACTUALLY said it is not!


I want to point out that the LOTG DEMAND the opposition respect the distance! No referee should ASK if they want ten yards. It is the law they are entitled to a MINIMUM of ten yards. A voluntary yell by the referee to those surrounding the spot of the infringement of, ("Ten yard gentlemen!) or requesting more information from those attacking is Not a precursor for a ceremonial free kick! I say hold those accountable for their actions! While I think it is not a good idea to ask if they want ten if they say no and kick the ball then the game is still ON! Cheers

Answer provided by Referee MrRef

Hi Barry,
this topic raises the hackles and ire of many a fan, player, coach, parent , manager and referee. Myself included. Although poor mechanics may affect the perception unless the referee has actually stated we WAIT FOR THE WHISTLE HOLD AT EYE LEVEL, GET EYE CONTACT, POINT TO THE WHISTLE only then as a defender would I feel reassured there will indeed be a whistle of some sort be it a peep, a blast, a shrill, a trill. It is ludicrous for defenders to switch off and be distracted during a free kick, to loose their mark or be caught gabbing with team mates or trying to talk/argue with the referee. The attacking team has the ability to go unless the referee has decided they can't. Be it the need to caution, tend to injury, a substitution or simply requested by the attackers.
Law 5 THE REFEREE
• indicates the restart of the match after it has been stopped
start quote of advice
Use of whistle
The whistle is needed to:
• start play (1st, 2nd half), after a goal
• stop play: – for a free kick or penalty kick – if the match is suspended or abandoned – when a period of play has ended due to the expiration of time
• restart play for: – free kicks when the appropriate distance is required
(CEREMONIAL INFERENCE)
– penalty kicks
• restart play after it has been stopped due to: – the issue of a yellow or red card for misconduct – injury – substitution

The whistle is NOT needed to:
• stop play for: – a goal kick, corner kick or throw-in – a goal
• restart play from: – a free kick, goal kick, corner kick, throw-in

A whistle which is used too frequently unnecessarily will have less impact when it is needed. When a discretionary whistle is needed to start play, the referee should clearly announce to the players that the restart may not occur until after that signal. (CEREMONIAL INFERENCE) end quote of advice

Note: EVEN in the advice of the LOTG it states a whistle is NOT required for a free kick restart. These discretionary whistle situations are the ones where an inattentive referee could make an undesirable impression because within the SAME advice it does mention to whistle for a restart when the appropriate distance is required.

It might seem when a referee answers, he appears to be in conflict with other answers simply because of perception but also from partial intervention and as always accountability for your actions. Just because players be it from either team ASK you for input , Can we go? I am far enough away! The ball is not spotted correctly. Is it an indfk? Nothing from these engagements means there will be an intervention or an automatic whistle.

IF at NO time did you indicate wait for a whistle!
IF the two teams just kind of muddled about ,defenders kind of withdrawing attackers mulling over options and the kicker looks over at you and either asks can I go? or just decides to go
YOU as referee, now seeing he now wants to go, you back off and shrug or wave a hand to go ahead, with no whistle you have done nothing against the LOTG
Yet, those watching, because there was a delay or some chit chat exchanged, automatically but incorrectly assumed a whistled restart! So you will get grief, deserved or not!

It is a truism that some of us may struggle with what value to attach to an opinion that contradicts our own biased stance. I hold that unless the referee has actually said," We wait, the kicking team need NOT wait! Unless of course circumstances require intervention. In these cases a referee should ASAP clear up any misconceptions and immediately state we are going only on a whistle to prevent the quick kick! One can apply advantage and caution at the next stoppage but if we whistle for a stop, to caution or send off, we must whistle to restart!

The fact is. there is no absolute law that changes a restart outcome for improper use of a whistle. Unless that whistle was not the referees'! It would be near impossible for a protest to be accepted for a referee failing to signal with only a whistle restart!

So my advice to ALL defenders, be on guard, the game is ALWAYS on!

Admittedly I do not like the referee positioning or in the middle of the free kick doing anything except to initially indicate who the free kick is for and what type of free kick it is, point to the spot where the kick must occur! A quick verbal reminder of, "Ten yards gentleman in all directions"is not enough to automatically set the free kick on the ceremonial course. That said free kicks tight to the Penalty Area or indfks from inside the Penalty Area are excellent scoring opportunities! The restarts in these areas are often of greater concern than further afield, as an exact blade of grass restart with little allowance for discretion.
Watch these videos and see the problems created by perception, misconception, inattention and misunderstanding!

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x19gip_lille-man-utd-0-1-giggs_sport

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeNMVMAEiTA&t=6m35s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIMNX6ISH7U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW4qw9Hn_q0