"prepping" the field before a free kick

[emailryoung]

I witnessed a youth game recently in which a player about to take a free kick was stomping on the ground in front of the ball, and carefully positioning the ball, in preparation of his kick.

The referee seemed to motion that this was unacceptable, and had a word with the kick-taker.

I've seen similar behavior countless times at all levels. What do the Laws say, if anything, on this point?

[whitehound]

I witnessed a youth game recently in which a player about to take a free kick was stomping on the ground in front of the ball, and carefully positioning the ball, in preparation of his kick.

The referee seemed to motion that this was unacceptable, and had a word with the kick-taker.

I've seen similar behavior countless times at all levels. What do the Laws say, if anything, on this point?
The only things that I can think of are that you cant remove the corner flag and you cant make marks on the field.......maybe he thought it was a mark?

[refontherun]

The only things that I can think of are that you cant remove the corner flag and you cant make marks on the field.......maybe he thought it was a mark?

Or maybe just wasting time. Was that team ahead or behind? If behind, let him take all the time he wants. If ahead, could go to yellow if it's excessive.

[emailryoung]

This was early in the game -- I don't think it was for delay.

What might qualify as a mark? Would a divot count? Perhaps the thought was to depress the ground near the ball to increase the chance of getting some lift.

[ctsoccer13]

We have an excellent free kick taker and what we always do is have her adjust the ball and prep the ground after the wall is setup. The idea isn't really to prep the ground but to pick up the ball and replace it in a position so that the wall is now out of place. We've been caught on it a couple of times, but it mostly works. That could have been the issue.

[ref47]

i let them stomp down the grass but do not let them dig divits or make mounds of earth. trying for a smooth surface is fine. rearranging the earth in any substantial way is under the "marking" prohibition for me. no kicking tees allowed.

atr 2005, 1.6 - ...players may not make unauthorized marks on the fop. the player who makes such marks or alterations on the fop to gain an advantage may be cautioned for ub. ...

[emailryoung]

This all sounds very helpful. Not being a referee myself, ignorance of the "marking the field" instruction is probably not surprising. In an attempt to remedy this, I went to FIFA.com and downloaded the Laws. I couldn't find *any* reference to this concept in the 80-odd pages.

Where is it?

[ur_land]

It's in the USSF Advice to Referees (which ref47 paraphrased above), which presents the official USSF interpretations of the Laws of the Game. In the 2003 version, the text reads as follows:

1.6 NO PLAYER MODIFICATIONS TO THE FIELD
Goalkeepers or other players may not make unauthorized marks on the field of play. The player who makes such marks or alterations on the field to gain an unfair advantage may be cautioned for unsporting behavior. Players may return bent or leaning corner flags to the upright position, but they may not bend or lean them away from the upright position to take a corner kick, nor may the corner flag be removed for any reason.

[nsa]

This prohibition on marking or prepping the pitch is particularly aimed at 'keepers who create marks on the field to help with their positioning. When I catch them I have a quick word with them, usually saying that the pitch is crappy enough without their adding to the problem. ;) If they persist, then the they are cautioned.

Then there was this one match on FieldTurf where the referee crew just stood and watched in wonder as the 'keeper attempted to make a mark on the artificial surface. No caution. We actually thanked him for the good laugh. :)

I think that the 'keeps and coaches have watched too many hockey goalies.