Question Number: 30648

Law 13 - Free Kicks 8/5/2016

RE: Rec Adult

Steve of Perth, Western Australia Australia asks...

What I love about this game is how it often throws up situations that I have never encountered before.

I was refereeing an adult ladies' game recently. It was played in very good spirit with few fouls or problems. I gave a free kick to the attack, about 10 yards from the penalty area. The defence lined up their wall at least 12 or 13 yards away from the ball. They looked across at me. I called out 'fine' and blew for the kick. The wall looked rather surprised.

My question is, the defenders were clearly expecting me to tell them how much to move FORWARD towards the ball, and seemed thrown when I merely blew for the attack to take the free kick. It seemed to me that it is not my job to make sure the wall is EXACTLY ten yards away (or 9.15 metres here in Australia)and so long as they are not nearer than the minimum, that's all I need to worry about.

None of this mattered anyway, as the free kick sailed harmlessly away for a goal kick, but I did wonder about what you guys thought on this subject as it is something I have not read about before.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The Laws say 'at least'. They were at least. You're done.

Now, if the kicker had asked for 10, you could say the opponents are more than 10. If the kicking team insists, you could show them up by moving to 10 yards and allowing the wall to move up. But really, they shouldn't be insisting you measure the distance to the wall every time. I think that's caused by a 'magic foam' syndrome, but we certainly shouldn't encourage that behavior. In reality if a kicker insists you move the wall, that's a form of dissent that should be dealt with. The kicker is saying that you don't know what you're doing.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Steve, you are quite right that you do not have to tell the players to move forward to exactly 10 yards. The laws state that, at the taking of a free kick, 'Until the ball is in play all opponents must remain at least 9.15m (10 yds) from the ball...'

The important part here for your scenario are the words 'at least.' If they are more than 10 yards, the requirements of the Law are met and the referee does not have to take any further action - certainly not in an adult game.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
No concern for the referee if a team does not use the laws fully to its advantage. As the players were 10 yards plus away from the ball then so be it. Part of the game is making decision which include judgement. Judging offside positions, distance from the ball, setting angles are all part of the game. I suppose it is why it usually works the opposite way in that teams sets up 5/6 yards away and requests that the referee sets the 10 yards.