Question Number: 32808

Law 8 - The Start and Restart of Play 10/16/2018

RE: Rec Under 7

Steve of gillingham, uk asks...

With regard to the new kick off rule whereby the ball can be played backwards from kick off - does this apply to mini soccer rules as the English FA's mini soccer rules still says the ball must be kicked forward

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Steve
Some of the documents that I have seen requires that the ball must be kicked forward.
http://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/rules-of-the-association/2017-18-final/032_small-sided-football.ashx
This document suggests any direction like the regular game
http://www.thefa.com/-/media/cfa/kentfa/files/players/fa-youth-futsal-mini-soccer-handbook.ashx?la=en#page19
The best source of information here is the referee on the day. If he says that the ball must be kicked forward or in any direction then that is the method of starting the game.
In small sided Underage games I personally would not get hung up too much on the start as long as it did not infringe the rules such as a goal being scored directly from the kick off when it states that a goal cannot be scored in such circumstances. It can though in the regular game.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Steve,
I suspect in time this will change but if the ROCs have yet to adapt the new FIFA kick off standards into their protocols as of yet you follow the current regulations!
Cheers