Question Number: 16928

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/27/2007

RE: Rec Under 15

David Kallemyn of Carlisle, IA Warren asks...

I'm just staring out and am still a little fuzzy about the mechanics of restarts.

Let's say a member of the white team kicks a ball that rolls along on the touch line and the red team player picks it up thinking it went out and does a quick throw-in before the CR blows his/her whistle.

Of course play would be stopped and a DFK would be given to the white team. But wouldn't the throw-in techically constitute a restart, meaning that you can't change anything after a restart?

Or let's say the red team takes a shot on goal that barely clears the goal line before the goalie knocks it back out. It should be a goal. But the ref somehow doesn't see the AR's flag and play continues until a white team player is imediately fouled, and quickly takes the free kick before the AR get's the ref's attention.

The AR finally gets the CR's attention (probably by throwing his flag at him!) and tells him of the goal. Is this too late?

Love the website by the way.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

In the first case, the incorrect restart (throw-in) was taken, so it is brought back for the correct one, the free kick for handling. As another example, you wouldn't allow Red to take a quick free kick when they had just fouled Blue, and then claim so sorry, now it's too late for Blue to take the kick that should properly be theirs.

As for our hapless buddy who misses the goal, misses his AR's flag, and most probably misses AR2 mirroring AR1 as well, yes for him it's too late. In more ways than one, I'm afraid. He's not going to have a good time the rest of that game. The referee can only change his mind on facts of play if he does so before the next restart. If he allows the restart, he can't go back to the goal.

Thanks for your support. Good luck out there.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

No. The throw-in never happened because you stopped play in your mind before that or you were told by your AR that the ball didn't go out of play before it was handled. Restarts only happen when referees allow them to. ANything else is just the players doing something without permission and in no way should be considered a restart. As to your second question, as long as the REFEREE has not restarted play, then he comes back after being told by his AR a goal was scored, awards the goal, and restarts with a kick off. Thanks for the kind words

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

If the ball has not passed the touchline...then a throw in cannot occur. The only option now is a dfk for handling deliberatly. The referee did not order the throw in restart so yes he needs to intervene and order the correct restart. For the situation about the ball entering the goal, the AR should keep the flag up until the next stoppage. If the referee does not notice it and allows another restart...then its too late.