Question Number: 27534

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 6/17/2013

RE: Recreational Under 13

Chance of Gray, Tennessee United States asks...

If you are fouled with a direct free kick offence, is it legal to resume play with the ball in your possession?

EX. You are held and fouled. The referee blows the whistle, but you break free and continue dribbling the ball down the field. Is this legal?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

No. Unlike some other sports, if the referee blows his whistle then play must stop, and in the case of a foul it can only be restarted with a free kick.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

You must restart with a free kick after the whistle has been blown for a foul. And at all kicking restarts you are allowed only one touch of the ball until another player touches/plays it. So you can't take off dribbling.

The referee may invoke advantage instead of blowing the whistle if he thinks you're better off if play does not stop. But once the whistle sounds, play has stopped and there's no way to un-blow it.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Chance
Once the whistle sounds play must stop. Now there is nothing wrong with the player spotting the ball at the location of the infraction and playing the ball quickly to a team mate. He cannot though play the ball to himself.
If it is more advantageous for the player to be allowed to continue without the foul being called then the referee signals and shouts advantage in which case the player can continue. If the advantage does not materialise then play can be brought back within a few seconds to the original foul.