Question Number: 22290

Law 13 - Free Kicks 10/19/2009

RE: select Under 13

Doug of st louis, mo usa asks...

Qusetion: After an off sides call inside the goalies box, does the ball have to travel outside the penalty box before the offensive player can touch it? For example I understand the offensive player must wait for the ball outside the penalty box on a goal kick, but I am not sure on a restart for off sides. Thanks for your assistance into this matter.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
Yes the ball must leave the penalty area, on all restarts taken from within the penalty area, before any player can touch it. Many just assume it only applies to goal kicks which is incorrect. The kick is retaken if it does not leave or is touched inside the PA.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

It is an often forgotten piece of law but ANY DEFENDING free kick be it DFK or indfk or goal kick coming out of their own PA (penalty area) which includes the 6 yard goal area the ball must completely go beyond the 18 yard PA boundary lines into play before it can be played by either team!

If the ball is played by any player from either team before the ball has left the penalty area or goes into touch behind the goal line before it left the confines of the area even if kicked directly into their own goal it is a retake..

The defending team can be within the penalty area but the opposing team must still abide by the ten yard minimum distance on free kicks and are forced to stay OUTSIDE the penalty area until the ball has cleared the area!

It could be cautionable as USB show a yellow card if it was done deliberately say to prevent the opponent from taking advantage of a poor kick but we usually warn first. I was going to say new referees often forget as much as the players but I've seen even the older ones fail to remember! ;o)

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

ANY kick coming out of the penalty area is not in play until the ball completely leaves the penalty area. If touched by any player before leaving the penalty area, the kick must be retaken. Once the ball completely clears the penalty area, anyone is free to play it except the original kicker if the ball has not been played or touched by any other player first.

It should also be noted that the opponents must not only remain outside the penalty area until the ball crosses out of it, but they must also still be at least 10 yards from the point of the kick. For example say an IDFK for offside is awarded 2 yards inside the penalty area. An opponent standing directly in front of the ball would have to be at least 8 yards outside the penalty area. Additionally, while any member of the kicking team may be inside the penalty area at the taking of the kick, if any of these players touch the ball before it exits the penalty area then the kick must be retaken