A&H

Dropped ball

G Referee SCO

New Member
With dropped ball, I know the laws of the game states: that the referee has no authority to decide who can challenge for a dropped ball and/or where the dropped ball is to be kicked. With this are you required to ask both teams at all drop balls if they want to compete? Even if one team said they'll kick it back?

I also had an incident with a player down when the keeper had the ball in his hands I stopped play. When I dropped the ball I dropped it back in the box for the keeper to pick. Was this correct to do this to re-start play?
 
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You don't have to ask but I often do if players from both teams are there so I am prepared on what is about to happen.

In your incident with goalkeeper, it sounds like you did nothing in breach of the LOTG. So long as you just go to the spot where the ball was (the box) when you stopped play and dropped the ball, all is good. Had you announced "this is for the keeper to pick up" then you would be in breach. I also tell the keeper to wait a bit for me to move up field before he punts it up field. That allows me to get into a good position before (s)he kicks it.
 
. I also tell the keeper to wait a bit for me to move up field before he punts it up field. That allows me to get into a good position before (s)he kicks it.


That’s a good piece of advice, thanks.

As a slight aside, I never really start (mentally) counting the six seconds the keeper has to realease the hall until I’m back in position
 
On a dropped ball... you don't need any players there. In a situation like that where the GK is the only one nearby, I'll just comment that I'm dropping the ball, wait until it hits the ground, and go. :)

Middle of the field, pretty much the same deal.

Most of the players I've dealt with regarding dropped balls have clearly indicated what they're doing anyhow. I think that I've had one contested dropped ball in the last 4-5 years.
 
Most of the players I've dealt with regarding dropped balls have clearly indicated what they're doing anyhow. I think that I've had one contested dropped ball in the last 4-5 years.

Yeah this is a good point. Majority of drop balls occur when stopping play for an injury or something similar - teams more often than not emulate what they've seen on TV and 'sportingly' pass the ball back. Don't think I've ever had a contested one.
 
I find players really don't like them for whatever reason. If I stop play for an injury, they will hastily kick it out of play and when I say it's a dropped ball they really want the throw in instead!

Same for anyone else?

To answer the question though, I don't tell them what to do and I seldom ask. I'll shout that its a dropped ball and will wait to see if anyone from the other team comes to contest it, but if not, away we go.
 
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