Question Number: 20871

Law 13 - Free Kicks 2/20/2009

RE: Rec, Select, NFHS High School

Joe Griego of Bishop, CA U.S.A. asks...

This question is a follow up to question 20863

Thanks gentlemen, for your prompt reply. You are of course, right about the placement of the kick, and I just had a senior moment there. Since the keeper placed the ball on the line, on the corner of the goal area, the restart IFK just where it was when she picked it up. Since it's already on the line, parallel to the goal line, no adjustment was necessary.

I didn't explicitly state that the players lined up between the goal posts, but they did, so I wasn't worried about that part (and who would line up on the goal line *outside* the posts in any case?).

It was mostly the 'halfway between the ball and the goal' part of the restart that puzzled me. Thanks again for helping us all become better at our task.

Joe G.
Bishop, CA

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Clarification is always good!
That bit about lining up on the goal line if the indfk was nearer than ten yards! It was important to state inbetween the posts. If one did think you could stand outside on the goal line away from the posts and the free kick was only a yard from the goal line but say 8 yards away from goal right hand side say only 2 yards outside the goal area line that parallels the touchline . If the player could stand on the goal line outside the posts even outside the goal area he would only be a step away from trying to get in front of the ball! Even the exemption inside the goal area from the placement of an indfk can only make that distance a minimum of 6 yards. Think on a wall legally standing at right angles with say three players along the goal line inside the near post and the rest 10 yds away but perpendicular to the goal facing the ball
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

That business about halfway between the ball and the goal is still puzzling. Maybe thought they were playing American football