Question Number: 18292

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 1/25/2008

RE: Recreation, AYSO Under 13

Dave Huhman of Quartz Hill, CA USA asks...

What are the options for the dropped ball restart when play is stopped for injuries or inadvertent whistle?

For the recreation leagues in which I work, there are a lot of game stoppages for injuries. Many times, and especially in the games where the players are pre-teens, the whistle is blown while the ball is in play. If a team has clear control of the ball when play is stopped, is it appropriate to drop the ball back to that team without a defender directly involved in the restart? If a member of both teams participates, is it OK for the ref to "suggest" that the players do something to give possession back to the team that had it when play was stopped, such as kick the ball over the touch line?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

The Law doesn't require anyone to be present at a dropped ball except the referee (dropper). As such, a referee has a great deal of latitude, and when you do the fair thing, whatever that may be in your game, the teams will come to understand. If a keeper goes down with an injury in possession of the ball (classic example), the intelligent referee will drop it back to the GK. If challenged by the other team, it usually suffices to remind them they would like the same courtesy if it were their GK. There is no need to make a ceremony of the dropping - the faster you get the game restarted, the better. But remember, whatever you do should be perceived as fair - by both teams.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

You cannot *prohibit* any player from taking part at a dropped ball. You can use your strong referee personality to *convince* the player to do the right thing. Just like the courtesy throw-in when the ball is kicked out of play at an injury, this cannot be forced by the referee.

Another technique to emphatically suggest they use is to say, "Red, we stopped play for the injury while White had the ball. What I'd like to do is, I'll drop the ball to you and you kick it back to them. That's fair, right?"

High school of course has mucked this up. Under NFHS rules, there must be exactly one player from each team taking part at a dropped ball. (I guess the hockey subcommittee promulgated that section of the rules.) So to compensate, they created another rule - if one team is in clear possession, they are given an indirect free kick instead of a dropped ball. Sigh.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Dave, you would do best by taking the matter of fairness into your own hands with youth players who do not understand the concept of fair play. At higher levels the players take it upon themselves. Since no one is required to participate at a dropped ball, you are free to drop it to whomever you wish. If in the interest of fair play that's to 2 opponents, one player, or no players, so be it.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

The answer is "no". If play is stopped for a reason not mentioned in the Laws of the Game, the ball must be dropped. When players get older, they will learn that it is good gamesmenship to pass the ball to the team that had control of the ball...sometimes.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

The referee has full lattitude as to where and when to drop the ball. The referee should do the right thing by the game, without breaking any laws and while upholding fundemental fairness.

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

See Question: 18987

See Question: 19100