Question Number: 19596

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 7/9/2008

RE: Other

Melvin Hagerman of Colorado Springs, Colorado U.S.A. asks...

This question is a follow up to question 19577

Regarding question 19577: Could this still be a holdover from the days when the ball had to roll forward--distance: the circumference of the ball--before being considered 'in play' from a center-spot kickoff?

I know the rule was changed not that many years ago to the current rule.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

No, because even at those times all the players were required to be in their own half of the field. It is a carry over from referees who lack the courage to expend 'management points' before the match starts. By the way those are the same referees who don't think a player should be sent off in the first five minutes so players take the opportunity to even things out from previous meetings. In ignoring that part of Law 8 the referee sets the precedent he will ignore some parts of the Laws of the Game, players are just testing the water to find out what else he'll ignore.

The first duty in Law 5 is 'enforces the Laws of the Game'. Referees who do so from the outset usually don't have much trouble.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Melvin, I had exactly the same thoughts as you about this point! But it has nothing to do with 27 inches, the minimum circumference of a size 5 ball. The players MUST be in their half. There is no new trend - just carry on enforcing the Laws.

There is one tiny bit of room for rationalizing the referees' oversight in this regard. We are not supposed to call trivial fouls. Does this fall into that catagory? Perhaps.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If you watch enough soccer on TV you'll also notice many times the kick goes bacwards directly to a teammate. This also is incorrect and the kick should be taken again as it must move forward to be put into play. Referees at high levels of play sometimes seem to believe it's ok to simply ignore the Laws and what they contain. This makes our job even more difficult.