Question Number: 19248

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 6/2/2008

Chris of Vancouver, Canada asks...

Sometimes in U-13 games and younger, the players taking a kick-off have lapses as to where they are standing, and can be standing with the whole body in the opponents' half when the ball is kicked forward by the teammate taking the kick-off.

The LOTG say that 'if the one taking the kick-off touches the ball a second time without any other player touching it, it is a IDFK to the opponents' but 'for all other infringements of the kick-off, a rekick is taken.'

Does this apply to this offside scenario as well? I.e. a retake of the kick-off if a teammate is clearly offside?

I get a lot of grief from coaches when I grant a retake of the kick-off when the ball is not kicked forward. (Younger players will often kick it laterally/backwards). Some coaches feel that it should be an IDFK to the opposing (read "their") team. This, of course, is wrong (And, as a ref, I have now come to understand the truth of your panel's oft-stated recurring mantra on your website, "Since when do coaches know what they are talking about?" But I would like to be sure on the offside scenario on the kick-off.

Thanks again for your answers. They are very helpful.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Chris,
while you ask them to please come back to their side they are not really offside as it applies to law 11. They are simply not following the proceedure for kick off and as such the kick off is retaken and they are asked not to do that. Failure to heed could be cautionable but it is always a retake of the kick off not an indfk. I do see this considered as trivial even at elite for a half step or kinda in both worlds as it were. It is a matter of opinion as to the need to say anything or whether you are overly fussy, as you gather here most of us are overly fussy to details where your authority is flaunted right from the get go even if unintentionally.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Simple solution, Chris - don't blow the whistle until they're all in the proper places. "Hey Red, your own side of the field please."

What I see more often is that they think the sound of the whistle is the start of a race, and they all start moving. If it's trifling movement, no problem. If it causes either side to gain an advantage, I'll call it back and we'll retake the kickoff.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Chris, this is NOT offside. I agree with Ref Voshall. Don't blow the whistle unless everyone is on or behind the line. If one leans a little forward before the kick, it's still pretty trifling isn't it?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

I hope the referee isn't having a lapse as well. Use the whistle and the personality to get the players where they belong, and DON'T start until they are! They do want to play, and will comply.