Question Number: 23607

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 7/4/2010

RE: Competitive Under 15

Trawets of London, Ontario Canada asks...

At the start of a match or after a goal is scored the ball is placed at centre. The Ref. blows the whistle to start (restart)the match and the player then puts there hands on the ball to re-position it. Is this a hand ball, or since the ball hasn't made a complete rotation is the ball still considered dead?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Referee Trawets
The whistle by the referee at the kick off is to signal to the players that play can and shoudl commence. The ball is not in play until the ball is kicked forward so the player can touch the ball with his hands to re position it before that kick.
I might question why the player would do that and look at whether the ball was properly positioned in the first place for play to start. Many opponents rush the ball at the whistle but that should not be allowed by the referee. Opponents cannot move inside the centre circle until the ball is kicked. Perhaps it is a method of preventing that??

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

To be in play, the ball must be kicked and moved. (15 years ago the ball had to move its own circumference.) Touching the ball with the hand is not kicking it, so the ball is not yet in play. And since it is not in play, there can be no fouls, so it is not deliberately handling the ball.

This could potentially be a caution for delaying the restart, but since the delay is so minimal that is probably overkill.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The whistle is not the start of play. It is permission for the player to start play. Until the ball is kicked and moves forward, its location may be adjusted by hand.