Question Number: 15039

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/24/2007

RE: competitive Under 16

chris kelly of rumson, nj usa asks...

are there any circumstances where a player can play the ball while laying on the ground? or is it ALWAYS ruled dangerous play?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Chris,
A player on the ground is NOT forbidden to play the ball!

It is a MYTH that a player cannot play the ball while on the ground!!

It is NOT PIADM just because the player is on the ground.

It COULD be PIADM but certainly not always!

As a player I have scored several goals while on the ground in attack as well as defended by shielding the ball from opponents while on the ground, all perfectly legal. What happens when a player is on the ground within playing distance can shield that ball from an opponent by being reasonable in how that ball is played or defended. If I was knocked down or fell on the ball while I must get off that ball I do not have to expose that ball to my opponent. I can shield it as I try and play it! Mind you I can not just lay on top of the ball, in law I must play it within a reasonable time. If I lay my face near the ball or surrounded it with my arms in hopes of deterring an opponent from kicking the ball for fear of kicking my face or arms then a referee could award an INDFK against me for PIADM as I endangered myself at my opponent's expense by unfairly playing that ball.

I want to point out that EVEN if a player on the ground is in fact PIADM an opponent can not kick away free and clear as it is a DFK offence to do so against that player rather than the INDFK for him if he held off. That is why a referee must be quick to whistle for the PIADM Infringement if it IS in effect rather than wait until an opponent gets frustrated and tries to kick away! We need to get a good view of just what is actually going on by proper positioning in such cases. There should be NO contact in PIADM or in impeding. Contact takes those two INDFK infringements and turns them into DFK fouls of kicking or attempt to kick or holding!

It takes a bit of discretion and foul recognition to differentiate between a legal shield and an unsafe act by a player on the ground playing the ball but it is NOT a crime in its self to play the ball on the ground ever!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

A player is free to play the ball while laying on the ground. There is no foul called "playing the ball while laying on the ground" although many persons, including referees, think there is. Remember, a FOUL MUST INVOLVE AN ACTION AGAINST AN OPONENT. Playing in a dangerous manner is such a foul. In order for this to occur, the action must contain 3 things; 1. The action must be dangerous even if just to the player performing it, 2. An OPPONENT must be nearby, and, 3. An OPPONENT must somehow be disadvantaged by the action. If a player plays the ball while laying on the ground ( or for that matter a high kick or bicycle kick) and all 3 requirements are not met, than there is no foul. If all 3 exist, the action is punished by the award of an IFK to the opponent. Take home point: you cannot foul a teammate

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Any player can play whilst on the ground at any time UNTIL he creates a danger to himself or another player. Whoever came up with "You Can't Play On The Ground" simply doesn't understand this Game.