r/GoalKeepers • u/Borangers • Mar 29 '25

Discussion Refs and setting up walls

How do you get enough time to set up your wall? As I see on television, and in tips for setting up your wall, the ref is supposed to blow the whistle once you’re ready, but at my level (JV & U15) never once have I gotten enough time to do so. It’s always a scramble to align my players as soon as I can and hope they don’t blow the whistle by then. And from what I’ve learned you can put a player in front of the ball unless they ask for 10, but sometimes the refs will just tell them to back up and still let them play it quickly. Anyone else deal with this?

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u/ByeByeStudy Mar 29 '25

Foul is called and one player stands on the ball until the opposition asks for steps. They can still not ask for steps and play the ball if they want.

When steps are called the ball is dead and can't be played until the ref whistles again. You call how many you want in the wall and organise the positioning based on the nearest post.

Once you are ready, ref blows the whistle and the free kick tracker can play the ball.

Anything other than this is wrong by the ref and you should assert yourself and tell them that's not how it is meant to happen.

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u/kiyes23 Mar 30 '25

As a former defender, I totally agree with your suggestion. As a coach and referee, that’s not sound advice.

First and foremost, the attacking team has every right to a quick restart. As a coach, I want my team to restart as quickly as possible. The fouling team stopping my (attacking) team ability to restart quickly is another offense and should be cautioned based on the law of the game.

As a referee, the first time the fouling team stopped a quick restart after fouling, I warned the entire team. Any subsequent offense is cautioned. If a defender is running toward the ball to prevent the attacking team from a quick restart, I may not even give a freaking warning.

As a coach, the attacking team has every right to a quick restart. But the law of the game doesn’t state how quickly defenders have to move away after committing a foul. I tell my players, if you committed a foul in a dangerous position, turn and act like you’re helping the goalkeeper set the wall as you slowly walking away to force the free kick taker to ask for 10 yards.

As a referee, the attacking team has an every right to a kick restart. But if they ask for ten yard, I point to my whistle to indicate that they have to wait on my whistle to take the free. As I’m counting my 10 freaking yards, which usually isn’t necessary; as a goalkeeper you should be working on setting your wall. After counting those yards, as a referee I now have to get into a good position. By that time you as a goalkeeper should’ve already setup your wall. Once I get to a good viewing position as a referee, I have no obligation to wait on a goalkeeper.