Question Number: 29306

Law 5 - The Referee 4/13/2015

RE: Rec Adult

Donn Townsend of Greenville, PA USA asks...

The ball is kicked downfield ,strikes a ref and bounces out of bounds. Which team gets the ball and where? (it was not headed out of bounds when the ref was hit)

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Donn
The referee is just part of the field of play. The restart is the normal restart awarded to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball when the whole of the ball crosses the boundary line, either on the ground or in the air.

Referees do their best to ensure the ball does not hit them but it does happen

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Don,
lol ah yes the dirt clod analogy. The referee is part of the field! Thus which ever team last touched the ball, the opposition will get the throw in restart. The referee will offer an apology and slink away quietly.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

The referee is basically like a large blade of grass. The last team to touch the ball before it went out of play, loses the restart. For example, a ball that is kicked by the red team and hits referee and goes out of bounds would sacrifice a throw in, goal kick, or corner kick to the green team.