Question Number: 21043

Law 13 - Free Kicks 3/27/2009

RE: all Other

ed of HK, HK HK asks...

If a free kick is whistled this means that normal play has been suspended, right.

Surely then a further whistle needs to take place before play can continue?

I don't get the quick free kick. The game has not started.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

A whistle stops play. Sometimes a whistle allows play to restart. Overuse of the whistle makes it less effective, like in 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf'. The Laws of the Game tell when a whistle should and must be used, and when it is not necessary:

The whistle is needed to:
? start play (1st, 2nd half), after a goal
? stop play:
? for a free kick or penalty kick
? if the match is suspended or abandoned
? when a period of play has ended due to the expiration of time
? restart play at:
? free kicks when the wall is ordered back the appropriate distance
? penalty kicks
? restart play after it has been stopped due to:
? the issue of a yellow or red card for misconduct
? injury
? substitution
The whistle is NOT needed to:
? stop play for:
? a goal kick, corner kick or throw-in
? a goal
? restart play from:
? a free kick, goal kick, corner kick, throw-in
A whistle which is used too frequently unnecessarily will have less impact when it is needed. When a discretionary whistle is needed to start play, the referee should clearly announce to the players that the restart may not occur until after that signal.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

The whistle is not required to start play at the taking of a free kick. The players are allowed to start play on their own.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The whistle does not have to be used at the taking of a free kick. A free kick means just that: the fouled team is allowed to take a kick when they want to without interference from the opponents or, for that matter, the referee. The fouled team is allowed to take the kick whenever they want to once the referee gives permission. They do not have to wait for the referee to whistle or for the opponents to make a wall.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Just to make it clear NO restart can occur WITHOUT the PERMISSION of the referee.

A referee can certainly grant that permission simply by choosing not to interfere at the execution of the free kick should the aggrieved team want to go quickly. However that restart MUST still be acceptable to the referee in that there was no reason to show a card for misconduct, the location of the free kick was within the tolerance of an acceptable yardage and or area and the procedure was followed fairly!

Once the referee signals the DIRECTION of the free kick the opposing players have only ONE choice that is to withdraw a minimum of ten yards or on INDFKS closer than ten yards to goal and stand on their own goal line between the posts a minimum of 6 yards or assume the PK procedure .

The whistle is used to restart ONLY if the referee has chosen the restart to be ceremonial in nature and he indicates this to all including the kicker by saying and indicating this is so!

ONLY if the referee has SPECIFICALLY stated.' WAIT for the whistle!' Could the defenders relax knowing that this WILL have to occur?

A foul or ball into touch requires a restart.
The simplicity of the restart is in its obviousness.
The attackers shoot the ball way over the goal it is a goal kick!
If the defenders last touch that ball before it goes over the goal line it is a corner kick.
YOU foul, they get the free kick!
They foul, YOU get the free kick.
The reason the whistle is not required is the restart is in fact obvious. It is a cautionable offence to delay the restart or not withdraw to the minimum yardage respecting the required distance hence there is no real reason for a referee to interfere as these are known factors to the players and by their actions the referee decides what to do or if it is required!

A referee who uses the whistle to communicate effectively has various tones and lengths of duration to indicate his idea of each situation! Long and loud, short and crisp, series of quick tweets or a held on blaster about to shatter the ear drum all say different things in different contexts.
Cheers

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

See Question: 21082