Question Number: 17515

Law 17 - Corner Kick 10/25/2007

RE: Under 18

learner of memphis, tn usa asks...

This question is a follow up to question 17464

Thank you very much for answering the previous question [17464]. I did not respond to the coach when he talked about kicking from the other side. The team immediately started the play and coach did not continue.

My follow up question is about game management issue. There are many laws of the game that I believe many referees (including world class FIFA referees) don't force them strictly for every position. Such as throw-ins, I can tell with confidence that at every game on tv, players move more than one yard from the point that the ball left the field of play many times. Another example would be indirect and direct kicks, unless the position is dangerous for opponent (example: defending team kicking close to their penalty area) referees allow them to start the ball a few yards away from the actual position.

As a soccer fan, I think that these are okay because that way the game flows more smoothly. Now going back to the corner kick position, assume, the coach or anyone else has not told anything but you know the ball left the field of play from the left side. The attacking team got the game ball from a few yards away and put inside the corner arc on the right side. You definitely know the ball went our from the left. What would you do?

If you will ask to move to the left? How would you approach to the players when they complain about that?

Once again thank you very much in advance!

Best Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

In the previous question you refer to, you and I offered the location where a corner kick is taken from is happens to be "from inside the corner arc at the nearest corner flag post" according to Law 17. I advised you in In the United States there is a divergent opinion in this. Specifically Advice to Referees states and I quote again:

17.1 BALL PLACEMENT FOR A CORNER KICK

The corner kick restart is taken from the corner on the side of the field nearest to where the ball crossed the goal line. In cases where the selection of the correct corner may be doubtful, the referee will decide and announce the correct corner clearly and firmly.

End Quote.

There you have it, a stated policy and if you hold a US Soccer license you're bound to referee any US Soccer sanctioned match, including USYSA, in accordance with those written policies.

In this question you ask: "The attacking team got the game ball from a few yards away and put inside the corner arc on the right side. You definitely know the ball went our from the left. What would you do?" This comes after you have information given you concerning US Soccer policy, I simply don't understand why you ask this because the answer is obvious, isn't it? Yes, follow written instructions. I realize I'm saying this in a harsh manner, but as what I say in this answer has already been stated in the previous answer I can only surmise you disagree or did not read the answer provided.

Because you are "still learning" I offer this point to allow you to choose the corner at which you allow the kick to be taken. Read carefully because it is against the written policies of US Soccer and will cost you on an assessment. Right, in the situation you offer and only in that situation do this IF the player taking the corner kick has not given you any trouble on any occasion during the match, go with what is written in Law 17. If the player taking the corner has given you grief on many occasions during the match go with paragraph 17.1 of Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game. You do this only to give him the same grief he has given you... AND you do it emphatically and loudly!

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

As you continue in your learning, you will learn the concept of trifling. Generally what the players accept as fair, the referee should accept as fair. That can't always be the case, there's some times you have to put your foot down and say No More.

On these black-and-white issues such as which side of the goal the ball left, you have to be more firm. Same kind of thing for ball in/out of play. Either it happens or it doesn't, and that's all there is to it. In the previous question I somewhat facetiously said that I "saw" the ball go out toward the dry corner of the field, and my version of the facts of play is what happened. That works in recreational and youth play, because it gives the players something they can work with. It wouldn't be appropriate in a higher level game. But then again, in those games you're going to have better fields, no low flooded spots just off the corner, etc. In those games, the players will be trying to place the ball to their advantage. Maybe the wannabe Beckham bends it better from the left corner than the right. You can't let him have that advantage if it's not warranted.

The other kinds of questions you ask, position of a free kick or throw-in, are more gray. We don't have to find the exact blade of grass to place the ball. Often close-enough is close enough. Close enough gets closer to exact depending on where on the field we're talking. A PK gets put exactly on the spot. A free kick inbound just outside the penalty area gets spotted pretty close, so the angle and distance to goal is correct. An offside IFK outbound can pretty much be placed anywhere within 30 yards of the correct spot without affecting play, although we would encourage them to get it closer than that. Remember, don't sweat the petty things. (And don't pet the sweaty things.)