Question Number: 19149

Law 13 - Free Kicks 5/19/2008

RE: Rec, club, HS Adult

Joe M of Bergen County, NJ U.S.A. asks...

In between matches yesterday, a much more experienced ref (Grade 13) corrected the CR for not chasing all players of the team taking a goal kick out of the penalty area (I was AR2 of this match). After the match, I questioned this. He, again, stated that only the kicker and keeper may remain in the box... all other team players (and, of course, the attacking team) must clear the box. I questioned him again, politely asking "are you certain?" (I admit I don't know everything, yet, and learn something every time I step onto the pitch, whether to ref or play) and "was this a recent rule change?". He reiterated his position, further stating "...the belief that players of the team taking a goal kick are able to remain within the penalty box is a common misconception".

I have checked with other refs who attended the cert and recert classes with me over the last 6 years, and we are all in agreement that the
team taking the goal kick may have its players in the penalty area, but of course, no one of either team may play the ball until it exits the box.

Could you please let me know who is correct?

Thank-you.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Joe,
you be good.
the grade 13 he be bad

If there is confusion it generaly pertains to ANY defending free kick (indfk, dfk, goal kick)taken from inside the defending penalty area including the goal area
No player from either team can play the ball until it has completely left the area to be in play, no attackers in the area as well as ten yards minimum.

Free Kick Inside the Penalty Area
Direct or indirect free kick to the defending team:
? all opponents are at least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the ball
? all opponents remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in
play
? the ball is in play when it is kicked directly beyond the penalty
area
? a free kick awarded in the goal area is taken from any point inside
that area

Goal Kick Procedure
? the ball is kicked from any point within the goal area by a player
of the defending team
? opponents remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in
play
? the kicker does not play the ball a second time until it has touched
another player
? the ball is in play when it is kicked directly beyond the penalty
area

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If you see this referee again, please tell him that the team taking the goal kick may have every player on their team inside the penalty area if they want to. None may touch the ball until it leaves the penalty area but they are welcome to occupy it if they want. Only the opoonents must be outside the penalty artea at the taking of a goal kick or ANY kick coming out of one's own penalty area. Please ask him to contact us or Jim Allen at US Soccer if he wants an official clarification. ALso it is a common misconception that just because a person is a "senior" referee that he or she knows more than you do.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

A grade 13, a retired national and international panel candidate, and he doesn't know about Law 13 and its requirements. Perhaps that's why he is a 13 instead of an 11.

It is imperative this retired national be retrained on the subject because he might become a national assessor or instructor and he will teach the wrong information. Could you put a name to this person and send it to: MrRef@asktheref.com and we'll take care of getting him retrained.

Regards,