Question Number: 24679

Other 3/11/2011

RE: AYSO - Intermediate Under 12

Phil of Reseda, CA United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 24656

I'm not sure why a ref would ever need to instruct a team to kick it to another team. Could you elaborate?

If you stop the game for injury, the restart is always a dropped ball, right? (Assuming no foul). I thought that the referee could simply drop it in front of a player from the team that had the ball when the game was stopped...or even roll it to a player (including the GK).

At AYSO ref training, we were told that there's no actual requirement in the law that says there must be a player from both teams.

Of course, fairness would dictate that a player from each team should be there when there's no clear indication that a particular team had the ball.

Is any of this incorrect? Thanks again for a wonderful & informative web site!!

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The tradition in soccer began with the notion that when a player is injured, the team in possession would kick the ball out of play. On the resulting throw in, the ball would be returned (usually by kicking the ball back to the opposing keeper). Everyone would clap.

The strong preference today is that the referee will stop play in the event of a serious injury. (In an AYSO U12 match, play will be stopped for a lesser injury than in a higher level match.) While the restart is a dropped ball, the sporting tradition still would have the team not in possession participate in the dropped ball, and again return it to the team originally in possession.

Players, particularly older players, will react with fury when the sporting tradition is not followed. It can be taken as a sign of disrespect. (The modern view that the referee should not wait for the ball to be kicked out is an attempt to avoid the conflict that arises when a team doesn't do what the other team expects).

So, it becomes useful for the referee to clarify whether or not the player taking the throw-in or the sole player at the dropped ball intends to return the ball AND that the player makes sure his or her teammates know as well. The referee cannot and should not dictate a 'sporting' return of the ball. If the dropped ball is contested, so be it.

Unfortunately, many young players do not know and some coaches do not teach the sporting tradition. In a youth match, I will ask the player if they knew the other team was in possession and whether they want to follow the tradition of returning the ball. If they do, I then suggest they let everyone know what they are doing. If they don't, I let players know it will be a contested dropped ball.

Some teams are now simply kicking the ball out of touch after the dropped ball as a way of returning the ball. The more things change . . . .

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Phil
As you know when the referee stops play to deal with an injury the restart is a dropped ball. There is no requirement for any player to be present at the dropped ball nor a limit to the number and it is in play when it touches the ground. So when a team kicks the ball out of play or the referee stops play for an injured player to be treated it is expected that the ball is returned to the team in possession after the restart. That can be achieved by an uncontested restart yet it has been the custom to say kick the ball back to the GK of the team in possession.
The referee must not instruct a team to do this yet he can advise those players that are not aware of what should be done based on their age, lack of experience etc.
Having said all that there has been recent examples of the Fair Play restarts going horribly wrong resulting in mass brawls and sending offs. The referee should ensure that match control is not compromised by these restarts and manage these carefully.
Personally I would prefer that the game went back to the contested dropped ball. None of these issues ever arose and players expected nothing else.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The referee should NEVER instruct a team to kick the ball anywhere. As you state, the ONLY restart if you stop play for an injury, if playing under the auspices of the LOTG is a dropped ball at the place the ball was when you stopped play. the Laws do not require anyone to participate nor do they limit the number of players. You as the referee are free to drop the ball whenever you see fit and if it's to just one player in the interest of fair play then so be it. But you must DROP the ball. Don't roll it or throw it.