Question Number: 17587

Law 13 - Free Kicks 10/29/2007

RE: Competive Under 13

Michael Conklin of Palatine, Illinois USA asks...

Like many on this panel, I am an advocate of defenders respecting the at least 10 yards on free kicks. I wish I would see more enforcement of this at the professional levels, that the youth all watch on TV. I guess the professionals prefer cerimonial restarts and set plays.

I had a game, where a U12 girls coach instucted his players to run up to where I called a foul against them, BEFORE I had indicated the exact location, in order to prevent a quick restart. He told them that when I indicated the exact location of the free kick, they should then immeadiately and slowly back away. He told them that as long as they were backing away the referee can't call it.

The other team had no quick restart play, and the slowly retreating defenders were 9-10 yards away before they ever got around to taking the free kick, so this never presented itself as a problem, in this game.

However, if a quick restart had been tried...and the backing up defenders got hit by the ball, or were able to play the ball, as they were pretending to respect the distance...would a caution for FRD be fair since they were backing up and the kickers took their free kick, thus accepting the opponents location? Remember that at the time of the actual foul these defenders were more than 10 yards away, and then deliberately ran in to where the free kick would likely be placed, for the stated purpose of preventing a quick restart.

Is this a fair tactic? My gut tells me that the defenders commited the original foul, and it is wrong that they get to manipulate the free kick in any way.

Thanks for your input and the opportunity you provide for so many of us to improve our skills.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Thanks Michael, we appreciate the kudos. Now what we need you to do is get hold of a copy of the 2007 Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game from US Soccer [ATR]; purchase or download at your pleasure and look to ATR paragraphs 13.3 and 13.4. I'll bet you'll find the answer to your problem there. The changes stem from referees in the MLS not dealing with free kicks in accordance with the Law. See US Soccer Memo dated 22 June 2007.

Once you have digested the changes you might think about who is bringing The Game into disrepute by requiring players to ignore Law 13 then look at ATR 5.10.

With respect to professional players liking ceremonial restarts and set plays, sure they like their set plays. The ability to score a goal from a set play is a thing of beauty, trouble is defenders are allowed by the referee to gather around the point of the infraction and delay things and/or prevent a set play. For some reason I do not understand why free kicks are allowed to be prevented by referees. Just because the defenders form a crowd to unfairly harm those already harmed by their foul play doesn't mean the referee should be complicit in their crimes.

In the three referenced paragraphs are outlined exactly how to deal with players and those bringing The Game into disrepute. Have fun writing match reports until every referee in your club does as US Soccer policy currently reads.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Those be bad coaching instructions if my colleagues or I were on the pitch that day. I do not think we have ever carded an entire team at once?
Surely I should remember that? lol
Be very quick, whistle and point immediately as you blow, you do not have to go and place the ball the attacking team has that covered. The opposing team has NO time to run up, backing away is their ONLY option. Reasonable is not slowly, 10 yards NOW, or you delayed the restart!
It is vital you stamp out the, drag the feet delay stuff, so there is no question when a free kick is taken and the ball hits a too close opponent it is a caution and retake for Failure to respect the distance because the opponent moved towards or the kicker blasted it right into their midriff as they retreated and we continue playing as the intercepted ball was the fault of the kicker, as we are left wondering at their lack of skill.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

That coach is clearly mistaken in how he assumes I would treat his players. If a bunch of players move closer to the site of the foul, I may just start picking and choosing who will see the yellow plastic. The coach can't claim they didn't know where the ball was going to be placed, because they converged on that point. The exact blade of grass isn't the point, it's the unsporting behavior they are exhibiting in failing to respect the distance. U12 I might give them one freebie, asking "How far is that?!" If they don't cease and desist, they're going in the book. No doubt the coach as well, as he's likely to be behaving in an irresponsible manner by dissenting and trying to tell me the Law.