Question Number: 26539

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 7/5/2012

RE: competetive Under 16

Zack of Toronto, ontario Canada asks...

I am noticing that a lot of your answers to drop ball questions state that the referee calls two players to the spot of the foul. I attended a referee course and we were instructed that multiple players are aloud to take part in the drop ball. Im guessing they taught this because it does not specifically state in the LOTG (law 8) that only two players can be there. Im confused now.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

There is no requirement under the laws of the game regarding the number of participants at a dropped ball, that there be two, or that there be opponents.
At the highest levels, a dropped ball usually results in a sporting return of the ball - - - the ball is dropped to a single player who kicks it back to the opponents. The referee has no power to force anyone to participate or not participate (but referees can be persuasive).

In youth matches, referees should not hesitate to stop play for a serious injury. Knowing dropping the ball to a single player can reduce concern about forcing a contested dropped ball in a controversial area - - such as the goal area. The dropped ball can be an excellent tool to the amateur referee.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Zack
I believe none of our answers state that two players have to be called by the referee. Accepted practise among teams is that in a contested ball situation two player are usually present and you will rarely if ever see more than two players.
The Laws state that any player may challenge for the ball (including the goalkeeper), that there is no minimum or maximum number of players required to contest a dropped ball and that the referee cannot decide who may or may not contest a dropped ball.
So there is no confusion. The Law is clear and it is up to the referee to administer the on field application of the law in a way that teams expect the dropped ball restart to be handled.
On a Fair Play restart the teams agree that one player will kick the ball back to the opponents so the referee obliges this process by dropping the ball with only one player present.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

I would be very surprised if our answers ever indicated that only two players are present at a dropped ball. A dropped ball is not used to restart after fouls, only to restart the game when it has been stopped for something for which no other restart is proscribed in the Laws, such as a stoppage for injury. The Laws do not address whether or not a player, or for that matter, any players, must be present at the restart. We can have no players, or all of them. Traditionally, a player from each team participates, but no well trained referee would ever insist there be one from each team only.