Question Number: 29063

Law 13 - Free Kicks 12/21/2014

RE: Club Under 13

Garry of Phoenix, Arizona USA asks...

In our U12 game we were awarded a free kick. The player taking the kick asked for 10 yards as the defenders would not retreat. After they stepped back the 10 yards our player took the free kick. Our player was booked (yellow card) for taking the free kick before the referee blew his whistle. He then let us retake the kick. Is this a bookable action?
Apart from the fact these are 11 year old kids, is this really the correct decission by the letter of the law?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Garry
If a player has been told , after asking for 10 yards, not to take a free kick until the referee signals for the kick then the referee can caution for unsporting behaviour should he consider it so. Whether he should do so or not is a matter for the referee based on the circumstances. In an under 11 game in my opinion a word would be suffice. Perhaps the referee here felt that as the player asked for 10 yards that it was done for unsporting reasons.
I can certainly see situations were it is merited such as a repeat situation, wilfully ignoring a clear instruction which is acknowledged and perhaps using the kick as a sighter for the actual kick.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Garry,
at 11 aside soccer all the LOTG are in effect so a caution is not incorrect but whether it was necessary or not is a matter of opinion. We often receive questions on the mechanics of free kicks and the duties and responsibilities of the opposing players and the referee at the taking of a free kick.

I always worry when a team has to ASK for ten yards because the defending team is not being held accountable for failing to respect the distance and is delaying the restart with impunity. These actions are in fact cautionable themselves.

The fact is once your team has requested referee intervention it COULD become what is known as a CEREMONIAL FREE KICK! Once the referee has indicated to ALL players from both teams that there will be NO kick until he signals with the whistle! This is where he gets eye contact, points to whistle, gets affirmative responses, places ball, sets wall and retreats to a vantage point before blowing the whistle indicating to your team only NOW can you take your delayed free kick. To NOT WAIT is indeed cautionable because you were INSTRUCTED NOT TO GO!

The fact your kicker was cautioned and shown the yellow card the referee likely felt he ignored his order NOT to go until he whistled and perhaps the kick endangered the safety of an opponent as no one was expecting the free kick BECAUSE the whistle had not gone! In such a case the kick is retaken no matter a miss or goal and the kicker is cautioned.

Admittedly I think referees should be more proactive in enforcing the defensive responsibilities to withdraw then look for ceremonial invitations by frustrated attackers. While some free kicks need to be ceremonial to facilitate match requirements MOST free kicks optimal word is FREE, should be taken at the attacking teams' convenience. The quick kick is an option and it is a referees' DUTY to ensure the defending team is honouring their obligations so the offended team can get on with the game on their own time table!
Cheers
A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

In most cases, the better approach would be to warn the player, and to caution only on the second occurrence. But, law 12 would permit the caution. Ironically, it could be for delaying the restart of the match (like a caution to the defender who ran up and kicked the ball away).

In my experience, the entire issue can be avoided if the referee announces loudly and with a non-verbal signal that everyone must wait for the whistle.