Question Number: 20621

Law 13 - Free Kicks 12/2/2008

RE: Select Under 14

Todd Wendorf of Camp Hill, PA US asks...

This question is a follow up to question 20581

In a recreational U15 match...using a /*cringe*/ NFHS two-referee system (I could rail about this for days...), I was the 'trailing' referee on the opposite side of the field.

A free kick was awarded and the defending team put a player in front of the ball. I resolved this simply by firmly announcing 'Honor the ten yards, Blue!'. The blue team then retreated back to their position and play continued without a ceremonial kick. Of course, after the match, the Blue coach gave me the 'They have to ask for 10' speech.

I explained that it was a free kick for the 'Yellow' team and that the defending team (his team) was required to retreat 10 yards without being told. I also explained that specific wording was in the LOTG that deemed encroachment on a free kick as a cautionable offense.

Since that instruction, the Blue coach has no longer placed a player on the ball on free kicks.

Sometimes just a well placed firm announcement is enough to fix the situation.

Honestly, my biggest disappointment in the matter was that the referee standing 10 yards from the free kick was not going to enforce the 10 yard retreat. This was a different discussion after the match.

Once again, panel, you reinforce everything that is taught at the clinics and is spelled out in the LOTG. You do make a referee's life easier...

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

You could rail but you CHOSE to involve yourself in this banned by FIFA and USSF 2-man system. Anyway, that's beside the point. You handled the Blue player the way you wanted to which was fine and got the result you wanted. To me, a U 14 Select player should be cautioned for what you describe, but that's just me. I am happy you educated the coach AFTER the game and that he no longer teaches his players to not honor the 10 yards. Now your assignment is to educate the other referee who apparently doesn't understand law 13 as well as you do!