Question Number: 16791

Law 13 - Free Kicks 9/19/2007

RE: Select Under 14

William of Cincinnati, Ohio USA asks...

(Question 1)On a direct free kick can a player on the offensive team, other than the player taking the kick, ask for ten yards?
(Question 2)If player A ask for ten yards, then could player B take the kick?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi William,
The entire agrieved team has the right not just the kicker. In fact who is to say the person to ask must be the kicker given the dummy, set ups with all kinds of player movement stepping over the ball? The referee will take his cue and if he has decided that he will restart ceremonially he will indicate it to all or having decided to do so he might recall the kick. If it was bang A was asking as bang B was kicking and the referee had not done anything to indicate a decision he may choose to allow the kick to proceed. The key here is the defending team has no right and if MY defender stopped defending because he heard an opponent say, "Hey ref where is our ten yards?" just then the kick occurs as coach he will be replaced very quickly! I think there is a bit of leeway in the timing, however, if the referee hears the request and has begun acting on it then I think the free kick will be ceremonial and recalled!

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

1. Of course they can ask, this is the USA after all! Besides, how do you know they will not ultimately take the kick in the end?

2. See the answer to question 1. They are the same, however just to clarify - if player A asked for 10 yards - any player on the attacking team may take the free kick.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Oh, my. I do hope the referee has enough experience to know you shouldn't have to ask for 10 yards - that she has been proactive and been telling the defenders to back off to 10+ yards from the very first whistle. However, if you or anyone else on your team do have to ask for ten, and the referee complies with the ceremonial free kick procedure, by all means any one of your teammates may put the ball back into play. Why do you think Beckham is the one chosen to do most of the free kicks? Not because he was the one against whom the offense was committed, but it is because he is the best one for the job.