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There are two types of Free Kick, and two methods.
All Referees are familiar with the two types... Direct Free Kick and Indirect Free Kick. Unfortunately, some are not as familiar with the two methods... Quick and Ceremonial.
It must be remembered that the team taking the Free Kick is entitled to put the ball in play as quickly as they wish (Quick Free Kick) with certain conditions:
If these conditions are met, the team may take the kick. The defending players do not need to be at least ten yards from the ball. (More on this later.)
The Quick Free Kick offers an obvious advantage to the kicking team as the defenders do not have time to set a wall or to pull additional people down field. Denying the kicking team the chance for a Quick Kick is analogous to misapplying the Advantage Clause in that the kicking team is denied an advantage while the offending team is given one.
If, however, the kicking team requests "ten yards" by the defending team, the Referee should treat the Free Kick as a Ceremonial one. She should inform the kicking team not to kick the ball until she signals them it is okay, preferably by whistle. She may then proceed to move the defenders back and manage the wall they will almost surely form. When the Referee is satisfied that everything is as it should be, she signals for the Free Kick to be taken.
In other cases, the Referee may insist on a Ceremonial Kick to ensure fairness or game control. For example, a free kick in close when the keeper has been pulled far out of position may present too great of an advantage to the kicking team. Another example would be if there is a lot of jostling going on as a wall is being set up; the Referee may want to defuse that situation before getting on with play.
How does the Referee prevent a Quick Kick from being taken? One way is to simply stand over the ball. This requires the Referee to be close to the action (but you are anyway... right?).
And how does the Referee deal with encroaching defenders? One reason for a Ceremonial Kick is to allow proper setting of a wall at the proper distance. The Referee should quickly establish where the wall should be set, insist that no defender encroach, and not hesitate in Cautioning one who does. One Warning should be enough.
As for the defender who finds himself too close on a Quick Kick, the Referee should consider the circumstances. Did the defender appear to encroach on purpose? Did he not even try to retreat the ten yards? Did he attempt to play the ball after the kick? If the answer to one or more of these is yes, a Caution may be in order; a Warning certainly is.
A Free Kick represents an opportunity to the kicking team, perhaps even a chance to score. It is the Referee's responsibility to see that the opportunity is not denied, and that it is fairly taken.
(If you wish to comment on this article, send a message to basra@basra-refs.org.)
Want to read some War Stories on Free Kicks? Try this page.
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