Question Number: 25453

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 9/18/2011

RE: Competitive Under 15

Mark Sandell of Ladera Ranch, California USA asks...

Team A scores against team B.
Team A player is allowed to retrieve the ball from the net and return the ball to the start in a time saving effort to have team B start with the kick off. Has the player from team A committed a violation of any sort?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mark
It all depends on the referee's opinion on this.
Usually if there is no confrontation between players on retrieval of the ball some referees would simply just watch closely.
However some referees to ensure there is no confrontation do not allow this to happen usually by intervening to prevent the scoring team from touching the ball.
The Law states that a referee can caution a player for unsporting behaviour for 'provoking a confrontation by deliberately touching the ball after the referee has stopped play''
Remember Team A has no right to the ball as it is not its restart so the ball should be left for Team B. The referee can diffuse any situation about time by simply stating that he is adding on time for time lost through a delayed restart.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Team B is entitled to the ball after the goal is scored.
Many times a player from Team A can recover the ball, take it to the center circle, and return it to the kicking team without any incident. But, if doing so causes any confrontation, the player for Team A may be cautioned. Players who score would be wise to leave the ball for the other team.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

In general, Team A should leave the ball alone as now it belongs to Team B. If Team B doesn't object to Team A grabbing the ball, then all is well but if a confrontation results, the player on Team A is going to be cautioned.

If Team B is wasting time, the referee should make it clear to everyone that he is adding time. This will keep Team A from starting a confrontation.