A&H

Setting a wall

QuaverRef

I used to be indecisive but now i'm not so sure
Level 4 Referee
Do you always give time to defenders to set their wall properly? In yesterday’s game I gave a free kick and I was stood where the kick was to be taken. Defenders threw the ball to the attacker who placed the ball, defenders were already back their yards, I got in position. I waited a few seconds and blew the whistle and the attacker scored to the arguments of the defenders.
I would say we’re talking 30-45 seconds between the foul and the whistle being blown. Defenders and keeper were arguing about how many in the wall and when they decided, the keeper never seemed happy with their position. I decided just to get on with it
 
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Do you think if that was fair to the defending team? Try and look at it from an objective view point. You punished them for the offence with a free kick. What was the punishment for being 'disorganised' ?

You lost patience with the defenders, the sensible thing to do there would have been to hurry them up.
 
I dont always wait, nothing says a team is entitled to a wall,
By sounds of the OP thats what I would have done too
 
I dont always wait, nothing says a team is entitled to a wall,
By sounds of the OP thats what I would have done too
That’s the thing. My discussion with the players basically highlighted that there’s nothing in the LOTG which states that I have to wait for that long. Everything was in position bar their wall and how long should I stand around waiting for them to get ready? One was probably right and I should have maybe given a shout, but they had plenty of time to get ready and the kick was taken on the whistle
 
That’s the thing. My discussion with the players basically highlighted that there’s nothing in the LOTG which states that I have to wait for that long. Everything was in position bar their wall and how long should I stand around waiting for them to get ready? One was probably right and I should have maybe given a shout, but they had plenty of time to get ready and the kick was taken on the whistle


Its that expectation thing. And, I do understand the fk is given as punishment for the foul but as much as I try to hide it, I dont have a lot of tears for a defending team who are not ready.
Dont want the potential to lose a goal cos your wall aint ready? Dont commit the foul.
If firstly am ready, then the attacking team, am inclined to go. Defending team third and last on my check list.
 
I rarely wait, what I do do is make sure I take enough spotting the ball and pacing out, setting the wall and then getting into position before blowing the whistle that everyone is ready by that point. Saves any complaints
 
You used the whistle. That's good enough for me.

I'd say they'd have a point if you didn't! But personally, I mark out the ten, get into position and blow the whistle, I'm not hanging about waiting for them to get ready unless something's kicked off and needs managing.
 
To me, the defending team has no "right" to a wall. If the offended team wants 10 yards over a quick restart, I move back 10 yards and once I move away to observe the restart, I whistle so the offended team can restart at their convenience. The defending team has no right other than to to not be distracted by me (ie, don't attempt to move back 10 yards without indicating a ceremonial restart)
 
Do you always give time to defenders to set their wall properly? In yesterday’s game I gave a free kick and I was stood where the kick was to be taken. Defenders threw the ball to the attacker who placed the ball, defenders were already back their yards, I got in position. I waited a few seconds and blew the whistle and the attacker scored to the arguments of the defenders.
I would say we’re talking 30-45 seconds between the foul and the whistle being blown. Defenders and keeper were arguing about how many in the wall and when they decided, the keeper never seemed happy with their position. I decided just to get on with it

Why blow the whistle? If there was no reason for it to be ceremonial and you haven't told them to wait for the whistle, no need for a whistle on a FK.

IMHO, so long as the referee does not need to get involved, he shouldn't, and no whistle is needed. Once the referee gets involved--because he is asked or because he chooses to get involved in where the defense is located--he needs to operate on the "no surprises" concept. I'm not giving the defense all day to get ready, but I'm also not surprising them by blowing the whistle when no one expects it. If I'm ready to go and they may not be, "All right gentlemen, here we go on the whistle" --brief pause --tweet. No surprises.
 
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