Question Number: 29666

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 9/6/2015

RE: Rec, Select, Competetive High School

Mary Ramirez-de-Arellano of DAMASCUS, Maryland USA asks...

What is the correct restart when I stop the game because I notice a player is down writhing on the ground in his PA? There has been no foul and a teammate is already past the center of the field dribbling toward the goal he is trying to score on.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mary
Thanks for your question.
In a FIFA / USSF game the resart is a dropped ball from where it was located when play was stopped with the special provision of should play be stopped inside the goal area.
In NFHS the restart is an IDFK from where play was stopped to the team in clear possession of the ball. If no team is in possession of the ball it is a dropped ball the same as in a FIFA game.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Mary,
Given the age and the manner of how we judge fouls at younger ages we stop easier for most any fall or indeed even a hint or thought that there might be a need to dry a tear as much as fix a boo boo. A player though who drops when nothing is going on worries me as a heart condition or medical condition. I have stopped for a player in anaphylactic shock and another for low sugar requiring an infusion of glucose to stabilize his seizures but it was obvious they were in distress as opposed to a player nursing a cramp or winded and looking to draw a little timeout break. I ask are you ok can you continue? Try to get a response where you are satisfied play can continue or not!

Compassion is a noble attribute, unfortunately the concepts of fair play are blurred at times due to some using this human value as a deliberate means to waste time or stop attacks.

The greater the skill or age we are less inclined to immediately stop unless we are convinced there is a real need to when a player goes down. If it is serious, we can get a sense by how it occurs and to some extent the reactions of those surrounding him. If the team with the ball has a player on the ground and they are attacking willing to dismiss the squirming team mate for the most part so am I, unless there was something indicative he was truly in distress or the circumstances appear too unusual to overlook.
If you do stop play for an injury the correct restart according to FIFA is a drop ball from where the ball is at the time of the stoppage subject to the special circumstances of the 6 yards goal area.

If this was an NFHS match (highschool) given his team had the ball the correct restart is an indfk from where the ball is at the time of the stoppage subject to the special circumstances of the 6 yards goal area.. If it was a loose ball then a drop ball.
Cheers