1. The Start and Restart of Play (8)
Online Training Script:
Welcome to U.S. Soccer’s online training for the Grade 8 Referee Course.
Training for this course is specific to preparing officials for the competitive youth game.
This presentation focuses on Law 8 – The Start and Restart of Play.
U.S. Soccer Federation Referee Program
Grade 8 Referee Course
Competitive Youth Training

2. Kick-off Mechanics Online Training Script:
The referee crew should enter the field together approximately three to five minutes prior to the opening kick-off.
As a team they should move quickly to the center mark with the referee carrying the ball.
Following any final instructions and a handshake, the assistant referees should then go to their respective goals lines for a final check of the goals and nets.
After completing their check, the assistant referees will then move to their respective positions on the touch lines.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

3. Kickoff Requirements Players in their own halves of the field
AR in line with 2nd last defender
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.
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 moves forward.
The kicker must not touch the ball again until it has touched another player.
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:
Ball stationary on center mark
Opponents 10 yards from ball

4. Infringements Double touch Stop play
Restart with indirect free kick for opposing team
Other (wrong half of field, ball kicked back, etc.)
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:

5. 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:

6. Special Rules-Dropped Ball
Repeat dropped ball if:
Ball touched by player before making contact with the ground
Ball leaves the field without being touched by player
Ball enters the goal on the first touch:
Goal kick if into opponent’s goal
Corner kick if into team’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:
Repeats are self explanatory.
Explain that in a case where the ball enters the goal, we are only concerned with situations where it enters the goal after a single touch by a player. A “double touch” is allowed, and the goal would count if the kicker touched the ball a second time.

7. Review Question When is the ball in play from a dropped ball?
When the ball touches the ground
When the referee releases the ball
When a player touches the ball
When the ball stops bouncing
Online Training Script:
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

8. Review Question When is the ball in play at the taking of a kick-off?
When it has been touched or played by another player
When it leaves the center circle
When it is kicked and moves
When it is kicked and moves forward
Online Training Script:
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

9. Review Question
How should the referee restart the game if a player kicks the ball directly into the opponent’s goal from a dropped ball?
Corner kick
Goal kick
Repeat the dropped ball
Kick-off
Online Training Script:
Classroom Instructor Talking Points:

10. Review Question
How should the referee restart the game if play is stopped for an injured goalkeeper in possession of the ball?
Corner kick
Kick-off
Indirect free kick
Dropped ball
Online Training Script:
Classroom Instructor Talking Points: