Question Number: 23878

Law 11 - Offside 9/6/2010

RE: select, competive, club Under 19

Bob Coleman of Brick, NJ USA asks...

attacking team has been called for an offside infraction. Ball is now placed even with the AR's flag which happens to wind up inside the 18 yard line. A player kicks the ball back to the goadtender who in turns kicks the ball forward and now outside the 18 yardline. The question is, does the ball have to be kicked outside the 18 yardline on the initial kick as in a goal kick or is this kick ok?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

hi Bob
Yes, on all restarts inside the penalty area the ball must be kicked outside the penalty area for it to be put into play. So if the IDFK was awarded inside the penalty area, the ball must be kicked outside the penalty area to be put into play. If the ball is touched inside the penalty area by a player from either side the free kick is retaken.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Yes, all restarts including free kicks must exit the penalty area before they are in play. This is well known for goal kicks, but very seldom known for free kicks. I don't know why this is, as Law 13 and Law 16 read almost identically word for word.

If the kick does not exit the penalty area, or another player touches the ball before it exits, the kick must be retaken.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Any kick coming out of the penalty area must leave the penalty area before it is in play. If it is played by a second player before it exits then the kick must be retaken