Question Number: 20135

Law 13 - Free Kicks 10/2/2008

RE: Competitive Under 13

Andy Sinsigalli of Los Gatos, CA USA asks...

On an indirect free kick does the ball have to be simply touched or does it actually have to complete a rotation? This of course is only pertinent in the case of a goal being scored.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

It has to be kicked and moved. The provision that the ball move a full rotation was removed from the Laws eleven years ago.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

I do not know why people still ask this question... no offense to you Andy. What I mean is as Ref Voshol points out, this law was changed 11 years ago and there are still so many people who get their knowledge from the past or from people who haven't looked into this in a while.

But from now on Andy you will know... the ball on any free kick, kick-off, or penalty kick is in play when it is kicked and moved. It does not need to complete a rotation.

And now that we've told you here Andy, go and spread the word... if you hear anyone else in the world that doesn't know this answer, please educate them! Thanks for coming here to clarify your understanding of the law.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Andy,
the reason this myth is perpetuated is the ideology the changed it never came to terms with how a KICK is considered to be performed.
The step on the ball as your teammate kicks was considered sufficient by many as satisfying the indirect kick requirement when in fact it is not . The confusion of rolling its circumference was changed to seeing the ball actually go into motion as the standard to attack the ball carrier. Initially a simply step on the ball was considered to put the ball into a wobble or compression thus by physics definition molecular movement had occurred and thus satisfied the kicked and move requirement. This is NOT so, the ball must visibly be kicked as in from here to there. It does not count as a kick if the ball only wobbles vibrates, is nudged or compressed if the ball 's actual position on the field remains unchanged.
ANY part of the foot can be used to KICK it into motion and the ball cannot be kept in contact with the foot as in rolling it with your sole stopping then take the foot away. The ball must be released free to move in some manner. It need not travel far just discernable movement through a kicking motion