Question Number: 16099

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 7/24/2007

RE: recreational Under 7

Arabena Bourne of Ottawa, Ontario Canada asks...

I'm Always at a lost when it comes to when a drop ball is necessary?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

U-7 may have special rules, but generally speaking a dropped ball is used only if there isn't a specific restart already in the Laws. Some normal examples for when you would use a dropped ball as a restart are after a stoppage for injury (not the result of a foul), for some creature running onto the field and stealing the ball or interfering with play (creature can be dog, duck, parent, coach, etc. but not a player or substitute), when you stop play to deal with something happening on or off the field that isn't a foul or misconduct (coach yelling at you, players getting into a shouting match) and of course if you have to stop the game for weather related incidents. There are others, but those are the basic ones. I hope that helps?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Law 8 says, "A dropped ball is a way of restarting the match after a temporary stoppage that becomes necessary, while the ball is in play, for any reason not mentioned elsewhere in the Laws of the Game."

If you stop play for a foul, the restart is defined - a free kick of some sort. Similarly for the ball crossing over a boundary line, the restart is defined as a throw-in, goal kick, corner kick or kickoff, depending on which part of the boundary was crossed.

An example of when a restart is not defined would be if you stopped play for an injured player, where there was no foul. In that case the dropped ball would be the restart.

The Laws also define the dropped ball restart for some situations, such as the ball going flat while in play or for interference by an outside agent (someone or something other than a player or sub).

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Any time the referee feels it is necessary to stop the match for a reason not listed in the laws. Examples are injuries, outside agent interference, etc.

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

See Question: 16128