Question Number: 30098

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 2/11/2016

RE: Select Under 13

Jill of Sunnyvale, California United States asks...

If a player is on the ground, can he play the ball?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Absolutely. Else all slide tackles would be illegal. The player just has to be safe while doing it.

This is an old myth that refuses to die.

It seems to come from u-little rules where safety is paramount. So a rule may be invented to keep players from getting into potential unsafe positions. Players, coaches and parents learn it and never forget that it was just a local modification for the youngest players.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Jill,

There's no law against playing the ball from the ground. So, like any other play of the ball or challenge, the referee just needs to determine if there's a foul, such as kicking the opponent or playing in a dangerous manner. Sometimes the player on the ground will, in kicking the ball, expose his studs in the direction of the opponent as they're kicking the ball which might be dangerous. Also, they cannot prevent an opponent from playing the ball by lying on it (though sometimes that's the fault of the players around him) or trapping it beneath/between their legs - though the referee should allow him a reasonable opportunity to release the ball.

Similarly, there are also a number of ways the standing player around him could commit a foul.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Jill,
Short answer? YES!

This is another myth that seems to cling tenuously to the game! sigh it is NOT against the LOTG to play the ball once you have fallen on the ground .

What is against the LOTG is to be guilty of PIADM (playing in a dangerous manner) or unsporting behavior while doing so.

If we discount the slide tackle as a defensive action where we most definitely are sliding on the ground to play a ball. You are more likely to think of a player with the ball who has fallen!

In youth the skill and situational awareness is not as great as it might be thus we tend to be quicker on the whistle when players go to ground over top the ball or near the ball because we fear for their safety, more so than they deliberately try to stop an opponent from challenging for the ball.

That said many a good goal has been scored and many saved from the seat of the pants of a desperate scramble.

We look at HOW the player came to be on the ground? If he has been fouled we look to see if advantage can be played. If he has simply fallen on top of the ball we give him a reasonable amount of time to get up and continue. If he is lying passively, say trying to prevent an opponent from kicking the ball to protect his goal or until his keeper gets there THIS is where the INDFKs for PIADM and possible sanctions for USB can occur as the player on the ground is now unfairly creating a situation where the oppositions only credible way to challenge is to kick at the player, thereby endangering his safety.

To be clear: JUST because a player is on the ground the opposition can not just indiscriminately kick away at a ball under him. They must not deliberately do so, but accidents happen, which is why the referee can choose to see this as PIADM or USB against the player on the ground so the opposition is not tempted to play the ball or as a DFK against the opposition for kicking at him if they do not restrain themselves.

You can often find BOTH players on the ground and they are battling for the ball as long as they play the ball play continues. A opponent can reach a foot in and draw a ball out safely from beside or beneath a player, play continues whereas if he just kicked away we have a stoppage.

Safety ! Reasonable time to sort out a fall and get up ! Is there a real disadvantage that requires a whistle or we allow play to continue. More apt to wait at the top levels then go with early whistle at the youth!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
A player can play the ball on the ground provided she is not a danger to herself or opponents.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wTZnVXO02gE
In this video there are a number of examples of players playing the ball on the ground. There may be some trips in the examples yet the players on the ground are not committing any PIADM offences. The last example however at frame 28 Red player has put himself in danger of getting kicked by White. That is IMO playing in a dangerous manner and the referee would be wise to stop play and restart with an indirect free kick to White. Another example would be holding the ball between the legs on the ground or lying on top of the ball. An opponent will not be able to play the ball for fear of kicking the opponent and the referee should intervene quickly to prevent that happening.