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Soccer Rules Changes 1580-2000


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Question Number: 26785

Law 13 - Free Kicks 9/17/2012

RE: Select Under 19

William Guynes of Mechanicsville, MD USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 26779

Response to Joe.

If the referee is showing you where 10 yards is, you have already admitted that you don't know where it is by not retreating on your own as is required. How do you suddenly now know it's MORE than 10 yards?

I do not believe that your perceptions instantly improved so quickly, so I must assume it was actually 10 yards he showed you.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi William
My recent experiences is that many player know instinctively where 10 yards is and sometimes when it does not look right they feel that it is 'more' when defending and 'less' when attacking. Many including Joe now expect the referee to pace out the 10 yards and indeed I have had words with players that will not move back without the pacing. Some have resulted in cautions.
It is a difficult area and one that unfortunately we as referee have contributed to. Most free kicks now at the professional level are ceremonial and they take at least 1 minute to set up.



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