Question Number: 16255

Law 13 - Free Kicks 8/9/2007

RE: Competive Adult

Nathanael Vitalis of Center City, MN USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 16199

Thank you to all the referees that provided answers to my initial question 16199!

But sadly, our referee circle is still in deep discussion on this question/issue.

We have reviewed your answers to question 16199, Law 13, and Advice to Referees 13.5; and realized that question 16199 actually has 2 parts.

The first, whether a 'tap' is legally a kick we were all in agreement about, and concur with 13.5

As all the answers stated: a kick means a kick.

But the second part of the question we are hung up on is: If the ball is 'tapped' before it is legally kicked(must move from a kicking motion), do I have to blow my whistle for an improperly taken IFK? Or, can I just reason that the second player who legally kicks the ball is the first player that has legally initiated putting the ball in play?

Or put another way, albeit unrealistic: Could 1, 2, 3 or more players 'tap' the ball before it is legally kicked (must move from a kicking motion), or would I blow my whistle after player 1 'taps' the ball?

In advance, thank you for being patient with a rookie referee that has got hung up on a very specific issue of Law 13 and Advice to Referees 13.5

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

All things come to the referee who waits...of course, what comes if he waits too long isn't a good thing! But, then, that is the art of refereeing, isn't it? When is long enough but not too long? My advice, and I'm sure there will be more and even better from my colleagues here, is to watch what the teams are doing and how they react. Don't be too quick on the whistle, and do use your voice if you feel the tapping has gone from settling the ball where it will be kicked to an unfair attempt to buffalo the other team. There is a wide range in there. Often the teams sort it out by themselves. Often they've received incomplete or incorrect information from their coaches about what will put the ball into play, and they think they are being "OH, so clever!" so this is a great opportunity to provide some education, although please don't get out your book and drawing board on the field! (just kidding) Just your whistle or a quick comment is all it should take. Players learn really fast when we blow the whistle and make them start all over again, and that's good. Just be careful it is what is needed. No sense in using a sledgehammer where a tack hammer will work.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If touches 1, 2 and 3 are only taps, they are not kicks. Touch 4 is a kick, therefore this touch is the one that puts the ball into play. Since it's an IFK, a goal cannot be scored until there is a touch 5 (by either team).

The next thing we have to consider is just how long we're going to let the team monkey around tapping on the ball. There is such a thing as delaying the restart. Too many taps gets to be excessive in terms of, "How long does it take you guys to kick the ball, anyway?"

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The tap and not move or tap and wiggle is a sore spot with a lot of us because so many referees just have no clue what ATR says has to happen to be kicked and moved. Many just accept tap and wiggle as kicked and moved. That means when the guys, like us, actually enforce the policy we look very bad.

So how can we convince the players what kicked and moved means. Start with the kick off, if they tap if and then kick it backwards whistle! Tell them the ball must be kicked forward. They will argue that it was kicked forward -- Gotcha! No No you say, tapped and wiggle isn't kicked and moved, get it right guys. Make a big deal about making sure the watch is not started. You just set the tome for the rest of the match, tapped and wiggled ain't gonna happen today.

So they try the cutsie bunch of guys tap and wiggle. First time mention something about delaying the restart or "I thought we already spoke about the tap and wiggle thing. The coach is going to bitch, so be ready with "Sir, I'm not one of your players -- please don't give me tactical instructions." Again the tone is set. Next time he gives tactical instructions to you be ready with "Sir you know you can't give me tactical instructions so what you are saying must be to insult me, is that correct?" If he does it again he IS trying to insult, deal with that. Warn or expel as appropriate to his historical behaviour...

You mean remember what he does in all previous matches in which you had the pleasure of his company??? YES!! If he is predisposed to being an Alpha Hotel isn't the day going to proceed better without him? Think about that just a second, see what I mean??

So the players drop the tap and wiggle thing for you on the day, isn't life grand -- now it the coach would just shut up. Why is he still there???

Good for you guys, discussion is a super thing. Just make sure what falls out of the discussion is correct in Law and US Soccer policies. Would hate to see career killing mistakes come from the learning process. Remember, we make mistakes as we learn but we make more mistakes when learning stops...

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

The ball must be discernibly kicked and discernibly moved!

If the foot is left or placed on top of the ball then the foot continuously drags the ball to a different location then the foot is taken away, it is NOT a kick!

If the foot is left or placed on top of the ball then the foot is taken away, it is NOT a kick!

It is NOT a requirement that the ball must travel far or even roll its full circumference as it once stated in law over some ten years ago. Only two free kick stipulate a forward motion, kick -off and PK. INDFKs require two touches to score but the ball is in play on that first touch!

A kick can be from ANY part of the foot be it the side, top, bottom or heel of the shoe. If I place my foot against the ball and push the ball away discernibly forward with the sole of my foot that is a kick provided by foot is not in continuous contact during the motion.

If I knock the ball back with my heel, that is a kick.
If I flick the ball forward with my toe, that is a kick.
IF I slip a square ball with my side foot, that is a kick

The taking of free kicks became difficult to distinguish when the ball was actually in play and when the team was farting around holding the ball in place or rolling it around in preparation to kick it or attempting a sneaky play.
If players stood in front of the ball it could screen the referee.
If players tried the *trick* here you take it stuff after touching the ball we were at a loss to decide if it was truly in play or needed to award an indfk for a second touch once it was dribbled forward!
Then should we yell at defenders to get back for seeing the ball moved but we did not or have the team taking the free kick complaining they were not putting the ball in play only holding it steady in the wind?

While we might not intervene if the two teams are in agreement as to the kicking motion, if we set a standard that becomes easily seen it is better than peering through the fog !
Cheers