Question Number: 29226

Law 13 - Free Kicks 3/5/2015

RE: rec Adult

pete of floral park, ny usa asks...

hi refs,
when a team gets a free kick inside their own penalty area, can a player pass the ball to a teamate who is inside the pa or does the ball have to leave the pa before it's in play, i am curious to know if the rule for this is the same as a goal kick.

Thanks pete.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Pete,

The rule is the same for a goal kick or any free kick the defending team has within their own Penalty Area. A lot of people don't realise that for the free kicks as well the ball must leave the PA

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Pete
Many get this wrong. The ball on any kicked restart inside the penalty area by the defending team has to leave the penalty area before the ball is in play.
If the ball is touched inside the penalty area by a player from either side the kick is retaken.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Pete,
No passing allowed!
The ball must completely clear the PA boundary lines to be in play. If ANYONE or anything prevents this the free kick is retaken. Possible warnings and or cautions show a yellow card if the interference is deemed as USB or delaying the restart etc...

In recreational matches when I see free kicks coming out of the PA be it Goal kick or whatever, I often see opponents cutting the PA corners to put pressure on defenders receiving outlet passes if the kicks are not being boomed way down the field. This is not permitted, perhaps warn once but certainly cautionable show the yellow card if repeated. Remember though the free kick must be retaken if you do act on it! Also note the ten yards must be respected from the point of where the kick occurs as a minimum distance

FIFA QUOTE
Law 13 Position of free kick
Free kick inside the penalty area
Direct or indirect free kick to the defending team:
• all opponents must be at least 9.15 m (10 yds.) from the ball
• all opponents must remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in play
• the ball is in play when it is kicked directly out of the penalty area
• a free kick awarded in the goal area may be taken from any point inside that area
Indirect free kick to the attacking team:
• all opponents must be at least 9.15 m (10 yds.) from the ball until it is in play, unless they are on their own goal line between the goalposts
• the ball is in play when it is kicked and moves
• an indirect free kick awarded inside the goal area must be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 29230