Question Number: 18357

Law 13 - Free Kicks 2/11/2008

RE: Select Under 16

Mike List of Huntersville, NC USA asks...

Is the referee required to provide a 10 yd distance for the team taking a DK? My understanding is that the referee should allow play to continue on a foul situation because it would be to the attacking team's advantage to play the ball quickly in order to prevent the defending team to set up. If, however, a player on the team taking the DK asks for distance, the referee should provide the required 10 yd distance. Also, in a situation where the defender jumps up and towards the kicker just before the kick is made, is this a cardable offense? Thanks!

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Mike, as a referee read this and remember: the opponents are REQUIRED to give the 10 yards and are REQUIRED to do so without being told. You should always allow the fouled team to take a quick free kick but do not hesitate to caution opoponents that simply stand there in the way. If the kicker asks for the 10 yards then you blow your whistle and make sure everyone knows the kick is not to proceed until you give a signal. The situation you describe is indeed cautionable. Even if this player was retreating, he is not allowed to jump up and towards the the kicker if not at least already 10 yards away

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

My colleague Ref Contarino gives sage advice.
A referee must be aware of the needs of the fouled team and ensure the opponents who JUST stopped the attack receive no further assistance in doing so.
No one disputes if the attacking team places a ball after a foul and smack it into a retreating opponent closer than ten yards then claim fault is ludicrous. Time to retreat to ten must be a reality based event.

It is in the failure to CONTINUE To withdraw to ten yards as the restart is occurring is in itself a violation of the restart. Too many opponents are permitted to stop and react to the fact the kick is taking place which is a cautionable action as it means they failed to respect the distance requirement.

Now the restart may be beneficial to the attacking team and the need to caution the opponent who tried is something we could forgo for the moment but trifling hasa habit of turning habitual unless words and actions are attributed to deeds!

A referee must not presume to involve themselves in a restart unless REQUESTED by the attacking team OR if cautionable action by either team IS present before the kick is taken.
Once a referee needs to or decides to step in, then in my opinion, the free kick becomes ceremonial and cards are certainly in the equation.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

If the team that has the kick wants to quick kick it, that is fine. Referee should not stop the taking of this. If however the quick kick is kicked into a defender, then the match continues provided the defender did not run towards the ball before it was kicked.