Question Number: 23795

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/18/2010

RE: U11 Travel Soccer Under 12

Coach Scott of New Boston, MI US asks...

If a player is laying on the ground is he able to still kick at the ball and or other Players allowed to kick at the ball? In past years a whistle is blown until all players are back on there feet to prevent injury. At what age does this safety play go away?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

There is no foul called 'playing on the ground.'

There is, however, an indirect free kick foul of playing in a dangerous manner. It requires that a nearby opponent be affected - - for example, ceasing to play for the ball to avoid injuring the player on the ground. (Note: if the opponent kicks the player on the ground, the opponent will commit the foul. Think of the IFK as a 'reward' for not kicking the player on the ground.)

At U-littles, referees will be quick to stop play to protect the player on the ground. As the players' skills develop, it often is the case that there is no nearby opponent, that the opponent is able to play the ball without risk of injury to the one on the ground, or that the player on the ground will be able to get up before there is any adverse effect on an opponent. The referee can wait and see a bit longer.

Under 10's (in my experience) are often oblivious to teammates and opponents and only focus on the ball. Between 10 and 14, most players begin to recognize situations and adjust their play to what the opponents are doing. At age 16, some want to kick the player on the ground. The referee may need to adjust again. YMMV.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Scott
One of the myths that is in the game. It is only an offence if the referee believes that by laying on the ball or having it between the legs on the ground that the player might get kicked by an opponent or prevents an opponent from playing the ball . That is playing in a dangerous manner and the referee should stop play and restart with an IDFK against the player on the ground.
If the player kicks the ball away while on the ground then there is no danger, no offence has been committed and play should continue.
At younger age groups safety is paramount and the referee will err on the side of caution. The safety play never goes away just that each situation has to be taken on its merit as to whether there is a danger or not to the player on the ground.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The 'safety play' you describe, while perhaps being a good idea for young children, is not something allowed by the LOTG. Once the whistle is blown, play stops and should only be restarted by one of the allowed restarts (direct free kick, indirect free kick, goal kick, dropped ball (appropriate here) etc.

Further, it is a common myth that the ball may not be played if a player is lying on the ground. This, in and of itself, is not dangerous and is allowed. It only becomes Playing In A Dangerous Manner (PIADM) if doing so poses a danger to the player on the ground or another player, an opponent is nearby, and an opponent is somehow disadvantaged (remember, fouls are committed only against opponents).
When I worked U10 rec games, I was very quick to blow my whistle to protect the player on the ground from being kicked. I think all referees do this. As skill level raises we wait and see but safety is still our number 1 concern.
Players are never allowed to kick at the ball if it endangers the safety of the player on the ground nor is the player on the ground ever allowed to purposely lay on the ball to prevent opponents from safely playing it. The first instance is the direct free kick foul of kicking or attempting to kick an opponent and the second is the indirect free kick foul PIADM.
As referees we have to take into account all the factors at play before rendering a decision.
If your League had a rule that when players were on the ground play ceased until they were all standing, it is up to your League to decide at what age and skill level to apply the rule. As an example, GYSA has a goalkeeper modification at all skill levels for U10 and under that says once the keeper has control of the ball, all opponents are to move away from the keeper and remain outside the penalty area until the keeper plays the ball out of the penalty area even if the keeper releases the ball from her hands and plays the ball with her feet. U10 Select coaches have tried to get this rule to only apply to recreational play for years

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Players fall down all the time. The ball is still in play while they are on the ground, so they can continue to play the ball.

What they cannot do is cause an opponent to have to stop playing for the ball for fear of either injury to themselves or to the player on the ground. If the referee, based on age and skill level, thinks the player on the ground has created a dangerous situation, the whistle can sound and play will be restarted for the opponent's team with an IDFK.