Law 13
Alabama
Interpretations of the
Laws of the Game as
provided in the IFAB
for 2016-2017;
subject to change!
U.S. Soccer Federation Referee Program
Grade 8 Referee Course
Competitive Youth Training
Procedure
o All free kicks are taken from the place where
the infringement occurred, except:
o IFK for attacking team inside opponents’ goal
area is taken from the nearest point on the goal
area line parallel to goal line
o Free kicks taken within own goal area taken
anywhere in goal area
o Player leaves field as part of play, free kick
taken on nearest boundary line or penalty mark
o Law designates another position (Law 3, 11, 12)
Types
o Direct and indirect free kicks are awarded to
the opposing team of a player guilty of an
offense or infringement
o Direct - goal can be scored directly from kick
o Indirect - must touch two players
o Retaken if referee fails to signal and ball is kicked
directly into opponents’ goal
o Management
o Quick
o Ceremonial
Quick Free Kick
o Ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves
o Exception: free kick taken within own penalty
area
o Attacking team allowed to take kick
o Properly placed
o Stationary
o Attacking team does not ask for 10 yards
o No additional signal
o Referee still signals for indirect free kick
Quick Free Kick
o Ball kicked directly to an opponent
o Referee allows play to continue
o An opponent within 10 yards deliberately
stops the free kick
o Referee stops play and issues a
caution
o Retake the original free kick as
ceremonial
Quick Free Kick
Difference between “stopping” a free kick and “intercepting”
the ball after a free kick is taken
“If, when a free kick is taken, an opponent is closer to the ball than the
required distance, the kick is retaken unless the advantage can be applied;
but if a player takes a free kick quickly and an opponent who is less than 10
yards from the ball intercepts it, the referee allows play to continue.
However, an opponent who deliberately prevents a free kick being taken
quickly must be cautioned for delaying the restart of play.”
Ceremonial Free Kick
o When referee becomes involved
o Caution or send off
o Treatment of injury on the field
o Substitution
o Request from kicking team (set wall)
o Needed for game management
o Play must be restarted with a whistle
Walls
o Opposing
players at
least 10yds
o Kicking team
request –
o Wait for
whistle
o Position
wall
o Whistle
Encroachment
o Failure to respect required distance
o Cautionable offense
Techniques
o Have a presence
o Be aware of the situation
o Understand potential team tactics
o Be proactive
o Communicate with players
Infringements
o Indirect free kick to opposing team
o Kicker touches ball again before it touches
another player
o If goalkeeper is the kicker and deliberately
handles ball inside penalty area before it
touches another player
Infringements
o Opponent moves forward to stop ball during
ceremonial restart
o Makes contact with the ball
oStop play and caution the player
o
oRetake free kick
o Does not make contact
oReferee’s discretion to stop play or not
o Is not when player is attempting to retreat
and intercepts ball
Infringements
o Free kick inside team’s own penalty area
o If defender makes contact
oRetake the free kick
o If attacker makes contact
oCaution the player
oRetake free kick
Review Question
o What action should the referee take if an
opponent fails to respect the required distance
by lunging toward and blocking a free kick?
o The player should be cautioned and the kick
should be retaken
o Play should continue and the player should be
cautioned at the next stoppage
Review Question
o When should the referee allow for a quick free
kick to be taken instead of requiring a
ceremonial free kick?
o When the referee delays the taking of the free
kick for any reason
o When the defending team is still within the
required distance but retreating from the ball
when the kicking team quickly takes the kick
Review Question
o What is the correct restart if a player kicks the
ball directly into the opponent's goal without it
being touched by another player from an
indirect free kick?
o Corner kick
o Goal kick
o Indirect free kick
o Kick-off