Question Number: 16275

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 8/11/2007

RE: Under 14

alex of vernal, utah united states asks...

if an interaction (foul or error) occurs during a kick off, a restart is granted to the same team. true or false

Answer provided by Referee Debbie Hoelscher

I'm thinking you meant "infraction" in your question?... I guess it depends on whether or not it was a foul or not....An infraction could occur prior to the ball being put into play: the ball was kicked but did not move forward. The ball was never in play, therefore no foul. The kick off is rekicked by the same team. If however, the ball was put into play and that team committed an infraction, then the restart is dependent upon the infraction. For instance, the ball was kicked and moved forward, then a player from the kicking team struck the referee. This is an infraction (i.e. misconduct), but not a foul. An indirect free kick restart would NOT be awarded to the kicking team, but to the opponents. If the ball was kicked and moved forward (now it is in play) and a player on the kicking team struck their opponent in the center circle, then a foul has occurred (as well as a misconduct). Now the restart is dependent upon the appropriate free kick for the foul -- direct free kick to the oppponents.

I bet you never thought it'd be so complicated!

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

During a kickoff? There is before the ball is kicked forward and after the ball is kicked forward - there is no "during". Anything that happens before the foot actually kicks the ball forward will be dealt with as misconduct but the restart is still the kick off. If the kick off is not properly taken (all players are not in their own half, defenders are not 10 yards away, the ball is not kicked forward, etc.) then the ball has not been put into play, so the restart is still a kick off. After the ball has been properly kicked forward and is in play, well, the ball is in play, so any of the normal scenarios for fouls and misconduct can occur. Does that help?

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

If the ball is not put into play properly (not forward), it is a rekick. If kicker touches ball twice in a row after it was in play (kicked and oves forward), then it is a IFK for opponents.