What does the whistle signal at the start of a free kick?

The whistle at the start of a free kick is a crucial signal in the flow of the game. When the referee blows the whistle, it indicates that the free kick has been officially restarted, and players can now engage according to the laws of the game. For the defending team, this means they can also challenge for the ball.

At this moment, the players are expected to take positions and prepare for play, adhering to the guidelines set for free kicks. Defenders must be aware that they can now attempt to contest the ball once the kick is taken. This ensures that all players understand that the play has resumed, and they can legally participate in retrieving the ball.

Other choices incorrectly interpret the implications of the whistle. The notion that attackers can immediately challenge, for instance, can lead to confusion since the rules dictate that players must respect the required distance from the ball during a free kick depending on their position on the field. The idea of signaling a timeout is also inconsistent with the purpose of the whistle in this context, as a timeout would halt the play rather than restart it. Finally, suggesting that the whistle does not affect the play misrepresents its significance since it is the action that permits the game to proceed following the infraction.