Question Number: 14450

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 11/16/2006

RE: Select Under 15

Franco of Bloomington, IN USA asks...

Dropped ball

If a dropped ball is touched only by one player can that player have a second touch?

If so then the dropped ball out of all starts, restarts, and free kicks is the only time a second touch is allowed?

Can you score a goal directly from a dropped ball?

I have heard on here in situations out of good sportsmanshp that a dropped ball may at times be only dropped in front of one player as an act of sportsmanship. Does the Dropped ball not have to involve two players? I know its been done that way but do the Laws of the game allow it?

Franco

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Franco a quick read of law 8 tells you the ball is in play once it hits the ground and any player can play or make as many concesutive contacts with that ball as he likes. You are correct this restart has NO 2 touch restriction because as a restart no law is affected. It is only a way to restart the game .

The number of players present at a drop ball could range from 0 to 22 , they are generally two and occassionaly one. Nothing but a desire to do the right thing compells an oppopnent to not challenge or ask for a drop to return it to the opposition by kicking it back or out of play. A referee has no right to deny a participant at a drop ball but every right to expect a participant to follow through with what the participant says he will do!

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Franco, a dropped ball is in play once it hits the ground, not when a player touches it. Second touches are forbidden when a player puts the ball in play. No one need even participate at a dropped ball. Last sunday in a U19 Select game I had a player get injured and the keeper had the ball. I told the keeper to roll the ball away which she did so I could stop play for theinjury. After injured player was taken off the field I dropped the ball back to the keeper and asked her to wait a second or two for the opponents to get back.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Once the ball hits ground the players may touch it as many times as they want.