Question Number: 34548

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 4/2/2022

RE: Rec Under 19

David Bober of Waynesville, NC United States asks...

While refereeing a U19 game..We had a kick off after a score...the player kicked the ball once putting it in play, then kicked it again before any other player had touched it. I called a penalty and gave the other team an indirect free kick. Always called it this way but was questioned by the coach that lost the ball...just want to know if this is the correct call..

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi David,

As a referee, it is important to be accurate with your terminology - especially on the field. Incorrect terminology can cause confusion and can even lead to misunderstandings of the laws - while you knew what you meant, I firmly believe it is important to use correct terminology as a referee.

So on that note, a penalty specifically refers to when a defender has committed a penal foul inside the Penalty Area and play is restarted with a Penalty Kick - a kick from the Penalty Mark.

You awarded an indirect free kick. And yes - a player touching the ball a second time from any restart before anybody else has touched it is an indirect free kick. This is covered by Law 8 - the Start and Restart of Play

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi David
It is clearly a double touch offence for a player to play a ball for a second time at any kicked restart before the ball has been touched by another player. The restart is an indirect free kick from where the 2nd touch occurred.

I am unsure why a coach would question this decision. The only reason I can think of is that the first kick was not seen as a kick to put the ball in play? Sometimes a player may reposition the ball with a kick. For what it is worth the double touch offence is pretty rare and I have only seen it happen at a kick off in live play.

Here is a double touch offence at a goal kick and a red card for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity

https://youtu.be/uivLc9urdBY