Question Number: 25375

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 8/30/2011

RE: Select/High School High School

Parent of Middle, Tn US asks...

Question on drop ball restart. My daughter just had her recert course where her instructor told her this was a new change where the rule for an injury restart is now an indirect to the team in possession, for both high school and FIFA rules. I was under the impression that it was still a drop ball in FIFA rules. Did I miss something?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
The instructor is incorrect. The Law has not changed and FIFA continues to differ from NFHS on this. If the refereee stops play to deal with an injury then in USSF games the restart is a dropped ball from where the ball was when play was stopped.
If this was a USSF recert class this matter needs to be brought to the instructor's attention that his advice is wrong.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Oh, dear.

A dropped ball is still required under the laws of the game. There has been no change in the restart. The NFHS rules call for an IFK to the team in possession when play has been stopped for an injury, but it and other aspects of dealing with injuries remain rules differences between high school and the laws of the game.

(Perhaps what confused the instructor is that NCAA college rules - which used to mirror the high school rules- - have moved back closer to TLOG. With one exception, NCAA rules call for a drop ball on the restart after an injury. I suspect,however, that the referee had a disconnect between brain and mouth and he simply misspoke.)

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

No such change exists for USSF sanctioned games. Hopefully this was a NFHS recert

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 25381