Question Number: 20705

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 1/1/2009

RE: STUDENT High School

BANTAYAN MARK of PARANAQUE CITY, PHILIPPINES asks...

when the ball hits the ground the game is restored what rule states that

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The only thing that comes close to your question is when there is a dropped ball. Law 8 gives the procedure:

'The referee drops the ball at the place where it was located when play was stopped, unless play was stopped inside the goal area, in which case the referee drops the ball on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the ball was located when play was stopped.
Play restarts when the ball touches the ground.'

For restarts which are kicks, play resumes when the ball is kicked and moved. For kicks taken within a team's own penalty area, there is the additional requirement that the ball must leave the penalty area to be in play. Kickoffs and penalty kicks have the additional requirement that they must go forward to be in play.

For a throw-in (Law 15): 'The ball is in play when it enters the field of play.' While this does not specifically say so, it also is required that the throw was taken with proper mechanics, and that the the ball has left the hands of the thrower.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I believe what you want is found in Law 8 The Start And Restart Of Play, under the section on Dropped Ball. Here is what Law 8 says:

Procedure

The referee drops the ball at the place where it was located when play was stopped, unless play was stopped inside the goal area, in which case the referee drops the ball on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the ball was located when play was stopped. Play restarts when the ball touches the ground.