Question Number: 25333

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 8/20/2011

RE: rec Under 9

ronald dodds of batle mountain, nevada USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 25285

I have noted in the PL that some dropped ball restarts were made with one team kicking to the other. Can you provide some examples of how defenses and offenses act in these circumstances?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Ronald
It has become accepted custom among team that on dropped ball restarts where play has been stopped to deal with an injury that the ball is kicked back to the team in possession at the time of stoppage. It is not part of the Laws of the game and it has become know as a 'fair play' restart where the team shows sporting behaviour by not contesting the dropped ball as per the law.
the referee is neutral in these situations and he simply drops the ball and the teams decide themselves what to do. Some teams kick the ball out of play for a throw in and again the ball is throw back to the team in possession at the restart.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

What the teams do depends on many things. All the referee can do is determine where the ball needs to be dropped, that it hits the ground before it is kicked (if not, drop again), and that any player who wants to participate can. The referee does not dictate who can participate, although sometimes we can make a suggestion for the good of the game.