Law 8
Alabama
Interpretations of the
Laws of the Game as
provided in the IFAB
for 2016-2017;
subject to change!
U.S. Soccer Federation Referee Program
Grade 8 Referee Course
Competitive Youth Training
Coin Toss
o First half
o Winner chooses goal to attack
o Other team awarded kick-off
o Second half
o Team change sides
o Opposite team takes kick-off
Kick-off Mechanics
o Crew enters field together
o 3-5 minutes prior to KO
o Move quickly to center mark
o Referee carries ball
o ARs go to and check goals
o ARs take position
Kick-off Mechanics
o Referee
o Scans players and field
o Eye contact with assistant referees to signal
readiness
o Assistant referees
o Supervise bench areas
o Positioned with second to last defender
o Unfurl flag to signal readiness
Requirements
o All players in their own half
o All opponents at least 10 yards away
o Ball is stationary on center mark
o Referee signals with whistle
o Ball is in play when it is touched and clearly
moves
o Kicker cannot touch the ball again until
touched by another player
Infringements
o Second touch violation from kicker
o Stop play
o Restart with indirect free kick for opposing
team
o Other
o Stop play
o Retake the kick-off
Dropped Ball
o Method of restarting
play
o No specified number
of players
o Any player may
participate
o Referee can not
decide who or
outcome
Infringements
o Repeat dropped ball
o Ball touched by player before making
contact with the ground
o Ball leaves the field without being touched
by player
o Ball enters the goal directly without first
touching two players:
o Goal kick if into opponent’s goal
o Corner kick if into team’s own goal
Review Question
o When is the ball in play from a dropped ball?
o When the ball touches the ground
o When the referee releases the ball
o When a player touches the ball
o When the ball stops bouncing
Review Question
o When is the ball in play at the taking of a kickoff?
o When it has been touched or played by
another player
o When it leaves the center circle
o When it is kicked and clearly moves
o When it is kicked and moves forward
Review Question
o How should the referee restart the game if a
player kicks the ball directly into the
opponent’s goal from a dropped ball?
o Corner kick
o Goal kick
o Repeat the dropped ball
o Kick-off
Review Question
o How should the referee restart the game if
play is stopped for an injured goalkeeper in
possession of the ball?
o Corner kick
o Kick-off
o Indirect free kick
o Dropped ball