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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |
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| INDIRECT FREE KICKS - General Information | INDIRECT FREE KICKS - Mechanics |
| DIRECT FREE KICKS | HELPFUL INFORMATION |
| BACK TO LAW XIII | |
If a minor or technical foul is committed by one team, the other team is entitled to take an indirect free kick. Just as with direct free kicks, your decision to penalize a team should be with the objective of restoring a balance that was lost due to the infraction.
Wall management - The team that has been awarded the direct free kick is entitled to an unimpeded chance to get the ball into play without undue interference by the offending team. The laws dictate that all opponents remain the required minimum distance from the ball until the ball is put into play. While the Laws of the Game do not mention a wall at any point, referees know that is a big portion of the tactics within a game. The "Wall" is typically used in the older age groups and will be discussed under the pretense of Striker (U12) through Seniors (U19) play. Most defenders tend to take up a position five to seven yards from the ball and wait to be moved back. Some referees get the full allotment of 10 yards. Others do not. Sellin's The Inner Game of Soccer offers this advice for your thoughtful consideration. "However, if it is manifestly less than 10 yards, the offended team has a right to have the law enforced. Two yards less than the lawful distance on the part of the defensive wall can radically reduce the [proportion] of goal mouth open to the kicker. In an interesting article, Les Radunchev demonstrates the decreasing are to be protected on a straight shot by the goalkeeper.
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It would appear, from this calculation, that cheating yields better results for the defense on a kick from some distance out, but there are other factors to consider: a shot from 25 yards out will be more easily curved up, over and down into the goal than one close up, but the latter will require greater reactions on the part of the goalkeeper. Suffice it to say that each yard is statistically important down in the area of pay-dirt!" Whether a superior mathematician can verify those figures or not, the perception of the attacking team is what matters. |
DG 17 20 25 |
DW 9.15 9.15 9.15 |
DA 3.90 4.60 5.72 |
SA 3.42 2.72 1.60 |
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DG 17 20 25 |
DW 7 7 7 |
DA 5.11 6.00 7.50 |
SA 2.21 1.32 --- |
An exercise - There are some referees who don't give the full 10 yards because they are unaware of how far 10 yards really is. Are you getting feedback from players that your wall is too close or too far away? Are you willing to try an interesting experiment?
Materials needed are a soccer ball, a length of string cut to 30 feet and a dozen different-colored sticks with pointed ends. Take your group of referees outside (during the monthly meeting or before the first game some Saturday) where there is open space and soft ground. Hand each one a pointed, colored stick. Place the ball on the ground. Ask them to move until they think they are exactly 10 yards from the ball, and lightly drive their stick into the ground to mark their place. You will be amazed (and frightened) at the different distance each individual chooses.
Then ask someone to hold one end of the string directly over the ball while you extend the other end of the string and walk the entire 10-yard circumference of the circle. Let each person see how well they estimated the distance. Move the ball 40-45 yards and try it again and the variance will be far less. Again, give feedback with the string.
Stubborn walls - Most walls will move back upon your request. Some players may be a little slow in moving back or may grumble as they inch backward. That's almost to be expected. But some players refuse to cooperate. Perhaps they think your distance is too far. Some coaches like to test referee's resolve to see how much it takes before the first card is shown. Whom do you caution when you have several players who jointly persist in moving the wall forward once you set the 10 yards? There is no right answer. Here are some questions to consider:
As you can see, there are many reasons to select the player that is shown the yellow card. You have to base your decision on what's gone on so far in that game. Only in the last case, the player with one caution already, should you avoid that player, in most cases. If you need to send a particularly strong message, do so. But think about having the punishment fit the crime. |
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Communication - Do you ever ponder why you see so few indirect free kicks on televised matches? Watch an MLS game. Other than offside, you may watch an entire game and not see a single indirect free kick whistled. Those referees are communicating with the players to prevent technical infractions. They tell a midfielder to pass the word back to the goalkeeper to get rid of the ball more quickly. They run alongside a player who attempts to hinder a goalkeeper distribution. "No more of that," is enough of a warning to a professional player from a professional referee. You can easily adopt those same habits and reduce game stoppages. It takes a little more effort on your part. Occasionally a player may not heed your warning and you will have to whistle the infraction but you tried. Plus, the player who was warned and then had it whistled has learned a valuable lesson. The player knows, "If that referee asks me to something (or not do something), I better listen. The next time it gets called."
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Preventing the goalkeeper from releasing the ball Goalkeepers are notorious for wasting time by holding the ball. The Laws of the Game imposed time limits on how long a keeper may control the ball. The objective is to get the ball to the feet of the 20 field players and let their skills determine the outcome of the game. Referees are encouraged to speed play, because that makes it more enjoyable and more entertaining. Players who attempt to block goalkeeper distributions hinder that objective. Tempers flair as goalkeepers and defenders yell at those offenders. Time ticks by as defenders yell to you to protect their keeper. The keeper holds the ball until the attacker clears away. All that yelling and no playing. Here is where smart referees think before they act. The law is clear and specific: "An indirect free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player...prevents a goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands". Yet, the picture to the left also suggests penalizing the an attacker from trying to block a punt. Does the defensive team want an indirect free kick from deep in its own penalty area? No. That kick puts them at a severe disadvantage. The goalkeeper loses the flexibility of rolling or throwing the ball and must kick the stationary ball from the ground instead of a punt or drop kick. That might cut 20-25 yards off the distance of a kick. Referees who automatically whistle the infraction and award the free kick, without at least warning the attackers, place undo hardship on the defense. Communicate with the players. Without blowing your whistle, run to the players and say to the goalkeeper, "Keep, I'll give you an extra few seconds while I talk to Number 19. Don't put it in play yet." Then turn to the attacker and say, "OK, Number 19. My job is to keep the ball in play. You're preventing that. Let's see nobody else wearing a grey-colored shirt do that again today." Sprint to your position and call for the keeper to play the ball. With an effective warning, Number 19 will not go near the keeper and if a teammate wanders in that direction, you have an ally in helping you. Number 19 should speak up, "Sue, the ref said we can't do that. You better back off." Caution players that do not heed that advice. |
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Respecting the required distance
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Action on the field:
Referee Responsibilities
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