Question Number: 32326

Other 3/22/2018

RE: Masters Adult

Joe of Auckland, New Zealand asks...

Hang on referes Michelle and Keith before you ridicule the suggestion of kicking tees. Before platic tees, rugby players would mound some earth on which to place the ball. Certainly it could be argued this was unnecessary and gave an advantage etc?(the ball could be simply 'balanced' on or in the turf.)As a soccer player for some 60 years, I know that to kick a dead ball requires an element of kicking under the ball/through the turf. However, with the advent of artificial turf, this is difficult/impossible and could cause sprain type injuries.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Joe,
Keith has passed on to the great field in the sky (May he rest in peace) and Michelle has not been here in many a year so this be a reference to an oldie?
Yet Soccer is not golf, where we hit down and through the ball using a club. I see no reason at all to allow kicking tees into soccer where we use a round ball. I can see why in a triangle ball. It is the slipping that creates most of the issues. Use good cleats and have good conditioned fields!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Joe
As Referee Dawson says our former colleague Keith is no longer with us having passed away sadly in 2013 and Michelle is no longer a contributor.
Prior to 1995 kicking tees were not allowed in rugby and the player had to make a 'tee' by digging the ground with a heel and forming a 'tee' by hand or the player could ask for a small pot of sand to help make a tee. That was then seen to be holding up the game and damaging the ground so kicking tee were introduced around 1995. These tees are now compulsory in rugby.
As to kicking tees in soccer I cannot really see it happening with the one exception of maybe goal kicks. There is discussion about the possibility of easing up on the stationary ball at goal kicks so perhaps punting may be allowed inside the goal area? I am not sure
I am from Ireland and our form of football has introduced the use of a kicking tee for goal kick outs only. The goalkeeper can use a tee which he lifts and brings back into the goal after the kick. Outfield the ball is kicked off the ground and the surface may not be damaged to do that.
For those kicks out the field could we see a player holding on to the tee until he is in a position to remove it from the FOP. Has play to be held up on each free kick for a tee to be delivered to the kicker and by whom?
So personally I do not see it happening any time soon in soccer.