Question Number: 35175

League Specific 10/23/2023

RE: Competitive Under 12

John Schruefer of Baltimore, MD USS asks...

In an U11 game, no headballs allowed. A ball incidentally hits a player’s. You have to drop the ball. Which team gets the drop?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi John,
assuming no injury, the best would be just play on if it was as an accidental unseen deflection off the top or back or side as long the force impact is not worrying. If it was a cringy attempt gone wrong then the free kick. If to stop to check for injury. It is a DB to the keeper if inside their PA and who ever had possession of the ball when the whistle went if outside the PA.
While I can understand the reasoning for not heading a high arcing or fast moving ball or wet heavy ball. I still think a bouncing ball at head height could be permitted to be nodded forward to run on to.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi John
In the case of an inadvertent contact of the ball on the head the recommended restart is a drópped ball. It is safe to assume that as the instruction is a DB that the Laws of the Game apply which states that if it happens inside the penalty area that the DB goes to the goalkeeper and if outside the penalty area the player's team that last touched the ball get possession.

One could also decide that if the contact is negligible ot doubtful that perhaps the best decision is to play on. I suspect that it is intended more for heavy accidental contact on the head say on a shot where the player's welfare needs to be considered with a stoppage.

In the absence of a specific competition rule always defer to the Laws of The Game. See Law 8 Section 2