Question Number: 20722

Law 13 - Free Kicks 1/10/2009

Rick of manteca, Ca USA asks...

On an indirect free kick must the ball make one full revelution to count as a touch or can a player simply tap it before another player kicks for it to count as a goal?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Rick that law changed many years ago, the optimum words are now **kicked** and **moved** The placing of the foot on top of the ball and rolling it slightly with the foot in constant contact or simply stepping on the ball and taking the foot away is NOT a true kicking action.

The ball can be lifted into the air via a scooping action and any part of the foot, heel, toe, instep, side, or sole can strike the ball to place it into a discernable motion as in from here to there. The ball can travel in ANY direction with the exception of a PK and kick off which MUST go forward and outgoing free kicks from inside their penalty area must CLEAR the penalty area to be in play.

While the ball is SUPPOSED to be kicked almost ANY foot to ball contact will often result in the defending team rushing the ball. The attacker often accepts this as FAIR even if the ball is not truly kicked particularly on INDFKs. Since both teams accept the restart there is no pressing need to intervene so most referees overlook it.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

No and no although at one time both were true, most recently just tapping the ball satisfied 'kicked and moved'. Not so anymore. Advice to Referees specifically states tapping the ball on the top with the foot or stepping on the ball do not qualify.The distance moved may be minimal but the foot must be used in a kicking motion. Dragging the ball with the foot in a continuous motion also does not qualify as kicked and moved. Being "moved" does not include the ball merely quivering or shaking from light contact with the ball. The ball may move in any direction but it must actually move although a full revolution as used to be required is not necessary. The final deciosion is up to the referee.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Neither. In the opinion of the referee, the ball must be kicked (using the foot) and moved (from here to there, the necessary distance being but an inch or more) in order to be in play. Let me emphasize 'IN the OPINION of the REFEREE' as the deciding factor on whether or not a ball has moved sufficiently upon being kicked.

Tapped and wiggled doesn't cut it. The ball must be stationary before being kicked, upon or very near the spot where it was when the incident occurred or play was stopped.

Once the ball is actually in play (see above), then any touch by a player other than the one who kicked it into play can be a goal.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

1 July1997 was when Law 13 changed from kicked the distance of it's circumference to kicked and moved. Since that time there has been a constant argument what constitutes kicked and moved.

Regards,

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 20727