Question Number: 17932

Law 13 - Free Kicks 11/16/2007

RE: Rec and travel High School

Steve Cerretani of Howell, NJ USA asks...

Does the ref have to start play with the whistle after asking the wall to back up (to approx. 10 yards)?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Steve as soon as the referee gets the attention of the defenders and they look his way he is sort of obligated to hold the restart because the defenders are paying attention to him. ATR states as soon as the referee decides to enforce the distance he must quickly and emphatically establish the restart is going to be delayed until that distance is met.

Now if the defenders are cheating and the referee just tells them to move back ONCE and the attackers take advantage of something they see I consider the cheaters have gotten their just deserts and let play run.

If we are talking about establishing where at least ten yards happens to be on this restart the referee MUST hold the restart until he is finished with the ceremony of showing the cheaters where they must stand. This should only have to happen once in the match because if it happens again we're going to get into the pocket and deal with it in the manner Law 12 requires.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Once a referee has engaged the attention of the defenders and is asked by the team taking a kick to intervene to set a wall it becomes what we refer to as a *ceremonial restart* and a whistle is the preferred method of restart.
In my opinion, all defenders must be 100% focused and on guard against any restart at any moment. Only if a referee has signaled or SHOWN his intent that ONLY a whistle restart WILL occur either verbally or pointed to the whistle to indicate that will be the signal could defenders rest easy.
I bark, "Back away now! Or "10 yards now!" that does not mean a whistle will be the restart signal. Preventive refereeing is not a condition of ceremonial restart procedures. The needs of the match and wishes of the aggrieved party set the bar. You lower or raise it at your discretion or at your peril as the case maybe!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Debbie Hoelscher

Yes. The referee has had to enforce the laws of the game -- again. Just as he did when he stopped play for the foul that got you to the point of a free kick and a wall. The LOTG require AT LEAST 10 YARDS (not approximately 10 yards). When the referee becomes involved, they must then signal to restart play. This way, no team can accuse the other of using the referee as a ploy to distract and therefore cheat.