Question Number: 20835

Law 13 - Free Kicks 2/11/2009

RE: HS High School

Michael Daugherty of South Berwick, Maine USA asks...

On a free kick the ball must be kicked (struck with a kicking motion). At what point is the ball simply being moved around with the foot to get it in postion and/or being kicked? It is hard to tell sometimes, and teams will use small kicks as the start for another player to simply come in and start playing the ball as the second touch. When do you as a ref call a second touch if moving it around with the foot or is it a kicking motion to start play? Also, when do you allow def players to run onto the off. during a free kick (when they touch in a kicking motion?)??

I wish the rules would change to set it with hands prior to taking free kick.

Any help would be useful on this topic.

THANKS

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Advice to referees tells us:

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 and moved. The distance to be moved is minimal and the 'kick' need only be a touch of the ball with the foot in a kicking motion. Simply tapping the top of the ball with the foot or stepping on the ball are not sufficient.
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' can include an action in which the ball is dragged by continuous contact with the foot. The referee must make the final decision on what is and is not 'kicked and moved' based on the spirit and flow of the match.

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 'Fingerspitzengefuhl' (literally: 'sensing with one's fingertips').

So, it's up to the referee to decide. The one thing that's certain is merely tapping the top of the ball with the bottom of the foot no longer qualifies as kicked and moved. As the referee you have to look at what's going on and make a decision. regardless, the defenders are free to attempt to play the ball once it has been kicked and moved as that is when the ball is in play

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

You being satisfied that a player is just repositioning the ball with her foot is sufficient for that to be the case; the free kick remains to be taken and the required distance must be honored. If, in your opinion, the player has kicked and moved the ball then the free kick has been taken and the requirement to not play it again until touched by another is in force. Usually we will yield to repositioning the pall right up until she tries some party trick at a corner or other free kick that is designed to catch the opponents unaware. After that we'll yield to any touch is kicked and moved and let them gripe a while. Do this the other way 'round and you'll become famous in a negative sort of way...

Regards,