Question Number: 15938

Law 5 - The Referee 7/4/2007

RE: Intercity A Under 12

Dave Petrenko of Montreal, QC Canada asks...

If a player is injured is the play stopped automatically ?

Does the team with the injured player require possesion of the ball for the play to stop or do they have to kick the ball out of bounds.
Can the opposite team score when their opponent has a player down from an injury.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

If the referee believes the injury is severere, play should be stopped immediatly. If the referee feels the player is only slightly injured, then the referee will wait until a stoppage before allowing player to be treated. Referee must make this decision and age level will play a factor in the decision. The players need to know that referees are on top of this and will take correct action. When the players kick the ball out, they are doing so at their own will and not because referee has instucted them to do so.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The referee is to stop play only for serious injury. Of course, this changes drastically with skill and age level. A 10 year old child that just got hit if the face with a ball and is crying has a serious injury. At the professional level it's quite different. Kicking the ball out when a player goes down is excellent sprotsmanship but is not required. Also, if the sporting team gives up possession there's no guarantee that the opponents will likewise be sporting and throw the ball back to them. ANY team may score if the ball is in play and the goal is in accordance with Law 12.