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STOPS, STARTS AND RESTARTS – Part 1

In the next two articles, we will examine the various situations where play is stopped, started or restarted during a soccer match.  The referee has to know the reasons for these interruptions and must respond in an appropriate manner.

Kick-off
The team that wins the toss decides which goal it will attack in the first half.  The other team takes the kick-off to start the match.  In the second half of the match the teams change ends and attack the opposite goal.

Quote:  ‘It is very unusual for a goal to be scored directly from the kick-off but the Laws allow this to happen.’

Statistic:
The first goalkeeper to score directly from his hands was Pat Jennings for Spurs against Manchester United in the FA Charity Shield in 1967.

Dropped Ball
You may have observed the referee starting the game with a dropped ball.  It is used if the game has been interrupted with a temporary stoppage, for example, a head injury to a player where the referee decides that to wait for a natural stoppage would be dangerous.

The referee must drop the ball where the play was stopped.  However, if this were in the goal area he would take it to the goal area line parallel to the goal line otherwise it would be unfair to the defenders.

The ball must touch the ground before it is in play.

Players usually show consideration for each other when a player is injured.  If the team kicks the ball out for a colleague to receive attention the other team usually throws the ball back to that team when the game restarts.

• The next time you’re at a game and the referee stops play, look to see if the game is restarted by a dropped ball.

 

Restarts in goal areas
We’ve already mentioned a dropped ball in the goal area.  The position of the ball for indirect free kicks to the attacking team in its opponents’ goal area is on the goal line parallel to the goal line nearest to the foul. 

Just like a goal kick, a free kick awarded to the defending team inside its own goal area is taken from the point within the goal area.

Free kicks
Most goals nowadays are linked to restarts of play after stoppages.  At the taking of free kicks players of the defending team can stand anywhere as long as they are at least 10 yards (9.15 m) from the ball.  However, this could be difficult if the free kick is nearer than 10 yards (9.15 m) from the goal.  In this case, the players must stand on their own goal line between the goalposts.

• The next time an indirect free kick is awarded in the penalty area to the attacking team, in all the mayhem that inevitably happens watch the actions of the referee to see how the situation is controlled.

For free kicks to the defending side in the penalty area the opponents must stay outside the area and at least 10 yards (9.15 m) from the ball and the ball is not in play until it has passed out of the penalty area.

The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves.  It is, therefore, permissible for a player to ‘flick’ the ball up with one or both feet to restart the play.  However, the player taking the kick may not touch or play the ball a second time until it has touched or been played by another player.

When play is stopped, the team awarded the free kick sometimes wants to get the ball back into play as quickly as possible-a quick free kick.  If an opponent deliberately delays the kick or doesn’t go back the correct distance he should be cautioned.

Remember that a team cannot score an ‘own goal’ with a free kick-direct or indirect.  If the ball enters their own goal a corner kick would be awarded.

An indirect free kick must touch or be played by another player (of either team) before passing into goal.  If this does not happen a goal kick is the correct restart if the attacking team took the kick.

Penalty kicks
Free kicks near to goal are exciting and fill the spectators of the attacking team with expectation and their opponents with nerves.  These feelings are increased tenfold at the award of a penalty kick.

All players except the kicker and the opposing goalkeeper must be on the field of play, outside the penalty area and the penalty arc.  They must be behind the penalty mark and cannot come into the penalty area until the kick is taken

The goalkeeper can move sideways on his line but not forwards until the kick is taken.

Assistant referees watch to see if the goalkeeper advances from his goal line before the kick is taken and whether the ball has crossed the goal line.

A player taking a penalty kick may try to deceive the goalkeeper by ‘feinting’-slowing down during the run.  This is allowed but he mustn’t stop in his run to make the goalkeeper dive early.  The player stopping in his run should be cautioned for unsporting behavior and the kick retaken if a goal is scored.

If half-time or full-time occurs before the penalty kick has been taken. Time must be extended to allow it to be taken, or retaken.  The referee will wait for a clear result before blowing for time.  If the ball enters the goal the result of the kick is obvious.  This might be when the ball touches one of the two goalposts, or the crossbar, or goalkeeper, or a combination of these.  Providing no infringement has been committed a goal would be allowed.