Question Number: 19682

Law 13 - Free Kicks 8/3/2008

RE: rec Under 11

Brett of Brookfield, Wisconsin United States of America asks...

Is a ball that is just touched considered moved or does it have to move away from its starting point or if it rolls back to its starting point does that count as a kicked ball? I have been wondering about this because a lot of teams just touch the ball and try to score on an indirect free kick.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Here is something from the draft copy ocf Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game, a document which you should have and already have read. The verbage will change ever so slightly when the final edition is on the street:

13.5 BALL IN PLAY
The ball is in play (able to be played by an attacker other than the kicker or by an opponent) when it has been kicked (the foot is used to direct the ball) and moved (caused to go from one place to another), with the result that the ball rolls from 'here' to 'there.' Merely touching the ball is not enough; nor is simply causing the ball to shake or quiver.

When the restart of play is based on the ball being kicked and moved, the referee must ensure that the ball is indeed kicked (touched with the foot in a kicking motion) and moved (caused to go from one place to another). Being 'kicked' does not, for example, include an action in which the ball is dragged by continuous contact with the foot. Being 'moved' does not, for example, include the ball simply quivering, trembling, or shaking as a result of light contact.
The referee must make the final decision on what is and is ot 'kicked and moved' based on the spirit and flow of the match. In all events, the ball must be put into play properly.

The referee must judge carefully whether any particular kick of the ball and subsequent movement was indeed reasonably taken with the intention of putting the ball into play rather than with the intention merely to position the ball for the restart. If the ball is just being repositioned (even if the foot is used to do this), play has not been restarted. Likewise, referees should not unfairly punish for 'failing to respect the required distance' when an opponent was clearly confused by a touch and movement of the ball which was not a restart.

The referee must make the final decision on what is a 'kick' and what is 'not a kick' based on his or her feeling for the game?what FIFA calls 'Fingerspitzengef?hl' (literally: "sensing with one's
fingertips"). The bottom line is that not everything that produces movement of the ball is a kick and thus would not legally put the ball into play in any of the kicking restarts.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

You are seeing this because it used to be accepted. See what Ref Fleischer has quoted. This information should have been made available to you at a recertification class

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Kicked and moves means from point A to point B. Simply tapping on the top of the ball, dragging it, etc does not suffice here.