Question Number: 24543

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 1/31/2011

RE: AYSO Under 13

Rajan of van nuys, California USA asks...

In a game I centered Team A takes a throw in, at the attacking end of the field, just past the center line. The attacker on team A receives the ball from his teammate and starts to move forward a few yards before the AR raises his flag. I blew the whistle thinking the AR spotted something. I waited for the call from the AR who hung his head realizing he had made the mistake of calling offside on a throw in.
Should the call be to retake the throw-in over again or indirect from the point where the AR called an offside? Indirect did not make sense so I had Team A retake the throw-in. What is the correct restart?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Rajan
The correct restart is a dropped ball from where play was stopped erroneously by the referee.
In the circumstances, while technically not correct, it was probably the 'best' decision in the game context to go with the throw in again particularly if the teams get into fair play mode and decide not to contest the DB but would rather kick it back or out of play again.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The correct restart when play has been stopped, but the referee concludes there was no infringement of the laws, is a dropped ball.

While a redo is not within the letter of the laws, it is within the spirit. It corrects the referee team's mistake without undue delay and harms no one. It enhances the players' enjoyment of the game.

With older players, sometimes the best option for the referee is to explain the mistake, apologize, and get the game restarted with a dropped ball. With younger players, however, the time spent explaining to coaches, parents and players can detract from the primary objective: kids having fun playing a great game. Nobody is having fun when the referee is talking.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

You stopped play for a reason not covered in Law. The restart is a dropped ball. You can't retake the throw-in because the original throw-in was taken properly. You certainly can't award the opponents an IDFK as there was no offside.
When working with new ARs, it's a good policy to watch them carefully. I've had many do exactly what your AR did and I waved them down.

But, this is a U13 fun game. Go ahead and retake the throw. The only people at the game that will know this restart is wrong will be the referee crew.