JASON HERR (GROVEPORT, OH) asks...
Law 13 - Free Kicks
Situation: Direct free kick within shooting range of the goal. As the free kick taker attempts a shot, a defender who was outside 10 yrds, runs from behind the free kick taker and intercepts the shot within 10 yrds of the spot. The free kick taker put the ball on the spot took few steps back and then shot the ball. The free kick was taken without asking the ref for 10 yrds. The defense did not present a wall. The defender who intercepted the free kick ran from the blind side of the kicker. Ref allow play to continue.
Situation: Direct free kick within shooting range of the goal. As the free kick taker attempts a shot, a defender who was outside 10 yrds, runs from behind the free kick taker and intercepts the shot within 10 yrds of the spot. The free kick taker put the ball on the spot took few steps back and then shot the ball. The free kick was taken without asking the ref for 10 yrds. The defense did not present a wall. The defender who intercepted the free kick ran from the blind side of the kicker. Ref allow play to continue.
Referee Joe McHugh
Answered on
Hi Jason
Thanks for the question.
The answer hinges on the location of the opponent at the moment of the kick. It makes no difference where the opponent came from or the fact that10 yards was not requested.
If the opponent was within 10 yards at the moment of the kick, having moved towards that position, play should be stopped and the kick retaken.
There is a provision in the Law that if a kick is taken quickly and the ball in intercepted by an opponent who has not moved towards the ball the referee will allow play to continue. The reason is that the kicker took the kick in the knowledge of player positions before the kick.
Intercepted is the key word and its interpretation is that the opponent was stood in that position BEFORE the kick and that the ball came to the player not moving towards the ball.
From your description that did not read like that provision and I quote
** if a player takes a free kick quickly and an opponent who is less than 9.15 m (10 yds) from the ball intercepts it, the referee allows play to continue. However, an opponent who deliberately prevents a free kick being taken quickly must be cautioned for delaying the restart of play.**
For what it is worth a kicker should be coached to have awareness of what is going on around the ball including from behind. The 10 yard exclusion zone includes behind the ball not just in front so a kicker should be mindful of any opponent located behind the kick and request that the player be moved away.
Thanks for the question.
The answer hinges on the location of the opponent at the moment of the kick. It makes no difference where the opponent came from or the fact that10 yards was not requested.
If the opponent was within 10 yards at the moment of the kick, having moved towards that position, play should be stopped and the kick retaken.
There is a provision in the Law that if a kick is taken quickly and the ball in intercepted by an opponent who has not moved towards the ball the referee will allow play to continue. The reason is that the kicker took the kick in the knowledge of player positions before the kick.
Intercepted is the key word and its interpretation is that the opponent was stood in that position BEFORE the kick and that the ball came to the player not moving towards the ball.
From your description that did not read like that provision and I quote
** if a player takes a free kick quickly and an opponent who is less than 9.15 m (10 yds) from the ball intercepts it, the referee allows play to continue. However, an opponent who deliberately prevents a free kick being taken quickly must be cautioned for delaying the restart of play.**
For what it is worth a kicker should be coached to have awareness of what is going on around the ball including from behind. The 10 yard exclusion zone includes behind the ball not just in front so a kicker should be mindful of any opponent located behind the kick and request that the player be moved away.
Referee Joe Manjone
Answered on
Hi Coach Herr,
I agree with Referee McHugh's response that on a free kick taken quickly a defensive player who is less than 10 yards from the ball can intercept the kick as long as there is no interference with the actual kicking of the ball.
I checked the NFHS high school ruling on this and it is the same.
Thus, the referee in your game was correct.
Thank for this question. I do hope your team has a successful season.