Quote: Rule Question: Free kicks: If 10 yards is not asked by the player taking the free kick and the ref does not tell the player to back up 10 yards, can a player receive a yellow card for encroachment?
Absolutely, in fact when I do a game, the first time that happens I book the player, and I never have a problem after that. Being said, you must use some common sense, if a player is 7-8 yards from the ball and only needs to walk back a few steps that is ok. However a player by now should know that 1-5 yards away is not 10, especially if they are on a marked football field!
Players at all levels (NCAA, FIFA and high school) are REQUIRED to give 10 yards, if they fail to do so, whether it is asked for or not, they can be booked.
Please tell me that you do not actually give a card without providing a verbal warning for all to see. This devalues the card given, and does NOT achieve what you think it does. This is an attempt to control a game with cards rather than allowing for a fair game to go on....there is a major difference there!
There are times to give a card directly without a "talking to", but giving 10 yards is not one of them.
I look at that this way. Usually when I give a card for failing to give the 10 yards, the player already knows they should be 10 yards away because the first thing out of their mouth is something like "You are supposed to warn me first to give 10 yards."
Really? You know enough to tell me that you know you need to give 10 yards already but you chose not to do it because I need to warn you first. I don't think so.
Now if the player is far enough way that I only have to back them up a few steps then no card, I am talking about the kid who walks right up to the ball and is only a few feet to a few yards away.
