International FA Board Decision?

[CDM76]

I recently was told during pregame instructions that kick-offs and indirect kicks must be initiated with "an obvious kicking motion" and that "rolling the ball with the bottom of the foot" was illegal for a kick-off.

I was also told touching the ball by stepping on it did not conform to requirements for the "first touch" on an indirect.

I seached the FIFA web site and the USSF web site for rulings, decisions, pronouncements and can find nothing.

Has anyone heard of this "new" interpretation of the Laws?

[AlsoRan]

You will find it in the 2005 and 2006 Advice to Referees from USSF.

Cutting and pasting from the 2005 version...

13.6 BALL IN PLAY
The ball is in play (able to be played by an attacker other than the kicker or by an opponent) when it has been kicked and moved. The distance to be moved is minimal and the "kick" need only be a touch of the ball with the foot in a kicking motion. Simply tapping the top of the ball with the foot or stepping on the ball are not sufficient. The referee must judge carefully whether any particular kick of the ball and subsequent movement was indeed reasonably taken with the intention of putting the ball into play rather than with the intention merely to position the ball for the restart. Referees should not penalize a kicker unfairly by calling as a restart a touch and movement of the ball which, either at the time or based on the kicker's immediately subsequent actions, was clearly not intended as such. Likewise, referees should not unfairly punish "failing to respect the required distance" when an
opponent was clearly confused by a touch and movement of the ball which was not a restart.

Stepping on top of the ball or merely tapping the ball with the foot does not constitute kicking.

The 2006 version is even longer and references the concept of "fingerspitzengefuhl"

[USSF REF]

I recently was told during pregame instructions that kick-offs and indirect kicks must be initiated with "an obvious kicking motion" and that "rolling the ball with the bottom of the foot" was illegal for a kick-off.

I was also told touching the ball by stepping on it did not conform to requirements for the "first touch" on an indirect.

I seached the FIFA web site and the USSF web site for rulings, decisions, pronouncements and can find nothing.

Has anyone heard of this "new" interpretation of the Laws?

Here is a piece of practical advice that you should listen to. If you start your matches and a player using the sole of his boot to push the ball forward to a teammate and then you stop the game and force the kick to be taken over; the players will see you instantly as one of those over zealous refs. Just let kick-offs like this go, if it goes backwards thats different - but just don't be too picky on the kick-off when it comes to this new interpertation.

[Englishref]

Here is a piece of practical advice that you should listen to. If you start your matches and a player using the sole of his boot to push the ball forward to a teammate and then you stop the game and force the kick to be taken over; the players will see you instantly as one of those over zealous refs. Just let kick-offs like this go, if it goes backwards thats different - but just don't be too picky on the kick-off when it comes to this new interpertation.

Very wise words. I can never understand why referees want to make life as difficult as possible for themselves by enforcing things like this. I'm glad we don't have this instruction. :cool: