Question Number: 18903

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 4/28/2008

RE: All Under 14

Sarah K of San Antonio, TX USA asks...

A general question this morning if I may...is there any restart in which the player performing the restart can touch the ball twice consecutively? I know you can't "double-touch" on a kick-off, DFK, PK, IFK, corner kick, goal kick, or throw-in, but how about on a drop ball? Not sure how that would happen (other than dropping to a GK, perhaps?), but would it be legal?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Yes, a double touch on a dropped ball is legal. The ball is put back into play by the ground, literally, since it is not in play until it touches the ground after being dropped by the referee, so there is no second touch problem for a player. Once the ball is in play, a player can dribble it with all the touches she wants. However, there is NO restart performed by a PLAYER (goalkeeper or otherwise) where the ball can be touched twice in succession without an intervening touch by another player.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Yes, on a drop ball you can touch the ball twice. On all free kicks, and other restarts...no kicker (or thrower) may touch ball twice in a row.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

At a drop ball the ball is in play when it hits the ground and any player is free to touch it as often as she likes. As Ref Maloney points out, the referee puts the ball in play at a dropped ball not a player.