Trick free kick play

[Emmet Kipengwe]

Saw something a tournament this weekend I hadn't encountered before.
I awarded a free kick to Blue about 5 yards outside the penalty area near the center of the field. White's wall was a bit close so I told the Blue player that was in position to take the kick to wait for my whistle, then backed up the wall. I backed it up.
I looked at the Blue player then blew the whistle. Another Blue player came over, picked up the ball with his hands, and moved it slightly to "tee" it up for the Blue player that was going to take the kick. I was surprised, to say the least, and called him for handling.
Was this the right call?
After the game, both ARs, one a State-level ref, said I was correct.

[rca2]

Play has not restarted.

[Mattinho]

If the play was never restarted by the players foot then how could you have called a handball? If you thought what they were doing was strange then maybe you should have given a yellow for time wasting or poor sportsmanship but I don't see how you could have called a handball.

The whistle doesn't mean the ball is in play in this instance. Otherwise the other team could just come up and start dribbling it away or boot it upfield. You are just signalling to the player that it is okay for him to restart the game once again.

[Ref Flunkie]

Play had not restarted, so handling was not correct. As was stated in other replies, you could have cautioned for time wasting, but the restart would still have been a free kick for the team that already had one coming. It is a bit frightening that a State level referee would say that the call was correct.

[HeadHunter]

Additionally- and maybe Im just reacting to the wording of your discription rather than the actual facts, why would you tell the kicker to wait for the whistle just b/c the D's wall was "a little close". Instead verbally back the D off but no need to create a formal restart unless the D does not respond to you verbal prompt AND A does not seem to be interested in taking the quick kick.

NOTE: I am not advocating only enforcing the distance if the Attacking team requests it, rather only shift to a formal restart if there is no prospect of a quck free materializing (or if you need to card/speak with a player)

[Emmet Kipengwe]

Thanks, guys.
That's not the first mistake I've ever made and I doubt it will be the last.

No prospect of a quick free kick, that's why I held a "formal" restart.

[Gary V]

No prospect of a quick free kick, that's why I held a "formal" restart.Did the kicking team ask for your help? Or if not, did you caution the other team that was not allowing the quick kick?

It seems to me that first you allowed the opponents to interfere with a free kick, and then you decided to take away the fouled team's right to a quick kick. Once you did that, you then took the kick away from them for something that happened while the ball was out of play. And you got a State referee to agree this was all correct?

I don't mean to be harsh, just stating facts. I don't know you or your experience level, and this could be a learning experience for you so you won't make the same mistake again. But a State-level referee should have been able to give you better advice.

[Emmet Kipengwe]

Did the kicking team ask for your help? Or if not, did you caution the other team that was not allowing the quick kick?

It seems to me that first you allowed the opponents to interfere with a free kick, and then you decided to take away the fouled team's right to a quick kick. Once you did that, you then took the kick away from them for something that happened while the ball was out of play. And you got a State referee to agree this was all correct?

I don't mean to be harsh, just stating facts. I don't know you or your experience level, and this could be a learning experience for you so you won't make the same mistake again. But a State-level referee should have been able to give you better advice.
Maybe I haven't written this clearly, but it was a situation where the attacking team was [B]NOT[B] wanting or attempting a quick kick. They were setting up a kick, but taking their time. When I saw that, I motioned for them to wait for the whistle while I moved the wall back. I don't require the attacking team to ask me to move the wall to 10 yards. Do you?
And I already said, I made a mistake. I won't make that one again. The State ref said I was right in calling the handling, that's all. I didn't "get" him to agree to it, I asked him if it was right.

[socref79]

Emmet....have you thought about August Cup? If so, let me know....I will arrange to get you all the feedback you can take.

[FIFARay007]

I don't require the attacking team to ask me to move the wall to 10 yards. Do you?

I'd never move the defending team back unless the attacking team requests it, after all, you never know if they will try and do something quick or sneaky (legal, but sneaky).

[LoewenBoy]

After the game, both ARs, one a State-level ref, said I was correct.
:eek:....(insert appropriate look of horror)

As stated above, ball not in play. Very, very scared that a State agreed.

[chrisrun]

:eek:....(insert appropriate look of horror)

As stated above, ball not in play. Very, very scared that a State agreed.

Only need 75% on the test to be a grade 6...

[LoewenBoy]

Only need 75% on the test to be a grade 6...
Yes, but still. Goodness. That's Grade 8 level IMHO.

[WAref]

Only need 75% on the test to be a grade 6...

Which means he's allowed to get 1 out of every 4 calls wrong! :D

[Rufusabc]

Is that a protestable mistake? There are times on this and other forums where I think that we referees are always looking for the most difficult way out of a situation instead of the most logical and 99 out of 100 times the correct decision. Overthinking is sometimes our worst enemy. I have had more discussions on these boards with folks who want to parse every nuance and action as thought the teams and coaches had some ulterior motive to deceive. If I ever get back on the field (currently on the DL with a serious knee injury) I'm promising myself not to look for trouble under every rock, but know trouble when I see it.

R

[LoewenBoy]

Is that a protestable mistake?
Look what happened at nationals this week! I would have thought that they would have said, "Oh well, we all make mistakes." But they allowed a replay. Now THAT'S opening up a whole can of worms.;)

[intechpc]

Only need 75% on the test to be a grade 6...

Yes but at some point you had to get an 85% to get to level 7. And I'm pretty sure this portion of law hasn't changed in recent history.

[Gary V]

Is that a protestable mistake? Yup - misapplication of the Laws. It wasn't a judgement call.

[Janice]

Yup - misapplication of the Laws. It wasn't a judgement call.

Absolutely protestable! He has failed to restart the match for why it was halted and instead found misconduct during this time and changed the restart for a non existent foul!
I find it to be nothing short of incredible that a state referee said it was correct???
Was it an INDFK and the kicker perhaps moved/kicked the ball with his foot thus putting the ball in play then the player picked it up?

As a thought on free kicks where opponents are milling about TOO close even if there seems to be no desire for the offended team to be upset. While a referee could assume no hurry as referee you could set a wall at least ten giant yards+ if not even further! This will sometimes force a team to withdraw quicker later to avoid being marched back too far and possibly avoid needless cards by being too close. I will say, "Ten yards now please it would be a shame to catch a card for such nonsense!” I will sometimes tell complaining players, “If you know ten yards then go there and I will not have to set standard or intervene! There are enough visual clues about the field to make this a non event!”
:rolleyes:

[kelliott31]

Law 13 states that the ball is in play when the ball is kicked and moves therefore the ball was not in play and this was not handling.