Question Number: 20047

Law 13 - Free Kicks 9/23/2008

RE: AYSO Under 19

Don Swanton of Chicago, IL USA asks...

This has come up twice now. Red player is about to take a DFK. He has not asked for the ten yards to be enforced, and I have not told him to wait for the whistle. He none the less takes a few seconds to make up his mind, and in that time a blue defender who had been ten to fifteen yards away at the whistle rushes over to stand within a yard of the ball ahead of the blue kicker. I blow the whistle and caution him for failing to respect the ten yards or delaying a restart. He complains that this is coached. Did I do right? One of the times I was being assessed, and I didn't get a mention of the incident, so the assessor agreed with me, but was I right?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Only ask them to wait if it is truly required, no unnecessary intervention on your part is required! The free kick, if it is delayed by those taking it, they too can be taken to task for delaying the restart as well. I usually warn once, get a move on or face the prospect of being cautioned . As long as I am able to add time I do not get too agitated unless it ridiculously drags on or there are other circumstances at work

That said nothing in the time frame presented here exempts the opponent from remaining at ten yards. So you are correct in cautioning and showing the yellow card for such stupidity as to run over and stand looking at the ball

I am having trouble understanding who said this was coached (the player who received the caution?) and just what was being coached?
WAS it tactic by the attacker, drawing in the opponent is his fault because he waited a few seconds while assessing his options?
If there was some trickery or deception at work where the player taking the free kick placed a foot on the ball and rolled it around unnecessarily from the restart spot enticing those looking on that he has put it into play maybe some issue but otherwise the right to take a FREE KICK is free unless the time delay involved begins to agitate everyone including you!

My colleagues are onto the fact the if the coached thing is the blue coach told his player to go and stand near the ball as I did mention stupidity I gues I better mention it again.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Does the coach instruct his players to break other sections of the Laws? I hope you are dealing with those instances too.

Well done on the caution. If more referees did this, the problem would go away.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

You did the correct thing. The coach is teaching rubbish.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The player is probably correct that he's being coached to do this as I've had numerous coaches over the years tell me it's their player's 'right' to stand in front of the ball until told to move. You caution every player that does this as you are absolutely correct and that's the quickest way to get them to stop.