Question Number: 25285

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 8/5/2011

RE: Under 15

Bryan of Lunenburg, ma us asks...

I have two questions concerning dropped balls.

The first is: What are the restrictions on opponents?

Second: Can a goal be scored directly?

Any help with these two questions would be great. Thanks

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

My instructions to players at a dropped ball: 'The ball must hit the ground before you kick it. Don't kick each other. And most important, don't kick me!'

1. That's about it for restrictions on opponents at a dropped ball. There can be anywhere from 0 to 22 players taking part. (Exception - NFHS high school rules provide for exactly 1 player from each team to participate.)

2. Because the referee puts the ball into play when it hits the ground, a goal can be scored directly from the first kick.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Bryan
Both team can compete to win the ball when it touches the ground on a dropped ball restart and there are no restrictions on who is involved or how many. That is up to each team to decide
Once the ball touches the ground the ball is in play and a goal can be scored directly.
There are many examples of where these Fair Play restarts have gone wrong causing all sorts of match control issues.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The laws provide that the ball is in play when the ball touches the ground. If it touches a player before hitting the ground (or it leaves the field without being touched), the dropped ball is retaken. Unlike NFHS (high school) rules, there are no other requirements.

The dropped ball doesn't need to be dropped between two players, and the referee can persuade but may not dictate who or how many players participate in a dropped ball. The dropped ball is simply a mechanism to get the match restarted quickly. Any one can kick it, and if the ball is dropped inside the penalty area, the keeper may pick it up.

It is very poor mechanics for the referee to throw or toss the ball (like a jump ball in basketball). Because the ball is live as soon as it touches the ground, anyone can score on a dropped ball.

Tradition provides for a 'sporting' or 'fair play restart' but the referee cannot force a team to do so.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

1. If playing by fifa rules, anyone or no one
may participate at a dropped ball and the
referee may not decide who participates
2. The ball is in play when it hits the ground
but if it rolls into the net without touching
a player, the ball is redropped

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 25333