Question Number: 19940

League Specific 9/14/2008

RE: High School

Terri of Warsaw, ny usa asks...

I was at my daughters Junior Varsity soccer match and the game was stopped due to injury on the field (our teammate). When the game resumed it started with a 'courtesy throw-in' (called this by the ref)which meant the opposing team 'standing back' 10 yds. and the opposing team throwing the ball into our teammates without challenge from the opposition. I have never heard or seen this before can you explain?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Referees at the younger ages often have to explain the traditions of the game to the players. This courtesy restart is one of them - it is traditional for the reasons my colleague gave. Although I too am confounded as to why a game stopped for an injury would be started with a throw-in. If the referee stops play, the restart is either an indirect free kick for the team in possession (under NFHS rules only) or a dropped ball.

The referee can only explain - not require - any courtesy for any reason on the field. The referee can certainly use the strength of her personalty to convince the players to do the right thing. But if they decide to do elsewise, there is nothing the referee could or should do about it. Except to be wary about the heightened tensions that will no doubt show up.

Once the game passes the youngest levels - and HS is certainly past it - the referee must leave all teaching up to the coaching staff.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

If the game was stopped by the referee due to injury on the field , in high school under the NFHS rules, the restart is an indirect free kick to the team in possession of the ball at the time of the stoppage where the ball was located.

If one team kicks the ball out of play in a show of sportsmanship for the player who is injured and because the referee hasn't deemed it necessary to stop play, then there will be a throw-in restart (assuming the ball is kicked out over the touchline, which is normal). The team who throws it back in will ordinarily throw it back to the team who kicked it out, who then kicks it back to their defensive half, and the game restarts.

The distance opponents are required to stand back on a throw-in is two yards, not ten. The referee cannot make one team throw it to another, and should not try. If the teams can't sort out the sporting thing to do, then the coaches should be the ones to teach them.