Question Number: 25513

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 9/28/2011

RE: AYSO Under 15

Rajan of Van Nuys, California USA asks...

At what point can a player/players enter the center circle at the kick off? At the whistle or when the ball is kicked and moves forward? I know play does not start until the ball is kicked and moves forward but during a U12 game I blew the whistle and a defending player entered the circle well before the ball was kicked. I stopped play and explained the situation to the player. I restarted play with the kickoff but the coach disagreed with my call. Please advise.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Rajan
Your decision was entirely correct and the coach was incorrect. Players may not enter the center circle until the ball is kicked forward and put into play. The whistle is only the signal that play can commence not that play has commenced.
One small point on this. If the referee deems that the action is trifling then he should allow play to continue. Many times it is trifling. For instance an opposing player takes a few steps inside the circle and the ball is played away from the opponent to the right back under no pressure. IMO play should continue. However if the player's action allowed him to close down the player in possession or influenced play then that is not trifling and the kick off should be taken again.
Also it is a good idea to wait until the ball is ready to be kicked before giving the signal. When the whistle sounds the ball is then kicked immediately and there is usually no issue to be dealt with

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Expect coaches to disagree and expect them to be wrong, as this coach was.

At a U12 game, I would do exactly as you did to reinforce what the Law actually is. At older levels of play it may be deemed trifling.