Starting and Restarting Play

Start of Play (the Kick-Off)

The kick-off starts the game at the beginning, and restarts the play after a goal is scored.

A team that is awarded a kick-off retains possession of the ball by kicking off to a teammate, which is the opposite of American gridiron football. It is not a penalty to kick off to the opposite team, but it is an immediate loss of possession. Younger and less-experienced players should be taught to kick off to teammates, even if they are behind you.

Beginning Side Selection and Taking Turns

According to the LOTG, the coin toss winner gets field side side selection, while the other team takes the kick-off to start the match. Our rules are different. The two teams normally migrate to one side of the field or the other, so by the time you administer a coin toss, the players are already on the field and in position, ready to go. Therefore, the winner of the coin toss decides whether or not they will take the kick-off or give it to the other team.

As an alternative to the coin toss, it is permissible to let the two players engage in a round of ‘Paper-Scissors-Rock’ for side selection. This is a good back-up at this level of play for those situations in which a coin is not available.

A kick-off is used to restart play at the beginning of each period and after each goal is scored. The two teams take turns kicking off at for a new time period; that is to say, after each timekeeping period ends, the opposite team restarts play with a kick-off. Remember, if a goal is scored, the team that lost the goal restarts the game with a kick-off, but this does not change the back-and-forth pattern of timekeeping period kick-offs.

For example: If Team ‘A’ kicks off to start the play in the first time period then scores a goal, Team ‘B’ takes a kick-off from the middle of the field to restart play because they conceded a goal. When the second timekeeping period starts, Team ‘B’ gets another kick off; this time, because Team ‘A’ had the kick-off to begin the previous time period.

Procedure

To perform a kick-off, make sure that the team taking the kick is the only team that has players in the center circle. Make sure each team has no greater than the allowed number of players on the field for the age group and season (this number changes from year to year). The officials will start the clock once the kick is taken. Place the ball on the center mark at the center of the field. Make sure that the kicking team does not kick the ball until signaled by a referee by one long whistle blast. To take the kick, the kicker may be on the opponent’s half of the field or on his own half. The ball is in play when it is touched and is moved by the kicker in any direction. The kicker may not touch the ball a second time (or else an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team; a direct free kick if it is the 4-6 age groups).

Restart of Play by Throw-In

Play is restarted with a throw-in any time the ball passes out-of-bounds over a touchline (sideline).

4-6 age groups:

The 4-6 age groups do not restart play by throw-in. A “kick-in” is awarded to the team opposite the team that last touched the ball before it went out-of-bounds. A goal may be scored by such “kick-in.”

7-8, 9-10 and 11-13 age groups:

The throw-in is awarded to the team opposite the team that last touched the ball before it went out-of-bounds. A goal may not be scored by a throw-in; a goal kick (thrown into an opponent’s goal) or corner kick (thrown into one’s own goal) is awarded if the ball passes into the goal on a throw-in.

• the thrower faces the field of play
• the thrower has part of each foot either on the touch line or on the ground outside the touch line nearest the point where the ball passed out-of-bounds
• the thrower uses both hands
• the thrower delivers the ball from behind and over his head
• the thrower does not touch the ball after it is thrown until touched by another player
• all opponents stand at least 6.5-feet away

Restart of Play by Goal Kick

Play is restarted with a goal kick when an attacking team kicks the ball out-of-bounds at their opponent’s goal line (e.g., a missed shot on goal).

4-6 age groups:

The 4-6 age groups does not restart play by goal kick. A “kick-in” is awarded to the team opposite the team that last touched the ball before it went out-of-bounds.

7-8, 9-10 and 11-13 age groups:

The ball is placed in the goal area before the kick is taken. Ensure that the opponents are all out of the penalty area. The referee shall signal the kicker to proceed once the field is set by one short whistle blast.

• the ball is kicked from any point within the goal area by any player of the defending team
• opponents remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in play (that is, until it has passed out of the penalty area)
• the kicking team may be inside the penalty area, but may not touch the ball until it has passed out of the penalty area and into the field of play
• the kicker does not kick the ball until signaled by the referee’s whistle
• the kicker does not play the ball a second time until it has touched another player
• the ball is in play when it is kicked directly beyond the penalty area
• opponents may not come into the penalty box until the ball is in play

Restart of Play by Corner Kick

Play is restarted with a corner kick when a defending team kicks the ball out-of-bounds on their own goal line.

4-6 age groups:

The 4-6 age groups does not restart play by corner kick. A “kick-in” is awarded to the team opposite the team that last touched the ball before it went out-of-bounds.

7-8, 9-10 and 11-13 age groups:

Ensure that the ball is placed anywhere within the corner arc and that the corner marker flag is not touched or removed by any player or referee (do not hold the flags for the kickers). Ensure that all opponents are at least 10-yards (30-feet, the same radius of the center circle) from the ball. Signal the kicker to proceed once the field is set by one short whistle blast.

• the ball is placed inside the corner arc at the nearest corner flag post
• the corner flag post is not moved
• opponents remain at least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the ball until it is in play
• the kicker does not kick the ball until signaled by the referee’s whistle
• the ball is kicked by a player of the attacking team
• the ball is in play when it is kicked and moves
• the kicker does not play the ball a second time until it has touched another player

Restart of Play by Drop Ball

Play is restarted with a drop ball any time the play is stopped by the referee for a reason other than a foul, such as: an injury for which a penalty is not warranted (this would result in a free kick, not a drop ball); a dangerous equipment violation (like a loose shinguard, or a lost shoe); whenever the ball is touched or interfered with by an outside agent (such as a spectator, a coach, animals or wildlife, etc.). In all cases, the referee has stopped the game by its own discretion and not because of a foul, and needs to restart play in an impartial fashion.

To restart play with a drop ball, simply drop the ball to the ground. The referee drops the ball for one player of the team that last touched the ball at the position where it last touched a player. All other players (of both teams) must remain at least 4 m (4.5 yds) from the ball until it is in play. The ball is in play when it touches the ground. Play restarts when the ball touches the ground, so instruct the players not to touch the ball until it lands.

Do not perform a drop ball restart within the goal area of the field. A drop ball is taken from that part of the goal area line which runs parallel to the goal line, at the point nearest to where the ball was located when the stoppage occurred.

Restart of Play by Free Kick

A free kick is awarded to a team whenever the referee has stopped play for a violation of the LOTG. Free kicks are generally classified as either DIRECT or INDIRECT . The difference has to do with scoring: Goals may not be scored by an INDIRECT FREE KICK , unless the ball first touches another player. If a player scores on an indirect free kick, a goal is not counted and the opposite team is awarded a goal kick as if the ball simply went out-of-bounds. A goal may be scored by a direct free kick.

Note that there are no indirect free kicks in the 4-6 age groups: All free kicks are direct free kicks in the 4-6 age groups.

The ball is placed at the location on the field where the infraction occurred. The direction of the free kick is indicated by the referee by facing the ball and holding out an arm towards the goal that the team taking the kick is attacking. If the kick is a direct free kick, hold your arm out with your hand pointing directly at the goal. If the kick is an indirect free kick, hold your hand up at a 45-degree angle so that it is pointing indirectly towards the goal. Do not lower your hand until the ball has touched another player or goes out of play.

• the free kick is taken from the place where the infringement occurred
• all opponents are at least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the ball until it is in play, unless they are on their own goal line between the goalposts
• the ball is in play when it is kicked and moves
• an indirect free kick awarded inside the goal area is taken from that part of the goal area line which runs parallel to the goal line, at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred

See “Fouls and Misconduct,” below, for details about which penalties get direct vs. indirect free kicks.