Question Number: 27065

Law 13 - Free Kicks 12/12/2012

RE: Competitive Adult

Stephen McNeill of Kentville, Nova Scotia Canada asks...

This mainly would occur in indoor soccer where (in our leagues) all free kicks are indirect. What many teams are doing on a free kick is having a player put his foot on top of the ball, holding it there and then lifting it off just before a teammate kicks the ball. The question is --- at what point does the ball officially become 'in play' so that the other team's players can close in and even take possession of the ball if possible? Is it as soon as the player placed his foot on the ball or is it when he releases the ball by lifting his foot off (even if it has taken five seconds to do so)?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Sounds like your league are using a completely made-up set of rules which differs to the laws of the game.

In soccer and Futsal, at free kicks the ball is in play when it is 'kicked and moves'. Simple touching the ball is not sufficient.

Some referees will argue that if you can see the ball wobble it's sufficient, others believes that 'moves' mean the ball must roll, even if it's just slightly.

I'd be surprised if there isn't a similar requirement in your league; even if they left it out of their rulesheet (for the sake of simplicity), I would still be looking to enforce it that way.

If you see players taking the kick incorrectly, then a quick word will help get the message across before it turns into a controversial incident.

If they definitely don't require the ball to 'move' to be put into play then I wouldn't consider the ball to be in play unil he removes his foot.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves. Lifting or flicking the ball upward with the foot generally meets the requirement. But, simply tapping the top of the ball with the bottom of the foot is not a kick and does not put the ball in play.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Stephen
The older referees will remember when the ball had to roll its circumference for it to be in play. The only doubt then was whether it moved the 28 inches or so.
The current law states that the ball is in play when it is kicked and moves. Lifting the foot off the top of the ball is not a kick and the ball rarely moves so it is not in play. If on the other hand the player drags the sole of his foot on top of the ball making it visibly move then that is legal and the ball is most definitely in play.
As regards your question, if the referee allows the lift of the foot as moving the ball then as soon as that happens the ball is in play and opponents may close the ball down the instant the foot is removed.