Question Number: 22593

Law 13 - Free Kicks 11/27/2009

RE: travel Under 12

Timm of Succasunna, new jersey USA asks...

Please define for me under FIFA the term 'kick'.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Tim
FIFA has no definition of kick but it is widely interpreted as the use of the foot to move the ball. I suspect that the reason you ask this is in relation to a restart?
Perhaps another way of looking at this is to say that at a restart tapping the top of the ball is not a kick, nor foot rolling the ball a few inches is a kick. In some instances such at a kick off some referees may adopt a degree of leniency with these method of putting the ball in play. What has to be certain is that the referee has clearly seen that the ball has been kicked and moved so that it is put into play. When ruses are used this then can becomes unclear for the ref to decide if that did indeed happen.
Many years ago the Laws of the game stated that the ball had to roll its circumference to be the play but FIFA eliminated that requirement to the more simple term of kicked and moves with the same principle in mind. Sometimes I wish it still applied!!

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The important term is 'kicked and moved' as oftentimes that is the requirement for the ball to be put into play. Here is what Advice To Referees has to say:

13.5 THE 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 or being dragged with the top or bottom of the foot. 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 or dragging motion) and moved (caused to go
from one place to another). 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 'Fingerspitzengef?hl' (literally: 'sensing with one's
fingertips').

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Here is the deal: one definition of 'KICK' is 'strike or propel forcibly with the foot'. The LOTG are written in English and translated to the languages of the World. This definition certainly applies to the game of soccer.
FIFA does not go to this detail of actually defining the word 'kick'. But think about it: if I were to 'kick' a person I would not 'nudge' or 'tap' him. It would have to be a forcible action. And kicking can only be done by the foot. I cannot kick with my nose or chest or shin or any other part of the body except the foot. It would make no sense. (Can you imagine a goal keeper taking a free kick in his penalty area with his hand? Of course not!)
Having said all this, there are many degrees of kicking. It could be gentle or break every bone and everything in between.
But I cannot help wondering why you asked the question in the first place. It seems such an obvious English verb that only attorneys at law would want to bisect.

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

See Question: 22600