Soccer Referee Resources
Home
Ask a Question
Articles
Recent Questions
Search

You-Call-It
Previous You-Call-It's

VAR (Video Assistant Referee)

Q&A Quick Search
The Field of Play
The Ball
The Players
The Players Equipment
The Referee
The Other Match Officials
The Duration of the Match
The Start and Restart of Play
The Ball In and Out of Play
Determining the Outcome of a Match
Offside
Fouls and Misconduct
Free Kicks
Penalty kick
Throw In
Goal Kick
Corner Kick


Common Sense
Kicks - Penalty Mark
The Technical Area
The Fourth Official
Pre-Game
Fitness
Mechanics
Attitude and Control
League Specific
High School


Common Acronyms
Meet The Ref
Advertise
Contact AskTheRef
Help Wanted
About AskTheRef


Soccer Rules Changes 1580-2000


Panel Login

Question Number: 34307

Law 9 - The Ball in and out of Play 8/18/2021

RE: Rec Adult

brian casey of Romford, aurora soccer club canada asks...

If the ball hit's the ref and bounces back to the player that kicked the ball does the ref still stop play and award a drop ball??.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Brian,
Most probably not. The law only calls for a dropped ball if the ball hits the referee and either:

"a team starts a promising attack or

the ball goes directly into the goal or

the team in possession of the ball changes"

In the scenario you describe, it is clear neither of the last two conditions are met. I suppose that depending on the exact circumstances, it could come about that the player is actually in a better attacking position after the ball bounces back to them and so the referee might decide that a promising attack has started but I'd say there's a relatively low chance of that.



Read other questions answered by Referee Peter Grove

View Referee Peter Grove profile

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Brian
The referee will have to take account of the circumstances.

In a recent EURO game this very event happened and the referee did not stop play as none of the three conditions listed by my colleague Referee Grove was met. The ball went back to the kicker so in many ways very little if anything changed so other than perhaps quietening those that believe its a DB every single time play was correctly allowed to continue.

I think what has happened is that referees are calling all contact on themselves irrespective of the outcome and I suppose it can be justified if the referee believes that it has started a promising attack perhaps through a change in pass options or not passing whatever the case may be.

The key is to try not to allow contact in the first place!




Read other questions answered by Referee Joe McHugh

View Referee Joe McHugh profile

Ask a Follow Up Question to Q# 34307
Read other Q & A regarding Law 9 - The Ball in and out of Play

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

See Question: 34311

Soccer Referee Extras

Did you Ask the Ref? Find your answer here.


Enter Question Number

If you received a response regarding a submitted question enter your question number above to find the answer




Offside Question?

Offside Explained by Chuck Fleischer & Richard Dawson, Former & Current Editor of AskTheRef

<>
This web site and the answers to these questions are not sanctioned by or affiliated with any governing body of soccer. The free opinions expressed on this site should not be considered official interpretations of the Laws of the Game and are merely opinions of AskTheRef and our panel members. If you need an official ruling you should contact your state or local representative through your club or league. On AskTheRef your questions are answered by a panel of licensed referees. See Meet The Ref for details about our panel members. While there is no charge for asking the questions, donation to maintain the site are welcomed! <>