Question Number: 19995

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 9/19/2008

RE: Rec Under 17

Kirk of West Point, Utah United States asks...

At the Start of a Game or after a goal is scored there is a start or a restart. Does the ball have to make a full forward or side revolution or can a player step on the ball and be considered as in play for another player to kick back.
The newer Refs are allowing this, while older Refs say it is not a proper start. Just looking for some clarifacation.

Thank You,
Kirk

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Neither interpretation is correct.

11 years ago IFAB changed the standard for the ball being in play from the former 'rolls the full circumference' to 'kicked and moved'. This was done because of the difficulty of determining when that full circumference roll had occurred. Nominally this was about 28 inches, but was 26 inches close enough? How about 23? So the Law was changed because of course everyone could distinguish that there was some movement. Now we only had to determine 'move, yes' as opposed to 'move, far enough'.

Unfortunately this got taken the wrong way, and the soon players were simply tapping the ball. The argument was that at some molecular level, something had moved, so that ball was in play.

This has been fully debunked by IFAB, FIFA, USSF and most other authorities. USSF suggested the concept of 'from here to there' as the indication of a 'move' - the ball must be in some physical location other than where it was before the kick. How far is not measured, but it must be clear that there is some, however small, 'how far' movement.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Kicked and moved at the molecular level when the change occurred the tap being sufficient as a sole stomp or place the foot on the ball then take it away was considered ok at first by those who are literal in interpretation but then we had people leaving their foot stationary on the ball to hold it steady and then rolled it around keeping their foot in contact with the ball.
Fifa says it is ok to lift the ball into the air with one or both feet so it can move away from the ground in what could be described as a flicking motion but while it is obvious that it was moved the kick part is still debated as a lifting motion is also used
The interesting thing is ANY PART of the foot can be used to kick the ball, top, toe, heel, side and sole. The foot cannot remain in contact with the ball the ball must move away from the foot. A discernable here to there motion.
The fact why the touch myth thing was created is because the wall breaks upon an immediate contact of foot to ball thus if the defending teams are ok with the restart and the attacking teams are ok many referees feel reluctant to get involved.
Only TWO free kicks MUST travel forwards the PK and kick off. In the USSF ATR there is a full page devoted to this topic my suggestion is everyone who referees in the USA read it 13. 5 I think Cheers