Question Number: 20477

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 11/9/2008

RE: Competive Under 13

Ray Granillo of Gilbert , AZ USA asks...

My question is about kickoffs. Law 8 says 'all players are in their own half of the field.'

However when I watch the Pro's they routinely have two players standing close to each other. The one with the ball will make a short pass or roll to the second player who is normally standing with most of his body over the line so that he can make a quick pass back to a midfielder.

What are the rules in relation to the kickoff?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

This is considered a trifling situation and overlooked by some as there are bigger fish to fry in a match. It is something that I will not allow but then I do not do proffessional matches.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

At any level of soccer, the referee needs to pick battles carefully. Making a huge issue of where the players stand on a kick-off will tend to brand the referee as a 'gotcha' type at upper levels, if in fact such a referee can get that far.

Calling anything like this unless it is a serious violation of the Law should be considered as trifling in the greater scheme of things. However, a simple reminder to 'Please get thee to thine own half.' usually will do the job nicely and shows the referee is paying attention to detail, has a sense of humor, and don't mess with me.

After all, what is the referee going to do if the team with the ball is half in and half out of their own half? The other team has to be 10 yds away, so the player who is half and half isn't interfering with anyone. And if the referee deals with it by stopping the kick-off to have a word with the player or even (gasp!) cautioning them, the restart is still a kick-off. Hmm. Lots of time wasted for what reason, again?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The only time this would be an issue, in my opinion, would be at very young levels of play where the referee's job is part instructional.