Question Number: 24279

Law 5 - The Referee 11/5/2010

RE: 09 Recreational Under 16

Logan of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma United States asks...

In a U10 game I was reffing an attacker brought the ball into the box and the defender tried to clear the ball but it hit the attacker and he fell to the ground. Meanwhile, the goal keeper got the ball and held the ball for a while. The attacker was obviously hurting because he was still on the ground. What should I of done?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Logan
At U 10 the best decision would be to stop the game and seek attention for the player on the ground.
When all that is sorted the restart is a dropped ball from where it was when play was stopped. At U10 I would 'encourage' the attacking team to allow the goalkeeper to pick the ball up and the game restarts as it was when the game was stopped.
At open age the option are to do nothing if it is a minor injury and wait for a natural stoppage or if it is a serious injury to stop play. Sometimes when a player is injured the team in possession will kick the ball out of play and the restart is just the regular restart such as a throw in etc. When the referee stops play where there is no offence the restart is always a dropped ball.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

At younger ages, about U10 and below, almost any boo-boo is a 'serious' injury warranting the referee to stop the game to assist the player. Older players, serious means serious - it has to be something that can't wait until the ball goes out of play. In between youth ages, the referee will have to evaluate how much of a 'hurt' constitutes an 'injury' - there is a diffeence. It really hurts to get your ankle clipped, but unless the kick is so hard as to break the ankle, it's probably not a serious injury. (It would likely be a foul that results in play being stopped, so maybe that illustration isn't the best.)

Since play is stopped for the injury, that player must leave the field. He can be substituted for, or he can re-enter the game upon being beckoned by the referee, after play has resumed.

The restart is a dropped ball. The referee can use his personality to strongly suggest - but not insist - that since play was stopped to help out the attacker, the goalkeeper should be allowed to get possession of the ball after it is dropped. And the goalkeeper should be reminded that he can pick up the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Stop play, and have the youngster attended to by his coach. Have the player leave the field before play restarts, and if the coach wishes to sub at that time, that is just fine.

Your restart has to follow the reason for the stoppage. There was no offense committed, so the only possible restart is the dropped ball. It is a good idea to go to the keeper and tell him/her 'I'm going to restart play by dropping the ball for you to pick up. Ready?'

Dropped balls don't require players from either team to be present. The ball should be dropped at the spot where the ball was when play was stopped, except if it was in the goal area, in which case we move it out to the top of the goal area line closest to where it was when play stopped.

If an opponent makes a move to participate in the dropped ball, you can suggest it is only fair that possession be returned to the keeper, and that would be true for either team.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

At this age group you blow the whistle and tend to the child on the ground immediately. Have his coach take him out and let them substitute if they wish. Restart with a dropped ball after explaining the procedure to both teams.