1. LAW 8 – THE START AND RESTART OF PLAY
Online Training Script:
Welcome to U.S. Soccer’s online training for the Grade 9 Referee Course.
Training for this course is specific to preparing officials for the small sided and recreational youth game.
This presentation focuses on Law 8 – The Start and Restart of Play.
U.S. SOCCER FEDERATION REFEREE PROGRAM GRADE 9 REFEREE COURSE
SMALL-SIDED AND RECREATIONAL YOUTH TRAINING

2. COIN TOSS Use to decide kick-off to start the game
Winner chooses which goal to attack in the first half
Other team awarded kick-off to start the game
Second half
Teams change sides
Team that lost the coin toss takes the kick-off
Online Training Script:
A coin toss is used to decide the kick-off.
The team that wins the toss decides which goal it will attack in the first half and 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 goals.
The team that won the coin toss takes the kick-off to start the second half.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

3. KICK-OFF PROCEDURE
All players in their own half of the field, except the kicker
All opponents must be at least 10 yards away
Ball is stationary on center mark
The Referee gives a signals
The ball is in play once it is kicked and clearly moves
The ball can be kicked in any direction
An offense is committed if the Kicker touches the ball again before it is touched by another player
Online Training Script:
There are a number of requirements that the referee must ensure are met at the taking of a kick-off.
All players must be in their own half of the field of play with the opponents of the team taking the kick-off at least 10 yards from the ball until it is in play. This distance may be modified for small-sided games.
For example, the U.S. Soccer Player Development Initiative recommends that small-sided youth games use a modified center circle of 8 yards depending on the age of the game.
The ball must be stationary on the center mark.
The referee gives a signal with a whistle and the ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves.
The ball can be kicked in any direction, this includes backwards.
The kicker must not touch the ball again until it has touched another player.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

4. KICK-OFF PROCEDURE (CONT.)
A goal CAN be scored directly against an opponent from the kick-off.
Online Training Script:
Please be aware, that a goal CAN be scored directly against an opponent from the kick-off.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

5. OFFENSES AND SANCTIONS
If the kicker touches the ball again after kick-off prior to the ball being touched by another player
Stop play
Restart with indirect free kick for opposing team
In the event of any other offenses in the procedure
Retake the kick-off
Online Training Script:
If the player taking the kick-off touches the ball again before it has touched another player, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team from where the infringement occurred.
In the event of any other infringement of the kick-off procedure, such as a player being on the others team’s half of the field, the kick-off is retaken.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

6. DROPPED BALL Online Training Script:
A dropped ball is a method of restarting play when, while the ball is still in play, the referee is required to stop play temporarily for any reason not mentioned elsewhere in the Laws of the Game.
The Laws of the Game do not specifically require any particular number of players at the taking a dropped ball but there is typically one player from each team that participates.
Any player may challenge for the ball, including the goalkeeper and there is no minimum or maximum number of players required to contest a dropped ball.
The referee cannot decide who may or may not contest a dropped ball.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:
DROPPED BALL

7. DROPPED BALL PROCEDURE
Ball is dropped at the position where the ball was when play was stopped
Unless play was stopped in the goal area
Then the ball is dropped on the goal area line parallel to the goal line nearest to where the ball was when play stopped
Ball is in play once it touches the ground
The goalkeeper may use their hands, provided they are within their penalty area at the time
Online Training Script:
The referee drops the ball at the position where it was when play was stopped, unless play was stopped inside the goal area, in which case the ball is dropped on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the ball was when play was stopped.
The ball is in play once it touches the ground.
Also note that the goalkeeper may use their hands to play the ball once it touches the ground, provided they are within their own penalty area at the time.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

8. OFFENSES AND SANCTIONS
Repeat the dropped ball
If the ball is touched by a player before it makes contact with the ground
If the ball leaves the field without it being touched by a player
If the ball enters the goal directly
A goal kick is awarded if the ball entered the opponent’s goal
A corner kick is awarded if the ball entered the player’s own goal
Online Training Script:
The ball is dropped again if it is touched by a player before it makes contact with the ground or if the ball leaves the field of play after it makes contact with the ground,
without a player touching it.
If a dropped ball is played directly into the opponents’ goal, a goal kick is awarded.
If a dropped ball is played directly into a team’s own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

9. Concussion Initiative
US Soccer Recommends that:
Heading NOT be permitted in games with players:
11 years old and younger
If player (11 yrs. or younger)
Deliberately or accidentally heading the ball
Award an Indirect Free Kick (IFK) to opponents
Restart at the spot where heading occurred
Except if it occurred within Goal Area in favor of attacking team
IFK taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line
At point nearest to where heading occurred
Online Training Script:
As part of the U.S. Soccer Concussion Initiative, it is recommended that players 10 years old and younger not head the ball.
If a player 11 years old or younger deliberately heads the ball during a match, an indirect free kick should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the heading.
If the heading occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the heading occurred.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

10. No notes.
REVIEW QUESTIONS

11. REVIEW QUESTIONS
The winner of the coin toss gets to choose which of the following?
The choice of which goal to attack in the first half but NOT the kick-off
The choice between kicking-off in the first half or the second half
Online Training Script:
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

12. REVIEW QUESTIONS
During the kick-off, do both teams have to be on their half of the field until the ball is in play, except for the player taking the kick?
YES NO
Online Training Script:
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

13. REVIEW QUESTIONS
What is the restart that the referee should use when the laws of the game do NOT require a kick-off, a free kick (direct or indirect), a penalty kick, a throw- in, a goal kick or a corner kick?
Indirect free kick
Dropped ball
Online Training Script:
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

14. USSOCCER.COM/REFEREES