Question Number: 23637

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

RE: Rec Under 11

Doug of Orange County, California USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 23597

Thank you very much for the insights regarding handling a dropped ball. I actually saw such a thing happen in today's world cup match, Spain vs Germany, at the very beginning.

As a follow up, I'd like to ask one more question.

I think Germany had clear possession of the ball when the ref stopped play. At the restart, the ref dropped the ball, with only a Spain player nearby. That player then 'passed' the ball to the other team, which makes sense.

Why go through that, rather than drop the ball to the 'right' team to begin with? Is it because of a double-touch rule? (Is there a double-touch rule for drop balls?)

Thanks again,
Doug

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

There is no double touch on dropped balls, since the ball is put into play by the referee and it is in play when it touches the ground. I think the teams realized the stoppage had nothing to do with either team, and everything to do with the outside agents on the field! As such the Spanish player took the dropped ball, and sportingly kicked it back to the German keeper and the game basically restarted where it had to be stopped.

Could the Spainard tried to kick a goal? Yeah, but Germany would have exacted revenge if the referee had not 'decided' the ball hadn't touched the ground or something to have it redone. At that level, players don't (well, hardly ever) engage in such sophomoric exercises. They behave like professionals and sportsmen. Thank goodness.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Doug
On a dropped ball restart once the ball touches the ground it is in play and there cannot be a double touch infringement.
As to why Spain went through the exercise of kicking it back to the German player its a show of fair play in that Spain are saying 'Yes we can contest the DB but in fairness you had the ball so here is it back'. Other teams will simply retreat and allow the ball to be played directly from the DB by the team that originally had possession.
My piece of advice is let the teams agree what they want to do and then just ensure that nothing untoward happens such as scoring from an uncontested dropped ball.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I have wondered about the 'kick it back to you' method as well. I think it comes about because at the pro level, giving the ball directly to the team that had possession amounts almost to a direct free kick for them. Since these players can boot the ball half the field with accuracy - and farther than that sometimes - it makes sense that any resumption of attack starts with the defense. The rationale becomes, 'Yes, we are going to give the ball back to you. But no, we aren't going to give it to you with an immediate scoring chance.'

At youth play, this makes less sense. I suggest the team does the 'kick it back to them' only when the the ball is in the attacking third. Note the word 'suggest'. My conversation goes something like this: 'White, we stopped play to deal with the injury while Green were attacking. The fair thing to do would be to let them have the ball back, right? OK, so what you can do is kick it to one of those Green shirts out there. OK? OK. Green, it's coming back to you.'

When it's not an immediate attacking chance - when the ball would go to a Green defense player - I might drop the ball directly before White has a chance to contest and then announce, 'The ball's in play!' Or, if White is nearby, I talk about the injury as above, and then suggest that White allows Green to have the ball. This provides less opportunity for mistakes - the ball might be kicked toward the goalkeeper who misses it and it goes in for a goal! Or for miscues in communication - White #3 has the intention of kicking the ball to Green, but White #2 didn't realize the situation and rushes in to intercept the ball for the attack.

The main point in all of this is that the players have to agree to do the fair thing. You as referee can't make them do it! Some teams are jerks coached by jerks, and won't agree to it. Then we have to go with a contested dropped ball, and hope for the best.