Question Number: 22148

Law 17 - Corner Kick 10/3/2009

RE: Competive Under 13

Ken of Truckee, CA United States asks...

Corner kick is awarded...
The player who is going to take the corner kick sets the ball.
He then grabs the corner flag post (before the kick) and shakes it.
What would you call?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

I really don't understand why the player is shaking the flag....if he's delaying the restart of play he can be cautioned, though it may be better just to tell him to get on with it.

In Australia many fields are very hard, meaning it is very difficult to put the corner flags in the ground. this means they often stand at an angle (however, we need to remember that the laws state the vertical height must be at least 1.5m for safety reasons). Often players will push the flag out of the way at a corner if it's in their way, and I have no problem with this. It's just something that's tolerated in the lower grades here.

However, as Ref Maloney said there's no reason for him to move the flag away from vertical.

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Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

What kind of shake a shimmy or a bump and grind? Tell him to get his dancing card in order and get on with the corner. If the corner flag is improperly positioned as in someone ran into it. Be sure it is corrected before play restarts. If the wind is up well the corner kick taker is just going to have to approach the ball differently. Field markers are forbidden to be deliberately moved or altered. I have sent off a player for bending it and letting it whip into an opponent!
We are able to caution for any mishandling of the corner but a simple leave it or put it back and do not do that generally suffices!
Cheers


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Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Referee Ken
The first question I would ask is why he is shaking the corner flag. If the flag is not properly located in the corner and it is impeding the kicker in taking the corner I don't see anything wrong in centering it or positioning it as it should be. A good prematch inspection should sort out any of those problems but it does happen.
Is it some sort of signal to his team mates or just a lark. I would speak to the player and provided there is no problem with the flag, inform him to leave the flag alone and get on with play.

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Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Did he take it out of the ground to shake it? If so, a caution. If not, a warning to leave field appurtenances alone. Restart - corner kick.

I would add another player on the team could hold a leaning flag up straight while the kick is taken, but he is not allowed to move it away from vertical or take it out of the ground. Some fields are so hard, it is difficult to get the flags to stand up straight, or on really windy days, the flags may lean into the field into the way of the kicker. This is not the norm, of course, and is permitted only in such conditions.

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Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I'd blow my whistle and tell the player while he is free to place the ball anywhere within the corner arc, he may NOT hold the corner flag while taking the corner kick. if he does it a second time he will be cautioned for usb

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