Question Number: 15636

Law 13 - Free Kicks 5/29/2007

RE: AYSO Under 15

Bob Strangeway of Los Angeles, California USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 15615

A similar situation (re kicked and moved on IFK [as in 15615]) happened to me this weekend. I awarded an IFK just outside the penalty area (impeding). The attackers used the foot tap. Strickly speaking USSF would not consider this as putting the ball in play. However, everybody knew that this was the attackers intent, and the defensive wall moved forward on the tap. The subsequent kick hit the wall and play continued. Thus in one way the question is moot, as there was a second touch (by the defense). On the other hand, if the initial tap did not put the ball in play then the defenders encroached before the kick, and the kick should be retaken. This strikes me as unfair. The attackers chose the foot tap. Giving them a second chance when it didn't work seems to be against the spirit of the game. Is this what FIFA means by "Fingerspitzengefuehl?"

At the time I chose to take the tap as putting the ball in play. This only happened once, but I assume that I would then have to take a foot tap as sufficient for the rest of the game.

Should I have insisted on a retake? In that case should I have cautioned the defense for encroachment?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Bob. The ball was NOT put properly into play per USSF but you as the referee decided this was trifling and allowed play to continue. You certainly would not caution the entire wall or any defender regardless. Why? Well, one of 2 things happened 1. you allowed the ball was put into play so the wall could move or 2. The ball was never put into play so the wall merely is told to move back as we're taking the kick over. Had you insisted on a retake, you still do NOT caution anyone in the wall as they did nothing wrong

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The referee must keep his arm raised to indicate the indirect nature of the kick until the ball touches another player. Did you lower your arm or keep it raised until it hit the defender? I hope you kept it up!

Directly Translating Fingerspitzengefuehl from the German to English we find it means an intuitive feeling. You allowed the ball to "Go into Play" which, to me sounds more like that's OK rather than they're cheating. What the wall did by reacting to the tap was they accept this as putting the ball into play. You don't have to accept it! Granted both sides accepting something as fair usually means the referee not getting involved, usually! Not today sports fans. You need only maintain the indirect signal until the second touch. THEN you have enforced the Laws of the Game!

Directly into the goal, untouched by a second player, is a goal kick as evidenced by you pointing to the length of your upraised arm then lowering that arm to indicate goal kick. Into the wall and play continuing is fine too, just treat the encroachment as doubtful. What comes next is important, you'll talk with the captain of the side tapping the ball to restart. That way he'll know you're onto his tricks. At the next indirect free kick just mention tapping isn't kicked and moves to the defenders...

Note, having this in your bag of tricks, before the circumstances arise, allows you to use it. VERY few referees are capable of this level of thinking when stressed in a match.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

I would not caution in this case. Either way it sounds like the attackers screwed this one up for themselves. I would probably not order a rekick here has it would be hard to sell and to me just plain not the right thing to do. Like Mr. Fleischer said your hand should have been raised until the ball hit the defender.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

As referee we live and die by our decisions on the field.
If we choose to see the restart as started and the defenders choose to see the restart as started and the offence were convinced they had chose to start the restart why are you thinking about cautioning anyone?
Use your Arm to indicate the INDFK restart
Use the law when the restart is improper note LAW 13
when a free kick is taken, an opponent is closer to the ball than the required distance:
the kick is retaken.
NO mention of a MUST caution!
Here you could blow the whistle and say to all that is not putting the ball in play again please.
No next time for that in a match as it is clarified this time!
Cheers