20-second rule no longer applies for kickouts & frees

The Football Review Committee has issued further guidance on the application of the new rules.

This latest development aims to provide further clarity and consistency in officiating the new football rules.

The advisory document was developed in consultation with the National Referees Panel and the Football Review Committee.

A key component is the latest guidance on perceived time wasting over kick-outs.

Although the average kick-out duration over the 2025 league from Rounds 1 to 5 was 21.1 seconds, the feeling is that enforcing a specific time guideline could place undue pressure on referees.

Instead, referees will continue to use their own discretion to determine whether a goalkeeper or any other player is intentionally delaying a kick-out or free-kick, as has been the case previously.

This means the 20-second rule will no longer apply.

Regarding the solo and go, if the ball is spilled/fumbled by a player in the act of taking a toe-tap, the solo and go is cancelled and a free-kick is taken from the original position of the foul. A subsequent solo and go may not be taken.

FRC CHANGES APPROVED

When taking a solo and go, a player must take the toe-tap within four metres of the position of the original foul.

A player is allowed to carry the ball up to four metres and the toe-tap must be completed before he reaches this point.

The player cannot be challenged for four metres beyond the point of where he took the toe-tap, for the purpose of starting a solo and go.

However, if the player takes a toe-tap to start a solo and go beyond four metres where the foul occurred - it is a 'hop ball'.

There is also guidance on handing the ball back.

For example, a situation where a goalkeeper standing on his goal line catches the ball after it was kicked in from distance by the opposition.

If the referee then called the ball back for a free and if there was no opposition player beside him, the goalkeeper may pass the ball back out the field to a team-mate, who can then 'hand over the ball' to the nearest opposition players or the player fouled.

This is instead of the goalkeeper having to leave his goal line and travel out the field to hand over the ball.

Also, if a team has a goalkeeper sent off for a black or red card, he must be replaced.

In other words a team must always have a goalkeeper on the field of play (the exception is if the goalkeeper is off the field receiving treatment for an injury).

Finally, with regard to dissent, examples of players calling "steps ref", or "pick up ref" do not warrant a 50m advancement of the ball.

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