Question Number: 21844

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 8/27/2009

RE: Rec Adult

Musia of Ottawa, On Canada asks...

Restart after player injured.
I have some confusion over this restart - rules state drop ball at last location of ball when whistle blew - up to now I have always given a drop ball between both sides. However last game one coach yelled the sporting thing to do would be 1) drop the ball infront of the attacker who would then 2) pass the ball to defender who would then 3) pass to another defender at which point the ball was back in play.

When I play adult rec league the referees ask the attacking team to pass to defending team at which point the ball is then in play.

Which is the correct and fair method. and is it unfair to have a drop ball between both attacking and defending?

Confused...

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

The duty of the referee is to drop the ball between players of both teams just like the picture shows in the LOTG. However the number of players need not be just two. In fact it can be none to 22 players taking part. It is not up to the referee to decide if the teams are going to be sporting about it but the referee may suggest that for the sake of fairness the ball be passed back to the team, who kicked the ball out and who had clear possession of the ball.
The idea of a drop ball is that both teams have a chance to play it. If it was meant for one team it would have been a free kick. Most often, but NOT always, the players will be sporting and pass back to the team, who had possession. If the referee decides who is going get the ball, he is no longer impartial.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

The LOTG have no requirement for the number of players at a dropped ball. It can be 0 or 1 up to 22.

A referee cannot require a player from each team any more than he can prevent a player from either team from participating. Any such management of who is taking part is done through referee personality and/or the ethical and sporting maturity of the teams involved.

I would be leery of listening to advice from coaches during a game in which they are involved.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I agree with my colleagues. I can only add that the ball is in play when it hits the ground. If a player touches it before it is in play, the ball must be dropped again.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The players expect 'Fair play' on a restart after the referee stops play for an injury, but these restarts often lead to confusion and ill temper.

First, the referee cannot make a player do anything on a dropped ball. The laws do not require any particular form of 'fair play.' The FA unsuccessfully tried to include some in the laws, and I hope they will try again.

Second, sometimes not all the players are on the same page. One player could agree to kick the ball back to an opposing goal keeper, and a teammate (who was clueless) may try to race to the ball for a goal. The referee can be proactive to make sure the players tell the teammates what is to be done.

Third, the opposing teams may have a differing view on what is expected of 'fair play.' Most think it means returning the ball to the team in possession at the time play was stopped. Some mean returning possession by kicking the ball out of play after the drop ball for a throw-in. Some mean that the ball will be kicked to the nearest opposing goalkeeper by a player on the opposite team.

In my matches, I love a single drop to the goal keeper (who can pick up the ball after it touches the ground) whenever it is possible to stop play when the ball is in the keeper's hands. There is no doubt where the ball will go, everyone knows the keeper was in possession, and the likely punt will lead to a 50/50 ball in the center of the field, which is usually fair to everyone.
YMMV

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The ball is in play when it hits the ground. Players are under no obligation to adhere to concepts of fair play even if they say they will. At higher levels of play they almost always do, but it is a foolish referee who believes any player will do what he or she says they will. The LOTG don't require any players to participate at a dropped ball nor do they prohibit any players from participating. Oftentimes the referee will make a quick drop to the keeper if he had possession of the ball when play was stopped. there is nothing wrong with this and rarely will anyone complain.
To clarify if a player should be cautioned for lying to a referee the following question was asked of Jim Allen at USSF and answered:

Question:
Referee has stopped play for an injury and will restart with a
dropped ball. A player from the Red team says, "drop it to me and
I'll kick it out of play" clearly in the interest of fair play. So
the referee drops the ball to this player who then turns and mounts
an attack on the opponents goal. That is to say, he doesn't do what
he told the referee he would do. I don't think you can caution this
player for USB even though he clearly HAS been unsporting. [A person
from another country] says you absolutely caution the player for USB.
I really don't know. What sayest thou?

USSF answer (August 31, 2009):
Where the player kicks the ball is of no interest to the referee,
whose sole job here is to get the ball back into play quickly and
fairly to all participants. However, the fact that the referee was
foolish enough to accept the word of a player that he would do thus
or such is incomprehensible.

There is no basis for the referee to caution the player for
unsporting behavior. However, the referee should quietly go soak his
or her head and learn to face facts: All players will con the
referee if given half a chance. In addition, we would further add a
penance or two to the referee's lot. We find it difficult to justify
a caution for fooling the referee, but not if the player fools an
opponent illegally.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

As the referee, you don't have any rights to dictate what happens at the drop ball. However, you can manipulate the situation...

Say that the Blue team is in clear possession of the ball when play is stopped (a typical example is if the keeper has it in his hands but goes down hurt). As the referee you cannot stop the opposition from participating if they choose to contest it (though you can suggest they don't, in the interest of fair play). However, there is no reason for you to ask if they're participating. In such a situation, if Blue Team is at the drop ball site and Red Team isn't, then there's no sense in waiting for Red Team to decide to participate - just drop it in front of Team Blue's player before Team Red have the opportunity to join in.

If the situation was more competitive, I would then be inclined to wait a little longer to give both teams the opportunity to participate.

Often if the situation prior to the stoppage in play was clearly in one team's possession, the other team will either say 'you can have it' or 'we'll kick it back to you'. If they say that, but then take possession of the ball and attack, then that player is guilty of unsporting behaviour and should be cautioned, with play restarting with an indirect free kick to the opposition.

If the opposing team decides they're going to challenge for the drop ball despite it clearly being in the opposition's possession and are at the site before you have the chance to drop it, then there isn't much you can do - you can suggest what the fairest option is, but beyond that it's out of your hands.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

If play is stopped solely for injury under FIFA we drop ball restart. I believe in USA high school an indfk is awarded to the team that had ball possession!

A simple premise FAIR PLAY!

It means play fair! Do not cheat! Do not be unsporting! Do not deceive or seek advantage or profit from misfortune.

Yet at times the word 'fair' is but a word as the principles get muddied by obscure tactics, the desire to win at any cost, confusion or deceit.

My colleagues all touch on various attributes and concepts! The problem we have is out of the 22 players some will hold perceptions that the injury was a fake, or theatrical in nature or it was to use up time or it was legit and feel the other team must comply with returning the ball or they should have that ball!

As suggested 0,1 2, 0r all 22 players could in theory occur as to the number of eligible participants but the opportunity to find rational and ensure etiquette prevails is simply to allow social convention to establish the reasonable means of restarting play.

A drop ball is a method of restarting play when the laws of the game permit no other option.

It is dropped at the point where the ball was prior to the stoppage with some exception within the 6 yard goal areas where it is drawn straight back to the outer edge of the 6 yard area parallel to the goal line.

-The ball is IN PLAY the moment it contacts the ground!
-The ball is redropped if not allowed to strike the ground!
-It is misconduct if you kick the opponent before that ball hits the ground and a FOUL if the ball hits the ground then the kick occurs.
-It is misconduct if you repeatedly contact the ball before it hits the ground delaying the restart.
-Offside criteria apply at the drop ball as a touch of the ball by a player creates a new phase of play!

A referee cannot prevent participation of the players but it is not unreasonable at the younger ages to suggest the historical conventions followed in the game as alternatives. A gentle reminder what goes around comes around, however it is the PLAYER?S DECISION not the referees and only if they indicate to each other their intent to follow protocol is it binding. If the one team offers to back away or return the ball as a courtesy to their opposition then it fundamentally is bringing the game into disrepute to not do so! One could caution the player for USB prior to the restart and redo the drop ball! It is a verbal deception to do otherwise!
Cautionary examples within the LOTG that clearly give us power to act in my opinion!
? acts in a manner which shows a lack of respect for the game
? plays the ball when he is walking off the field of play after being granted permission to leave the field of play
? verbally distracts an opponent during play or at a restart!

In an EPL match a few years back one team offered to follow the historical convention and return the drop ball back to the opposing team as the stoppage was for their injured player and the opposition had originally control of the ball.

The drop ball occurs, the ball hits the ground, and the kicker kicks it back towards the opposing keeper who watches helplessly as the ball unexpectedly sails high over his head into the goal. The kicker did not see the keeper move up to the top of his penalty area to receive this gift.

Everyone was dumbfounded; the opposition upset although the kicker made it clear he was sorry and did not expect that to occur. The problem was, NO LAW was broken nor was it USB as he did exactly what he said he would!
Many argued whether the referee could justify having the goal nullified and retake the drop ball. However as a NEUTRAL official in LAW the referee had NO CHOICE but to award the goal!

The bright spot here was the team that scored felt the goal was UNFAIR and at the ensuing kick off they allowed their opposition to dribble the ball unimpeded into the goal to set things FAIR. As NEUTRAL OFFICIALS we need to remember what our duty and obligations are! Sometimes the players will find a way to do the right thing even without our help.
Then too the players need to rethink this as law 5 shows it is the referee's authority to stop or start play for a suspected injury.
The REFEREE
? stops the match if, in his opinion, a player is seriously injured and ensures that he is removed from the field of play. An injured player may only return to the field of play after the match has restarted
? allows play to continue until the ball is out of play if a player is, in his opinion, only slightly injured
? ensures that any player bleeding from a wound leaves the field of play. The player may only return on receiving a signal from the referee, who must be satisfied that the bleeding has stopped


Cheers