Question Number: 23411

Law 13 - Free Kicks 6/3/2010

RE: Competive Under 13

J Lawrence of Houston, Tx usa asks...

Can a player play an IDFK or a DFK back to a team mate or does it have to be kicked and moved forward ?

Thanks for all you guys do.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Two kicks are required to go forward: kickoffs and penalty kicks.

Any outbound kick taken from within the penalty area must exit the penalty area before it is in play, but this can be done by kicking the ball in any direction that will accomplish this. (It could exit the side of the penalty area headed toward the corner flag, for example.)

Other kicks may be made in any direction.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Referee Lawrence
DFKs and IDFK can be kicked in any direction. Inside the penalty area the ball must be kicked outside the penalty area in any direction to be in play on a DFK or IDFK which is the same as the goal kick.
The kick off and the penalty kick are the only two kicks where the law states that the direction must be forward.

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Ref Lawrence, there are only three situations when a kick cannot go backwards if they want to keep it in play: penalty kicks, kick-offs and when the ball is on the kicker's goal line. IDFKs, DFKs can go any which way they want.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The only 2 restarts where the ball is in play when it is kicked and moved forward are the kick-off and penalty kick.