Question Number: 33207

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 4/3/2019

RE: competive Under 14

terri d. of oakton, va USA asks...

A couple of questions,

1) after an awarded goal, does the restart require a pass to side or back, or can the player play the ball forward on first touch?

2) a player falls and continues to play the ball on the ground for a few seconds - this is allowed?

thx much

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Terri
At one time the Laws required that the ball had to kicked forward only at a kick off. That has now been amended so the ball can be kicked in any direction at a kick off which can and does still include forward. A goal can be scored directly from a kick off.
On your second question there is no restriction on playing the ball while on the ground provided it does not cause a danger to the player nor does it prevent an opponent from kicking the ball for fear of kicking the player on the ground. So the actual circumstances will decide if an offence has been committed or not.
Generally speaking playing the ball on the ground is rarely a foul except where the ball gets trapped by the player between his legs or laying on top of the ball and the player on the ground cannot get out of the way of an opponents attempt to play it nor chooses to even attempt to move away

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Terri,
1. At a kick off, the ball can be played in any direction. The fact that a goal may be scored directly from a kick off, would almost certainly require the ball to be kIcked forward.

2. There is no specific restriction on playing the ball while on the ground. As ref McHugh says, there could be a question of whether the player is playing in a dangerous manner but I would say that in my experience it is relatively rare for this offence to be called for a player who plays the ball while on the ground in normal circumstances.

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

See Question: 33216