Question Number: 23350

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 5/20/2010

RE: 7 Under 16

Ian Rowley of Stoke-on-Trent, UK asks...

When a team are re-starting the match how many players can they have in the centre circle prior to the ball being kicked?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Referee Rowley
To comply with the Law there must be a minimum of one from the team kicking off to kick the ball forward. The team could have all eleven player in the centre circle if it so wished . No opponent can be present until after the ball is kicked.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

At a kick-off the kicking team may have every team member inside the center circle as long as they remain in their own half of the field. The opposing team may have none. The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves forward.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Law 8 The Start and Restart of Play says:

Kick-off
A kick-off is a way of starting or restarting play:
? at the start of the match
? after a goal has been scored
? at the start of the second half of the match
? at the start of each period of extra time, where applicable
A goal may be scored directly from the kick-off.
Procedure
? all players must be in their own half of the field of play
? the opponents of the team taking the kick-off are at least 9.15 m (10 yds)
from the ball until it is in play
? the ball must be stationary on the centre mark
? the referee gives a signal
? the ball is in play when it is kicked and moves forward
? the kicker must not touch the ball again until it has touched another player

So if all of the kicking team can be anywhere in their own half, they can clearly all be in the center circle on their side of the halfway line, correct? Now, why any team would want to do something so foolish is another discussion.

The opponents can be anywhere in their own half except inside of the center circle on their side of the field until the ball is kicked and moves forward. At that moment in time all restrictions on where to be evaporate.