Question Number: 22309

Law 18 - Common Sense 10/20/2009

RE: Rec Adult

Matt Malinowski of clay, ny United States asks...

Say the ball went out of bounds behind the goal, and a Goal Kick was awarded. Can a Field Player pick the ball up with his hands and place it on he correct line and kick the ball into play? The ref told me that I cannot touch the ball in the goalie box, even if the play is dead. Does this make scene how can there be a hand ball if the play is dead?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Oh, good grief! Another inventive referee (they're the saddest kind).

If the ball is out of play, it doesn't matter who touches it - as long as it is the team who now has possession of the restart. And it doesn't matter which member of the kicking team kicks it, either!

Please report this referee to the assignor and ask them to set the ref straight. Geez.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Duh what??? I assume this is not a REPOSITIONING of a ball already placed as a time waste measure delaying the restart? Any of the 11 players can set the ball with the hands inside the goal area in preperation for a goal kick and then kick that ball into play.

The ball is out of play so of course you can use your hands to get it and set it. In the goal area or on any other part of the field. I see a refresher course in this refree's future please see he gets tagged with the help me button or however your league collects and dispenses information!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
On the face of it this is very strange. However I just wonder if the referee may be referring to a situation where a player touches the ball after it goes out of play or play has stopped and its not his team's restart. Referees are advised to caution players who provoke a confrontation by deliberately touching the ball in these situations. This is to prevent players 'fighting over' the ball on restarts??
Other than that I'm baffled