Question Number: 35992

Law 13 - Free Kicks 8/26/2025

RE: rec Under 19

rob deconinck of tampa, fl usa asks...

I am still confused exactly what "is less than 10 yds. from the ball intercepts it means.
Does intercept mean it is kicked towards me without moving towards it? I read a response here that appears to say once the ball is put into play the defender can move towards it.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Rob
Thanks for the question.
There are a number of factors at play here depending on the circumstances.
In the free kick situations where distance has been enforced that is opponents have been moved back 10 yards those opponents cannot come closer to the ball than 10 yards until it is kicked. So in reality it is not possible to get closer than 10 yards until the ball is kicked.
Should an opponent move towards the ball and interfere with the kick it can be a retake unless advantage is played. It can also be a caution for failing to respect the required distance or perhaps a stern warning that a repeat will result in the card.
After the free kick has been taken distance restrictions no longer apply.

Now the tricky ones are the quick free kicks where the kicking team is happy to proceed with opponents closer than 10 yards. If the kick has been taken without any interference and the ball is intercepted by an opponent closer than 10 yards or it hits an opponent play must continue.
The tricky part is deciding whether it an interception or whether an opponent has moved towards the ball in anticipation of the kick. The easier one is where an opponent who is relatively close to the kick moves toward the ball in a way that almost prevents the kick. At the other end of the scale is an opponent closer than 10 who simply gets in the way of the ball in which case the QFK has not worked as intended and play continues.
Have a look at this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov4PiPOICJs
Some of the video is dated although the part on interference is still relevant
I hope that helps.

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Hi Rob,
It is interesting that the NFHS High School Soccer Rules do not use the word "intercept" to discuss a legal touching of a free kick.

In the NFHS Rule legal touching of a free kick occurs when the defensive player is moving away from the quick kick and the ball "strikes" the defensive player.

I believe the IFAB rule more clearly states the meaning of the rule and that is if the offense does not wait for the defenders to move 10 yards from the ball, a defender who is less than 10 yards from the kick can legally play the ball.

However, in both rules, the defender must not be making an attempt to interfere with the kick.

Have a successful and enjoyable fall season of officiating preparing for the Florida high school season start two months from now.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hello Rob,

When a free kick, throw-in, (2 yards) or goal kicks requires opponents to be a set distance away (e.g., 10 yards or outside the penalty area), the attacking team can restart play regardless of whether you’re still within that zone... -provided you’re not actively preventing them from doing so.

You can’t instantly vanish from the addecred area, so you’re expected to move away promptly and reasonably, without delaying the restart. If you’re in the process of retreating but haven’t yet reached the full required distance, and the attacking team takes the kick, the ball is in play once it’s kicked. At that point, you’re allowed to pursue or “intercept” it.

However, the referee will be watching your actions closely. If you:

Stop retreating, or

Change your path to put yourself in line with the pass or shot before the kick is taken,

…this can be seen as failing to respect the required distance, interfering with play, or delaying the restart thus potentially earning a caution.

If you’re moving away and the kicker deliberately plays the ball at you, or near you you’re under no obligation to avoid it. You simply can’t do anything -before the kick that stops them from taking it.

However the official should be very much aware of the“I’m retreating, honest!” ruse where the defender appears to be complying but actually adjusts their line of retreat to cut off the passing lane or close the gap to the ball. They’re technically moving but the vector of that movement brings them closer to the ball or into a more advantageous blocking position.

A referee who recognises it could view it as unsporting behaviour, because although the player’s body language suggests compliance, the intent and net effect is to close space or intercept before the ball is properly back in play.

It’s cheeky because it exploits the optics: they look like they’re following instructions, but the geometry of their run actually reduces the distance to the ball. Referees could caution for that if it’s clear they’re moving towards the ball before it’s kicked, even if their total distance run is increasing. This happens a lot when defenders are upfield of the ball & want to get goal side. They take a tun towards the ball trying to get goal side of the ball possibly form a wall. They will even step over the ball or stay behind the ball and try and line up the wall before they move away. Nn the actual free kicks when they do set a wall sometimes they'll break early and come towards the kicker. It is interfering and it is illegal but if the kick is a good result whereby theattackers have benefited. It will not retaken and no one will be cautioned.

One of the difficulties is a referee who's trying to be proactive to prevent foolishness cautions or unnecessary stoppages is he was also told not to interfere with players' decisions of what they want or decide to do. The neutrality aspect is the big part yet you can still recognize that the gamesmanship between opposition players is not always subtle but at times it is very subtle. .
Cheers