Question Number: 27885

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 10/13/2013

RE: Competitive Under 14

Scott Parker of Redlands, CA U.S. asks...

Is it a legal kick off if, after the whistle has blown to signal play, one player touches the ball only (it does not roll forward or backward)and another player then kicks the ball forward? If it is not legal, what is the restart?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Scott
The touch by the player even if it does not put the ball into play has no impact on the restart when the ball is kicked forward by another player. That 2nd kick has legally put the ball in play.
It would only be an issue if the ball was kicked backwards, in which case the ball is not put into play properly and the kick off is retaken.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Scott,

If there is no movement of the ball at all by the first player, then we can ignore that touch and it's the second touch that puts the ball into play.

Bear in mind it only requires a tiny movement, which may be visible to the referee but not from as far as the sideline.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

As my colleagues have noted, if the first touch doesn't put the ball into play because it hasn't moved, then the second touch will.

Two things to watch:
-- the second player's touch must go forward, or else it hasn't put the ball into play either
-- if the player taking the second touch thinks the ball is in play, she may take off dribbling, which she isn't allowed to do because her touch is the first touch.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The ball must be moved forward to be in play. That means two things at the first touch:
1. Ball is not in play
2. The opponents must stay in their half of the field until the second player puts the ball in play.