Question Number: 23143

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 4/19/2010

RE: Under 17

Dave of Des Moines, IA US asks...

Can you please settle a discussion?
U12 co-ed rec game, I'm the center.
Long attacking player kick goes to keeper who collects ball.
I turn around and notice a kid down.
Figure it's good time to stop play for injury.
I quickly blow the whistle but it's right before goalie boots ball down field.
Play stopped.
After injury I bring ball to keeper and announce a dropped ball restart and clearly tell the keeper he is free to handle the ball.
(no other players near him)
The ground is hard & bumpy so I set the ball down in front of keeper near edge of PA (spot of ball when play stopped). I set the ball down because I'm afraid that the rough ground may cause the ball to bounce out of the PA being so close to line.
Not the exact proper mechanics which is why I announced the restart.
Keeper picks up ball and kicks and the oppostite end AR yells 'You can't pick that up!', but I allow play to proceed.
After game I'm told by AR that when I put the ball down I am in essence signaling for a free kick. (in which case the keeper couldn't pick up the ball. And that when play is stopped for injury that the ball should be given to the team that had posession (free kick).
So, #1: He contended that a dropped ball is for when you don't know what team had possession when injury stoppage occurred.
I feel that when play is stopped for injury it ALWAYS restarts w/ dropped ball, (outside high school rules)
but couldn't find where it says so specifically.
#2: Perhaps I should've followed the dropped ball procedure exactly?
Note, AR is very experienced and respected Ref.
Your thoughts?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Dave
There is a NFHS rules answer and there is a USSF Laws of the Game answer and there is confusion here between the two.
LotG Answer
It is a dropped ball restart as play was stopped while the ball was in play. The dropped ball procedure should have been followed and my advice would have been to drop the ball well inside the PA as it was not going to make any difference as the GK was going to move with the ball anyway on an non- contested DB. There is no requirement for both teams to be present at the DB. Placing it on the ground meant nothing and it could be construed as a FK. It is not a signal as the ref by allowing the GK to pick it up has decided otherwise.
NFHS Answer
If one team has clear possession of the ball then the restart is an indirect free kick from where the ball was to the team in possession otherwise it is a dropped ball with one player from each team to participate.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

You are correct, the dropped ball is used in games under the authority of the USSF. This includes USYS, AYSO and other youth organizations. Only high school rules (NFHS) are different. This is noted in Law 8: 'If, while the ball is still in play, the referee is required to stop play temporarily for any reason not mentioned elsewhere in the Laws of the Game, the match is restarted with a dropped ball.'

I would agree that you should have dropped the ball, not placed it. You could have moved a couple feet if the ground was that uneven.

Your experienced and respected colleague needs to learn a few things. He seems to have confused the FIFA and NFHS restarts. And then he tries to derail your decision by shouting out. That could make the rest of the game go very poorly, if players and coaches sense indecision and uncertainty in the ref crew.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Tell your more experienced referee to go study his LOTG. If he can't keep the high school and USSF playing rules separate, he needs to keep his opinions to himself, and under NO circumstances should he be shouting out a different restart from the touchline! Geez, was he raised in a barn?

If he felt your decision was in error and was a game changer (like a PK instead of a DFK for the defense, or it was a second caution, so he needs a red), he needs to get your attention, even if it requires calling out your name or coming onto the field. THEN he can tell you privately what he 'knows' or saw, and you can make your referee decision to go with what he says or what you feel is most correct.

A dropped ball was the correct restart, as there is no mention in the LOTG of what to do if play stops for an injury. Law 8 tells us a DB is the restart if there isn't one otherwise specified in the Laws.

The placement of the ball on the ground was at best confusing although you certainly had good intentions. In the future, simply move a few feet to give the keeper time to pick up the ball even if it takes a wayward bounce - or you can announce the drop wasn't good and do it over.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Your senior assistant was having a senior moment, confusing a high school (NFHS) or college rule (NCAA). Moreover, the AR who believes the referee is making a rule error should indicate it privately without shouting.

Your mechanic, however, was confusing. One can drop the ball within a yard or so of where the ball was located hen you stopped (or you can tell the keeper if it skips outside the PA play it with the feet back inside the PA before picking it up.) Dropping the ball makes it clearer to the players when the ball is in play. Placing the ball on the ground makes it appear that you have awarded a free kick.