Question Number: 29062

Mechanics 12/19/2014

RE: Rec Adult

Sy of Milwaukee, WI USA asks...

Question about when a ref should blow his whistle for a restart to be taken: A foul is committed and the ref calls for a direct kick. Though the opposing team doesn't ask for ten yards, the ref begins telling the defensive wall to move back ten yards. While he is giving his instructions to the players in the wall, the offensive team puts the ball in play and scores a goal. The ref allows the goal to stand. The refs on our league are very inconsistent in their application of whether or not they should consider this a ceremonial kick. Some say that once they start giving instructions, the defensive players are now distracted, so common sense says to now handle the situation as a ceremonial kick. Other refs say it only becomes ceremonial if the offense asks for the ten yards. I've read the law on this and can't seem to really get clarification on how this situation should be properly handled. Thanks so much your help!!

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Sy,

I've heard some referees state that the moment you start giving instructions, it's ceremonial. However, I disagree with this. Firstly, the law doesn't state this. Second, referees often talk to players to be proactive and prevent problems from arising. Referees tell players where to take a throw rather than immediately penalising for an incorrect throw. They constantly talk to players to minimise fouls, and so forth. So, I see talking to players to move them back as proactive refereeing.

But referees do need to be careful, and this ties in with what you said about distracting the defenders. If, for instance, the referee is standing near the ball talking the defenders back (or even standing near the defenders), this this looks to everybody like a ceremonial start - so I would say this intervention is making it ceremonial. If the referee is some distance away, there's nothing wrong with him telling players to move back. The same thing happens on free kicks in the middle of the field, and nobody questions is. What crosses the line into interfering (thus requiring a ceremonial restart) is if the referee is constantly talking ('10 yards, keep going, back further, 3 more steps, keep going...'), as opposed to just a brief comment or two.

As for the concern around the players asking the ten yards - the referee should give the attacking team the chance to take it quickly if they want, so generally will try to avoid intervening if it looks like there's a chance for a quick one. The attacking team can ask for the ten yards and the referee will oblige - but at the same time, the defence should be making an effort to respect the ten yards without being told to be the referee.

Of course, it's one thing to know how referees should be doing it - if as you say, referees in your league are inconsistent in their approach then you should keep this in mind; if the referee hasn't clearly instructed the attacking team to wait for the whistle, then always remember there's a chance that he may allow a kick at any time. Maybe he won't, but some will. Keeping in mind that anything can happen will probably help you more on the field than knowing the textbook response to how they should be applying the law.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
Let me begin by saying that if the defending team who committed the offence retreated the 10 yards immediately the situation would not arise.
Now having said that we know as referees that teams try to compromise the restart by placing players in front of the ball. Now how that is dealt with can and does vary from referee to referee. Giving instructions to players to move away in its own right does not make a kick ceremonial. So a referee could shout to a player to move away from the ball and the kicker, if all the other factors are present, will be allowed to get on with play.
Where that cannot happen is in the situations were the kicking team has asked for 10 yards or where the referee has intervened in such a way as to physically start moving players away from the ball. In a recent game I was berated by a goalkeeper for a allowing a quick free kick. Many teams are now so used with on the whistle is that they ASSUME that every kick is such. That is patently not the case. Those that are switched on are alert to what is happening so that the QFK will be handled smartly.
If I was coaching teams in this League I would advise that the team adopt the position that QFKs are only ceremonial when the kicking team ask for that. The inconsistency, even if it is there, then does not matter as the team does not expect a whistled restart.
Have a look at this incident in the video. The goal was allowed even though the referee did not signal the restart.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeNMVMAEiTA&t=6m35s
Now had the whistle been sounded there would have been zero debate without 6/7 players chasing him about no whistle. As it happened it ended up in a sending off. If I look at the video closely I see that the wall is set, the goalkeeper has moved to his position, all the other defenders are ready and the referee is not in the way. While the referee ignored the advice it was his decision that the free kick did not need to be retaken and that the whistle was not needed in the circumstances. I don't recommend it yet it was his game, his reputation. BTW it is not part of the Laws of the Game just advice so it is not a protestable decision.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Sy,
Your question is one that constantly reoccurs over the years because it is a critical component into how a good official evolves. I suggest you look into the other free kick answers we have on the site 28760, 28963, 29009, etc..

Officiating is not just about knowing and applying the laws of the game, it is a character study of human interaction. The common thread of player and match management is fundamental to the development of consistency! Character and attitude of officials vary as to their comfort zone based on their current level of understanding, experience and knowledge.

Knowledge can be explained to you but one cannot understand it for you!
The dawn of awaking must come from a personal realization whereby the Rubik cube parts all fall into place no matter the what combination of patterns are set forth at the start of each situation or new set of circumstances. As you gain experience and become better at reading the game I hope you can glean that situational awareness is a micromanagement of the match at each and every decision. Things are constantly in flux. The clear decision, the non decision, the possible decision, are all in play, interdependent on the actions and reactions of those playing. You witnessed a foul, was this more than careless? Reckless even excessive? Was DOGSO a consideration? Did you consider advantage? So now you blow the whistle, stopped play. You indicated who the foul was against and thus which team receives the free kick and what type of free kick it is and point to the spot where the free kick is to occur! What is REQUIRED by you now? A quick kick permitted if the team asks, 'Can I go?' Sure, you never indicated otherwise!

The LOTG state VERY clearly that the team taking the FREE KICK operative word 'free' have the right to do so without the opposition being CLOSER than ten yards away. In fact it is an OFFENCE and a form of misconduct by any opponent to delay the restart or fail to respect the distance .

Defenders have no rights other than for a FAIR RESTART and that you are not unfairly interfering with their choices. As a proactive approach, a simple verbal reminder of, 'Ten yds. now!' to facilitate play, perhaps reminding reactant defenders of their obligations to respect the distance and not delay the restart? Eliminating a need to caution for such an avoidable action is NOT a precursor to a Ceremonial free kick nor an intervention restricting a quickly taken free kick.

My advice differs slightly with USSF policy which is quite definitive about the referee not initially interjecting his presence on a restart even verbal clues, wanting only the players to sort it out! Expecting the referee to be smart enough, experienced enough, aware enough to decipher the player's actions, their verbal and nonverbal clues, body language, plaintive whining, eye rolling, and gestures.

So now your focus is split between match requirements and the teams as you search for those subtle and not so subtle signals as you decide to act or not act, or wait or not wait, back off or charge in. Whistle poised, seeing who is doing what and why, wondering if the time is now or later? Are the attackers not really sure what they want? Anything you need to be doing or not doing?

Are the defenders following the LOTG? Is what they are doing affecting the attackers from getting the ball in play? Ten yards in all directions by the way, not 4 or 5 yards! Or even 6 to 8 yards! Those defenders already far away in one direction think their right to get back to defend extends to a walk or run towards the ball so they can get ten yards away towards their own goal by travelling 16-20 yards just casually in line with the balls projected flight path is no accident. Getting in behind the ball is a tactical taught approach and those referees who think it is ok to have a few seconds to sort out where everyone should be by allowing it have effectively killed off many a non quickly taken free kick but then your own need to intervene may also require no quick kick be permitted.

Every time you decide to stop play and award a free kick there are a number of factors that are to be considered,
some are discarded,
ie trifling, doubtful, advantage insufficient to allow play?
others we are on the look out for,
ie severity of foul continued misconduct, additional misconduct
some can be ignored but not always without consequence
ie.. restart quickly is better than??
others DEMAND your attention,
ie cards, punishment and match necessities

Occasionally we NEED to change FREE KICK into a CEREMONIAL free kick!
Why? It begins with an official's realization of match necessity, the preponderance of evidence outweighs the aggrieved teams' desire to get on with play as 'non essential' to match requirements.
When you set the essential bar, your decision is a CLEAR message that is required hearing for all who participate.
In effect you are saying, 'This action produces this result!' ALL OF THE TIME!
Consistency is being introduced!

ONLY when you as the official have indicated to all that you are headed to a ceremonial restart by INFORMING all with word, eye contact and body action, We WAIT for a whistle! is there ANY reason at all for those playing to believe that a whistled restart will begin play.

My colleague Ref Wickham makes an astute observation, but I will add even greater certainty speaking as a coach, player and referee
'If the referee hasn't clearly instructed either team to wait for the whistle, best be prepared for a kick at any time.' To do otherwise as a defender is foolish and naïve gamesmanship. Poor mechanics, an inappropriate signal or miscommunication all might irritate, but none will undo a referees' decision to allow a free kick to go forward as a fact concerning play.

My input begins as early as I make it abundantly clear to teams that restart requirements are not to be taken lightly. I SPECIFICALLY spell out in any pregame talk with the team On FREE KICKs or restarts it could be most unwise to delay or fail to respect the distance. (unfortunately I am very anal about delaying restarts, perhaps too quick to caution, so I attempt to warn them of this condition)
Any questions?

Limit your involvement with only proactive statements or gestures where your actions can not be misconstrued as active involvement in an unfair manner. Let the players' actions dictate your own actions! Be both proactive in heading off an issue to see the restart go forward to a reactive situation by stepping in to punish those foolish enough to think your oversight is not without cost!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The defense has no right on a free kick, except the right not to be misled by something the referee says or done. It is therefore critical that the referee use clear verbal and nonverbal signals when the players must wait for the whistle.