Question Number: 23670

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 7/13/2010

RE: travel Under 16

zach valincourt of rochester, new york united states of america asks...

I have a small question - is there a drop ball were the goalie is forced to take the drop ball in the box or is there not?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

No player is 'forced' to take a dropped ball. We referees use a dropped ball to restart the game whenever the Laws don't specify a restart such as a throw-in or free kick. For instance, if the referee has had to stop play for an injury, there is no restart listed for that occurrence in the Laws, so when we restart, it is a dropped ball wherever the ball was when play was stopped.

If the ball was in the keeper's possession when play was stopped, the referee will usually arrange to drop the ball back to the keeper, so the game begins where it was stopped, and the keeper can pick up the dropped ball to distribute it or just kick the ball wherever he wants it to go.

If no one had possession, and play was stopped while the ball was in the penalty or goal area, then the ball must be dropped there. Generally there is one player from each team, but a dropped ball can have no players or all 22 contesting for the ball (unlikely, of course).

If the referee was insisting that a particular player from either team participate in the DB, then he or she needs to be reported to the referee assignor. We can encourage a player to participate - or not - but we cannot make them. Since the referee is the one who drops the ball, and since it is in play when it hits the field, there shouldn't be much fuss about who is or is not present from either team.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

A dropped ball may occur inside the penalty area, and a goalkeeper may participate in it. The keeper may pick up the ball as soon as it touches the ground.

Nothing in the laws of the game, however, forces the goalkeeper to participate. There are no minimum number of players who must take part in the dropped ball. The ball is simply back in play when it touches the ground.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Zach. If you're referring to USSF/FIFA rules soccer, the dropped ball restart is unlike any other. First of all, there's absolutely no requirement as to who may participate at a dropped ball. The referee may drop the ball to 1,2, 12, 22, or any number including 0. It is also the only restart where a player does not put the ball into play. The ball is put into play by the referee. When the ball hits the ground after being dropped, it is in play

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Zach
A dropped ball is a restart when, 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. Any number of players can participate in the dropped ball restart including the goalkeeper and the ball is back in play when it touches the ground.
To give an example. Say a goalkeeper fields a high ball and falls to the ground injuring himself, the referee will stop play to deal with the injury. As no breach of the Laws has taken place the referee will restart play with a dropped ball from where it was when play was stopped. All teams in the spirit of fair play will not contest the dropped ball and it is available then for the GK to pick the ball up and get on with play.