Question Number: 22913

Law 13 - Free Kicks 3/8/2010

RE: Competitive High School

Matt Niswander of Lawrenceburg, TN Lawrence asks...

This question is a follow up to question 22898

Thanks for the answers. The attacking team was trying for a quick free kick, and the ref stepped in to enforce the '10 yard rule'. My player was close to the ball because he knew that the attacking team was trying to kick quickly, and they didn't care about the ten yards. That is where my problem was. I felt the ref delayed the attacking team their advantage, and punished my player on top of it. So it was a lose-lose situation for both teams. My player was polite to the ref, but knew he was interrupting play so when he got the yellow card it was a surprise. My player never argued he just walked off the field. Thanks.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Hi, Matt.

Perhaps the referee did delay the attacking team's advantage by removing the quick free kick, but as I noted, sometimes that is necessary for the good of the game. Your player clearly knew what he was doing, and I assume he also knew the possible repercussions of doing what he did. If he didn't, he does now.

It was not a lose-lose situation for both teams. Your player was interfering with the free kick and was appropriately punished. The attacking team still gets a free kick, and I'm sure they have set plays to use. While they might have preferred a quick free kick here, because of the referee's management action in issuing the caution, the chances are greater they will be able to do so next chance without interference. That's a win situation for them and for the game, IMHO.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Coach Niswander
This ploy has become a blight on the modern game. Teams now constantly coach their players to run in front of the ball to prevent the QFK.
I constantly have to warn players about this and I hear the same story all the time ' I'm only getting back into position Ref' ' I did not stop the FK Ref'. ' I'm entitled to come back Ref'. The reason this is done is to stop the FK and what does the Law say
'If a player decides to take a free kick quickly and an opponent who is near the ball deliberately prevents him taking the kick, the referee must caution the player for delaying the restart of play.'
I might respectfully suggest as well that this was not the 1st time that the player positioned himself in front of the ball in this fashion. Players run the risk of being cautioned when they do this