Question Number: 24580

Law 5 - The Referee 2/14/2011

RE: Competitive Under 19

William Guynes of Mechanicsville, MD USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 24567

All of the answers pointed out, correctly, that the referee can not and should not be mandating the fair play return of possession to the opponents who kicked it out of play.

Here is a trick I have used. I say the following very firmly, 'your opponents kicked the ball out of bounds to stop for injury. They expect you to return it to their possession.'

I mandate nothing here. If they choose to ignore it then that is their decision. My goal is to make sure there are no misunderstandings on the field that create unnecessary conflict.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi William
Yes that approach will work and as you say it is important that there are no misunderstanding on the field of play that will cause difficulties for the game and the referee.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I use a variation on those words when I restart with a dropped ball after an injury. 'Green, we stopped play to help your hurt player while White had the ball. The fair thing would be to allow them possession, right?' Or, in the case where that would give them too good of an attacking opportunity, '... fair thing would be to kick the ball back to them so they have possession again, right?'

By putting a question on it, it gives them the choice to do the right thing or not.

Now, I wouldn't try this at any level over youth play, and probably not in any competitive youth play where they are playing 11v11 on full-sized fields. These type of suggestions are best kept to younger ages who are learning the game and the Laws, and to recreational-level play.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I'm not sure I like this much better. You are still imposing your will even if there is no 'mandate' you have made it clear what you expect.

This is up to the players and the coaches not us.

The case of a dropped ball is a bit different. I can drop the ball to whomever I wish in the interest of fair play but won't drop it and suggest a player do anything in particular with the ball.