Question Number: 29994

Law 13 - Free Kicks 12/11/2015

RE: Intermediate Under 13

Phil of Tarzana, CA United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 29985

I have a question about something that Referee Joe McHugh said.

With regard to a player deliberately taking a free kick into an opponent who is standing too close, you said: 'Those have to be managed carefully as while the player should not be there the kicker perhaps had no real intention to restart play.'

I'd like to know if you'd consider my approach correct.
1. If the opponent ran up to block a shot, that would be a warning or caution to the opponent, depending upon the age.
2. I would do the same if the opponent was already there but didn't retreat, although I would be more likely to warn the first time.
3. In either case, if the kicker used excessive force (such as a deliberate strong kick to the offender's face), I might issue a caution for USB, or even a send off for violent conduct by the kicker.

Would you handle those scenarios any differently?

Thanks again,

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Phil
We have all had to deal with the situation where the kicker decides to kick the ball aimlessly at an opponent who is stood in front of the ball at a free kick. The defender may have been the cause of the free kick in the first place while it could be another player coming from a distance. The kick is simply aimed at the opponent to draw the caution. In those instances I rarely caution the defender as the situation is contrived and not a genuine restart. It is typically done to pressure the referee into issuing a caution or to create a ruckus that has to be dealt with. Instead many times I will speak with both players and the restart is taken again on the whistle.
Now that should not be confused with the genuine pass that is stopped by the opponent which is for me is a caution every single time.
Now if the situation has got nasty with an aggressive kick of the ball I will probably caution both players for unsporting behaviour and failure to respect the required distance.
Now I would also take into account age. Many young players are coached to do this and think that there is nothing wrong in doing it. There also thinking that sure all the Pros do it so Im like them. The player needs to be spoken to and explained that he is not to do this. That most times is suffice. Unfortunately I see adults bringing adult values into the underage game which is unhelpful and that causes problems for the game. It can be a shout inform a coach to remind the player which is then followed by the opposite bench having a go for this being allowed
So for me it is vitally important that the referee understands the game, context, grasps what is happening and reacts with the appropriate response be it words, strong warning words or a caution.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Phil,
we cannot throw out a blanket statement to cover every eventuality. My quaint saying, Your match, Your decision, Your reputation, is based on that reality. Each referee manages a match based on their ability to understand and interpret the game in the context of a neutral official enforcing the LOTG.

I remind you and everyone the optimal word in free kick is 'FREE' but it is free from opposition interference, it is not a mandate to cheat or injure an opponent by trying to direct the FREE KICK into a nearby opponent.

What you as a referee need to grasp is if you hesitate to do as the LOTG requires sometimes a player will decide YOU are not paying attention and try to do your job for you or in spite of you.

The propensity for defending players to be lethargic around free kick locations has evolved over time into the consistent use of foam and ceremonial free kicks now seemingly ingrained into the game. I am appalled at the deterioration of this simple practise to be so structured and waste playing time. Go ahead start timing how much time goes in between the stoppage and the restart on ceremonial free kicks these days.

In all 3 of your described situations and ONLY because I include a warning in the pregame to youth teams about free kicks I no longer warn for a blatant attempt to interfere. I often call out loud 'Ten yards now' and I expect the defenders to move post haste away from the ball. I would likely caution not warn because the warning was pregame and very explicit.

Free kicks are driven with excessive force directly at the wall ten yards away as a matter of normal play so it takes a very deliberate violent conduct via a calculated placement of a ball say close to a downed defender not yet fully upright and smash it into his crotch or face from a few yards then attempt to place blame it was the defending players fault for not giving ten yards.

If an attacker was placing the ball and sees a defender not only NOT backing up but coming in closer this is where they might try to kick it at such a player. Is it our fault they might choose this because we are not intervening quickly enough? In reality no, because we often wait for an outcome to decided if there is an advantage to be had. We have all seen lots of free kicks taken with defenders who marginally missed interfering but the game was allowed to proceed when there was plenty of reason to retake and caution as the choice to go ahead proved to be ok.

This is where and why my colleague Ref McHugh is urging referees to be smart to grasp the nuances and restart appropriately. In as much as we are honor and duty bound to try and interfere as little as possible, players make certain choices and we need to be vigilant as to the consequences of reacting before or after the choice.

I'd like to know if you'd consider my approach correct.
{{For you perhaps but for another who can say for sure? Generalized situations do not have history nuances or attitude}}

1. If the opponent ran up to block a shot, that would be a warning or caution to the opponent, depending upon the age.
{{Yes but set the bar early}}

2. I would do the same if the opponent was already there but didn't retreat, although I would be more likely to warn the first time.
{{If it occurs as a bang bang play perhaps but if you let it simmer then accept some blame, setting the bar too low, leads to more of same}}

3. In either case, if the kicker used excessive force (such as a deliberate strong kick to the offender's face), I might issue a caution for USB, or even a send off for violent conduct by the kicker.
{{judge it for what you see it as}}

It is great to see how hard you try to think about the game and if you apply this effort to your matches I suspect you will do well. Find good mentors, hook up with a strong referee camaraderie or organization for support get assessed regularity use video to help post match and TALK openly and honestly with coaches , players, parents and colleagues . Respect for your position as referee is only a tea cup to the respect coaches and players will develop about you as a person.
Cheers