Question Number: 21771

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 8/11/2009

RE: Comp Under 19

Greg of Charlotte, NC US asks...

My question pertains to a proper re-start, specifically who the referee is suppose to respond to when determining whether or not to utilize a second whistle.

Im confused on this point and apparently there are 2 different interpretations, according to the Guide to Procedures and USSF classroom instruction provided last month. The 2009-10 Laws of the Game does not address this specific question, but simply states (p.29), "If, when a free kick is taken, an opponent is closer to the ball than the required distance: the kick is retaken." According to the 2009-10 Guide to Procedures (p.28), the referee should "allow a quick free kick, without the necessity of a second signal, except where the kicker indicates a need." During my USSF refresher, I asked this question to the instructor and he indicated that anyone from the kicking team can ask for the required distance and as a referee you are obligated to provide a second whistle at that point (if the defenders are indeed clearly less than the required distance to the ball).

In being in and around the game for over 35 years, as a fan, player, coach, and the last 10 years, as a referee, my understanding and according to the Guide to Procedures, that only the kicker can create the need for a second whistle. Is it basically being up the referees discretion? Or is it that anyone can ask for the required distance (a teammate on and/or off the field, coaching staff, or spectators) and be granted with a second whistle?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The short answer is that the referee has discretion to decide whether to allow a quick free kick or make it ceremonial. But, the referee needs to give great deference to the kicking team that wants a quick free kick.

Except in the few cases where the referee must hold up play (to deal with misconduct before the whistle or attend to an injured player), the referee should watch the team that is the victim of the foul. Do they want to take a quick free kick? 'Watch' is the word I used, not 'listen.' They have the right to try to catch the defense off guard by starting quickly - - they rarely will do this by stating that they want a quick free kick.

Who to watch? The focus begins on the kicker because she is the only one who will take the kick quickly. The referee doesn't want to be looking at a teammate, coach or spectator while the kicker is putting the ball into play. Some teams prefer quick kicks; some have great free kick specialists. The more the referee understands a team's preferences, the better the referee can evaluate what the team wants.

The referee should not act on shouts from coaches and spectators asking for ten yards, but these are clues that the players may be sending in a free kick specialist and may ask for 10 yards. IMO, a team mate near the kicker's request is enough for me to begin the ceremonial kick procedure - - but I won't stop a quick free kick because someone is shouting 'ask for ten.'

Once the kicking team asks for the referee to enforce the distance, they lose the right to take a quick kick. Thus, the referee should be clear that it is what the kicking team wants.

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Greg, the request for the 10 yards is done by one of the players on the team, which is taking the free kick. No other person than a person on that team can ask for this. Acting on this request is up to the referee.
Common sense enters into the equation. Obviously if a goalie yells from 70 yards away you can pretty well ignore it. If the defenders are standing one yard from the ball the referee does not wait for the attackers to ask for 10 yards: an immediate caution is in order. But if the wall is say 5 yards away and the referee is waiting a second or two to see if it will be a quick kick, a request for 10 yards by an attacking player not too far away will result in a ceremonial kick.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

It is often a matter of deep reflection to consider just how common 'common sense' really is!

The laws grant the referee SEVERAL options to observe a restart after a foul. As my colleagues allude to we need to recognize if a QUICK restart is beneficial to the aggrieved team and accord them that right, free of interruptions. In extreme cases we will HOLD the restart to be 'Ceremonial' and INFORM all players that it is so with ONLY a whistled restart to begin the match.

Such interruptions can be viewed as added time for the match.

Sometimes we MUST interfere because of the unfair actions of the opposition or a need to settle disputes and or ensure proper respect for distance or show a card for the previous misconduct associated with the foul or NEW misconduct associated with the delay of the restart.

The actions of the attacking players, the shouts from their touchlines , the actions of the defending players and the shouts from their touchline! All are a canopy of incensed aggravation, irritation or need. Not all are equal in importance nor in their affect on the play. This is important to FULLY understand before you could decide if you can allow something, remember something or act on something.

This is a "bee in my bonnet type situation) as I am rather anal of the MANDATORY aspect for the team that FOULED the other to WITHDRAW a MINIMUM of ten yards IMMEDIATELY once I signal the direction of the foul.

If you have CONSTANT requests by the aggrieved team asking for ten yards, perhaps as indicated by my colleagues the team really enjoys a cadre of free kick specialists and sincerely want a chance to regroup and plan their strategy
OR
It is ALSO conceivable that as referee you are NOT enforcing this VITAL ten yards component of the law to their detriment by not punishing those who refuse to retreat and seek to delay or prevent the FREE KICK (optimal word here is free)

My point here is this a referee indicates the foul, direction of the free kick and correct ball positioning then moves off to observe continued play an anticipate the restart if no intervention is required.

The laws allow the referee to caution opposition players who flagrantly disregard the free aspect of the free kick by infringing on the ten yards or delaying the restart. Now we can cut SOME slack if their illegal presence does not AFFECT a quick restart and it is of greater benefit to allow the restart rather than return it to begin again. We might verbally warn such players or choose to consider it trifling or doubtful as to intervene but this is where on occasion our desire to avoid unnecessary cards and allow play to continue can become muddled!

An attacking player trying to get in a quick free kick could be partially denied that opportunity by the proximity of opposing players so the referee yells (Ten yards now!), then waves them away just as another attacking player is screaming for ten yards but the kicker is already kicking the ball to another team mate in free space.

Now the defenders will claim the referee has unfairly interfered and want the free kick retaken. The referee in trying to establish the ten yards and avoid the need to caution may have in their opinion inadvertently affected the match.

Just because an attacker asked or in truth COMPLAINED for ten yards UNTIL the referee accepts this as a defining request and he has NOT indicated the NEED to go with a ceremonial restart the defenders have no case in law to protest!

Once a referee ACCEPTS the request by the attacking team they wish to plan their free kick (usually by asking for ten yards) he is committed to a ceremonial restart!
IF a referee accepts the REQUEST of the offended team FOR a CEREMONIAL RESTART he SHOULD IMMEDIATELY indicate this as a WHISTLED restart BEFORE taking ANY further action! This will avoid a kick being taken in behind his back as he is confronting the opposition be it to set a wall, respect the ten yards or consider if they delayed the restart and any need to caution or sanction for misconduct.

ANY defender who THINKS just because a referee is taking to them or some one be it an attacker or not has asked for ten yards it is a mandatory ceremonial restart needs to UNDERSTAND that unless a referee has INDICATED it WILL be a whistled restart NOTHING in law protects them if the attackers choose to go while they are distracted and the referee accepts that restart. It might very well be bad mechanics on the part of a referee who in trying to avoid cautioning gets to into the mix. That will not change a decision as a fact of play!
Key points
Caution those who delay the restart or fail to respect the distance!
Indicate IMMEDIATELY if it IS a whistled restart!
You can choose to overlook the opposing players who illegally remain within ten or seek to unfairly delay if they have no actual affect on the free kick or ongoing play or you might ignore it at your peril
Cheers

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I would point out that this question has been answered on Jim Allen's official USSF website. Here is what Mr. Allen has to say:

'We see no conflict here; provided the referee is satisfied the request is in the best interests of the kicking team, it makes no difference who on that team requests it. There is often confusion in any case as to who will take the kick, so the specific reference to "the kicker" can include any member of that team. However, the referee pays no attention to anyone OTHER than a player of the attacking team (no coaches, substitutes, spectators, color commentators, etc.).'

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

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