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BACK TO LAW VIII

COIN TOSS

The decision made by the team winning the toss is no longer between which end of the field to defend or taking the kick-off.  Now the decision is only which end of the field to attack; the other team takes the kick-off. 

 

THE KICK-OFF

The ball must be kicked and moved forward.  Only minimal movement is needed to meet this requirement.  The kick-off must be taken by a player competing in the match, in accordance with the Law, not by any non-player.  Remember to note which team kicked off and in which direction the kick was taken.

 

PLAYER COUNT

Count the number of players in both teams before the beginning of each quarter and after any substitutions.  The referee's signal to start the period is a tacit acknowledgement that the persons on the field are players and the persons wearing a goalkeeper jersey are the goalkeepers -- so long as the persons themselves are not illegal and the team is fielding the proper number of players.

 

INADVERTENT WHISTLE

If the referee mistakenly blows the whistle to stop play, the proper restart is a dropped ball at the place where the ball was when the whistle was blown (keeping in mind the special circumstances outlined in Law VIII).

 

DROPPED BALL

There is no requirement that players from both teams -- or that any player -- must take part at a dropped ball.

A dropped ball must be "dropped", not thrown down.  The referee should hold the ball in the palm of his hand at waist level.  At the proper moment, the referee should then pull away the hand beneath the ball and let it drop, taking care that the players do not play it until it has hit the ground.  If the dropped ball leaves the field without having been played, the ball must be dropped again where it was previously dropped.  The goalkeeper may participate at dropped balls.

 

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