Question Number: 15510

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 5/17/2007

RE: rec Under 14

Jodi Millard of nampa, Idaho us asks...

Recently my son was reffing a game for U13 girls. The center player on the kickoff put her foot on top of the ball and rolled it over the center line and then pulled it backward without taking her foot off the ball. My son called her on it and the coach came unglued. She said that it was perfectly legal and that they could do that. She proceeded to argue with him and the other coach saying that since it was all "one motion" it is fine. I've never heard of this being allowed myself but could you please clarify? Thank you.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Well your son is right. BUT when the coach came unglued he needed someplace to go and get re-glued. Send him away!!!! Kicked and moved means just that, Your son was within his preview to award the opponents an indirect free kick for a second touch before another player had touched the ball. It's a stretch but not that difficult to sell. Best to stop things and say "Kicked and Moved, please" and go again. If the coach comes unpuckered send his sorry arse away instantly, and do this until coaches figure out your son has a short fuse as far as abuse goes.

If the league tells him he is too hard on coaches advise him to find someplace else to referee. You might want to show this the the league president, too.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Your son was correct. Rolling the ball does NOT constitute a kick. The correct decision is to award an IFK to the opponents for a second touch. The coach should have been warned once and sent away the second time. Unfortunatly too many referees ignore these things which leads people to believe that its ok.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

Your son was right. Though, I might opt for a rekick, as the ball was never really kicked forward with a kicking motion. Though if the action was repeated I would certainly take the action your son did by giving the other team an indirect free kick for double touch.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I'm not sure what action your son took. The ball was never "kicked" so I don't think this is a second touch. Your son is correct that this is not proper but I would have ordered a rekick. Tell your son when a coach gets this upset, especially over something so trivial, she needs to take the rest of the day off.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

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