Why does the ref sometimes make them wait for a whistle and other times allow it to be taken straight off? What do the rules say about this?
The ref and the players determine if there is to be a quick restart. If the players try to play the ball quickly, the ref won't interfere. If the defending team is moving back slowly or not at all and the attacking team is waiting for 10 yards then the ref will show the whistle and/or tell the players to wait for the whistle while he moves the defenders back 10 yards.
The closer the kick to the goal, the more the players get bunched within the penalty area. With everybody in close proximity there is really no chance the ball can be played quickly. So, the next best choice for the attackers is to ensure they get every inch of the 10 yard requirement. It takes time for the referee to set the wall and get in position, so he'll tell them to wait for a signal after making sure everything is correct.
Dont forget (AND watch for) the great advantage an attacking team may have if the defense bunches up around the free kick near the goal. I have seen many goals result from a quick touch to the side of the wall for a finish into a net covered only by the keeper when the defense expected the kick to be cerimonial instead. I use my voice to back the wall if necessary(hopefully you have make this standard clear to the two teams earlier) but I dont interferr with the attacking team unless they ask for the ten yards.
Thanks. I was asking in re: to Henry's 1st goal today at Villa. So, in theory the attacking team should be allowed to play quickly if they believe they have advantage even if the other team is not back ten yards? I've seen refs blow this by making the attacking team wait when they didn't want to if that's accurate.
The other thing to remember is that free kicks must be taken within 1m of the offence (and throw in restarts must occur within 1m of where the ball left play) and quite often you have to call attacking teams back to stop then playing it closer to 10m from the offence. Crowdie
Basically, the referee has to assess the situation and determine what the attckers want. You generally don't get involved in moving players back to set up a "ceremonial" free kick, measuring the required distance and restarting with a whistle, unless the attackers ask for this. The idea is that the attackers have the advantage and should be able to capitalize on this since they were cheated by the opponent. As a referee, you want to interfere as little as possible.
Two things: First, although the spirit of this holds true worldwide, is the 1m figure a specific New Zealand instruction? I remember the 1m figure being in the Laws (under additional instructions) for throw-ins a few years back, but never a specific figure for free kicks. I only remember reading free kicks being taken at 'the spot of the foul', and that the referee determines where that 'spot' is. Second, bill is absolutely right with everything he says here. The only caveat I would add is that, at least in the U.S., referees are instructed to make free kicks 'ceremonial' if they stop to issue a card. That's one of the few cases where the attackers must wait even if they want to take a quick free kick (although, a good referee might have the foresight to see the opportunity for a quick free kick and scoring opportunity and therefore forego the issuance of a card and allow it to happen...but that's a different, more complex, discussion).
I saw that! Great play from Henry. The referee wasn't managing the wall... the referee wasn't managing the spot of the ball. What the referee was doing was talking to the Henry and teammates and he was kinda smiling. (Maybe talking about where the best spot was for a drink after the game??) Anyway...Henry put down the ball, took a couple steps back and blasted the ball into the net. GOAL!
The 1m requirement is an instruction from FIFA. I received this advice from Ken Wallace who is a FIFA inspector and has just returned from the U20 WC and is inspecting Group B in the OFC Olympic Qualifiers that are currently being held in NZ. Crowdie
I wouldn't call it an "instruction" as those are formal documents sent to the national associations. There is no formal FIFA document discussing the placement of the ball on a restart. It is more like an "understanding." The Laws say the ball goes at the spot of the infringement, but how big is a spot? FIFA suggests the referee try to be as precise as possible when necessary, but at least try to get the ball within a meter or so of where the foul occured. The main thing is not to let the players march on down the field with the ball and get a big advantage.
Dear Stateman, I am going to a BBQ tonight with the OFC referees here for the Olympic Qualifiers and Ken will be there so I'll get a definite answer for you and post it here tomorrow. Crowdie
To add to all this good advice, is to note that Law 5 (used to) says the referee must signal all restarts. While we know this doesn't require a whistle or definitive action on the part of the referee, what it suggests is the referee must give "permission" for all restarts. Thus the referee can hold up a restart by refusing permission (signal) or calling back a restart under the "no signal" (no permission) given (not always a good choice). In the objective "the game must flow" and keeping the interference of the referee at a minimum, most restarts are taken spontaneously . . as long as all the requirements are met. It is assumed the opponents realize this and must be always prepared for the quick restarts. . . as long as the requirements are met. One example of this is a "rolling ball." We hear the ball must be stationary, and that is to insure everyone realizes a stationary ball in the "correct" location, is ready for play if the referee doesn't intervene. But a rolling ball suggests the ball is not ready, and the opponents have the right to expect the ball not to be "allowed" to put into play. . however, this can sometimes be an exception as in when the wind is blowing the ball or the ball has been placed properly, but is slightly moving. It's a common sense issue, that must be assumed by all players. This also leads to trivia of what are the three restarts where a whistle is required? -> kickoff, PK, and when the referee promises (e.g. ceremonial restarts). The one yard requirement was mentioned for throw-ins, but I've never seen it for free kicks. Personally it's a bit anal. The objective is to insure the restart is taken at a place that is 1) relatively fair (general location), and that it's reasonably acceptble to the opponents so they realize the ball is "ready for play" (i.e. no signal/referee action required). This is why throw-ins made 5+ yards from the touchline should never be allowed.
Trivia: A whistle is required for a kick-off. Where does the law state this? ATR 2003 Says "When starting or restarting the game, the referee may signal to both teams by using his whistle, a hand signal, a word or two, or a simple nod or other acknowledgment." Also can find no requirement for whistle on Penalty kick, just a signal. I was always taught the only time a whistle is required is at the end of time. Although I do agree on "Cerimonial restarts", come to think of it a Penalty kick is a cerimonial restart, so you win that one also. Pat
I'm betting that Keith threw this out as bait, so I'll bite. Quoting from the ATR: A kickoff is required to start a game, and a whistle is not necessary to start a match therefore (remember your logic classes in high school) a whistle is not always required for a kickoff. Scott
We have been taught that the start of each half of play must be whistled. Restarts after goals are scored at at the discretion at the referee. Again this is the NZ interpretation. As the OFC referees BBQ on Wednesday night was cancelled due to the poor weather over the Tasman sea at the moment so I haven't had a chance to discuss the 1m for free kicks with Ken Wallace. I have training with him on Monday night so I will ask both questions. Crowdie
What I was quoting was the USSF's Advice to Referees and should only be followed by referees working games in the US of A. Scott
Not precisely. A better form of your statement might be: AtR is approved by FIFA/IFAB and shouldn't contain anything contrary to intrepretation of Laws in any other country. However, in this particular thread we are discussing mechanics. There very likely are differences from country to country.
Gary V, remember that the USSF ATR is not updated every year and over time will very likely conflict with the LOTG. So your suggestion that we MUST comply with the ATR is incorrect. Where it is not out of date, it should be followed but to give it the weight of law is a bit much, I think.
Guinea-Rwanda I wonder if this is uniform. I was listening to the Guinea-Rwanda African Nations' Cup game. The ref handed out two yellow cards for players taking free kicks too quickly, before the ref blew his whistle. The commentators said this was a point of emphasis with CAF (the African confederation). I found this bizarre because I was always under the impression that a kick could be taken quickly at the discresion of the attacking player unless the ref was handing out a card or something.
Re: Guinea-Rwanda By the Laws of the Game, all restarts require a signal by the referee. For the most part the signal of the direction for the restart is also the signal to begin. Any ref who wants to delay the restart to set a wall, give a card, etc. must then tell the players to wait for a second signal, usually a whistle. In the US we standardize this by holding up our whistle and pointing to it. Is it possible that in the game you saw, the ref told the starting team to wait without using the signal we expected? A restart after that would be a reason for a caution.
Re: Re: Guinea-Rwanda There's an important clarification here. It may seem a minor distinction to some, but it's the difference between handing out cautions like candy and only issuing them when they are truly deserved. Anyway, the reason we caution in instances like this is because of misconduct that occurs. Taking a kick after being told to wait for the whistle is not, in and of itself, misconduct. Some players may confuse the signal, not realize it was made, or just become overly anxious at a scoring opportunity and forget they are to wait. None of these amount to misconduct. It is only a cautionable offence in a situation like this if the player--having asked for the 10 yards and a ceremonial free kick--deliberately takes the kick early knowing full well that the referee will order a re-take. In other words, a caution in a circumstance like this is only appropriate if timewasting tactics are being employed. It is not a cautionable offence merely because the referee's order was disobeyed (or misunderstood, or not seen/heard, etc.).
Re: Re: Re: Guinea-Rwanda I agree a little discresion is necessary. This occured in the first half of a 0-0 game so there was no reason for either team to time waste. I'm curious what the actual directive from CAF was. Unfortunately, their website is useless for thiings far more basic than this.
Re: Re: Guinea-Rwanda Creative, reasonable...........but not true. All restarts do NOT require a signal by the referee so you dont need to get creative and pretend that the signal for direction somehow equals a signal to begin. The ONLY restarts that need a "signal" from the reff is the kickoff, the PK and any of the myriad of situations in which a reff indicates the kicking team should wait for his signal. There is no blanket statement that ALL fouls/restarts in the run of play require the reff signal.