Question Number: 35764

Law 8 - The Start and Restart of Play 10/20/2024

RE: Rec Under 13

Frank of Camp Hill , PA US asks...

In a tournament game last weekend, a player out of my view went down with a non-contact injury during play. I blew my whistle to stop play for the injury after Team B deflected the ball out of bounds. My restart was dropping the ball to Team A since it was their possession. The coach of Team A, however, insisted the throw-in was th restart. I told the coach that dropping the ball to the team in possession was the restart. What was the correct restart?

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Hi Frank,

If this is a high school game, as indicated in NFHS 9.1.a the ball is out of play when it has completely crossed a goal line or touchline. NFHS 9.1.3 indicates a whistle should be blown to indicate the ball is out of play and a second whistle is required for a restart after an injury.

Because your whistle came after the ball crossed the touchline, I do believe the restart under high school rules would have been a throw-in.

However, because NFHS Rule 5.1.2 allows the official to correct an error prior to restarting play, you could indicate the whistle should have been sounded at the time the injury occurred, so a drop ball is the result of an error being corrected.

I hope you get to work the championship tournament in Cumberland Valley next month.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Frank
The easier approach was to anticipate play and as the ball would have been out of play it was easier to halt the restart to deal with the injury. In that case the throw in was the easier call.
Many times referees can help themselves by going with a few seconds of *wait and see* before making a decision.

Timing of the whistle is key here. If the whistle was blown before the ball left the field of play the restart was a drópped ball to the team that last touched the ball in this case Team B.

While it should not happen anymore the teams can sort out the restart if they feel that in equity that the opponents of the injured player should get the ball as it was a stoppage for an injury to that player that caused the stoppage. The DB is to prevent that happening with the team in possession / contact getting the ball at the restart.

I might also say that I have seen games where the referee appeared to stop play close to the touchline with the ball going out of play naturally yet the teams went with a throw in which bothered no one. Incorrect in Law yet as they say the referees did not sweat the small stuff. When it does matter the Law is fully enforced.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Frank,
you restart for why you stopped play!
Yet you allowed play until a natural stoppage occurred?
The throw in restart , is, in my opinion, correct!
There was no foul prior brought to your attention and the injury was not serious otherwise you would have halted immediately?
If you thought it necessary to stop for the injury then the DB would be correct based on who and where.
If the team with the throw in felt they needed to return the ball to the opposition, they could choose to do so!
You would ensure the injured player was replaced or treated prior to the throw in!
Cheers