© 1998 jointly in the following individuals: Jim Geissman, David Graham, Jim MacQueen, Connie Matthies, Jim Meinhold, Chris Mohr, Gary Rue, Ken Smith, Dave Teetz, Ron Tremper, who are together known pseudonymously as the SOCCER-COACH-L LOTG COLLECTIVE

Comprehensive LOTG Restart Chart

To accompany the FAQ on Law 8

Links to FAQs on the laws:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Glossary | Supplements | Downloads

Note:Though most of the stoppages and corresponding restarts listed below can be found defined directly in the specific text of the particular LOTG with which they are listed, some of them do not fit so neatly into any one particular LOTG, or else bridge two or more LOTG. Others are rooted in comments to the previous version (pre-July 1997) of the rules. These comments, where they do not conflict with changes in the new post-July 1997 version of the rules, are still regarded as authoritative in many respects. Therefore, with a few of these you'll have to bear with my categorization that the restart properly belongs with this LOTG rather than that one ;=)


ReasonRestartFrom where
Law 1
Unsafe field condition (e.g. goal crossbar broken)
1. Defect cannot be fixed suspend or abandon game  
2. Defect can be fixed 
 a. play already stopped for another reason as appropriate for other reason as appropriate for other reason
  b. play stopped for unsafe condition drop ball ball location when play stopped
Required equipment missing
(e.g. needed field lines obliterated by rain)
1. Defect cannot be fixed suspend or abandon game  
2. Defect can be fixed 
 a. play already stopped for another reason as appropriate for other reason as appropriate for other reason
  b. play stopped for defect drop ball ball location when play stopped
Law 2
Ball becomes defective
1. Realized during play drop ball ball location when it became defective
2. Realized during stoppage for other reason as appropriate for other reason as appropriate for other reason
Law 3
Substitute enters field without ref's permission (improper substitution)
  drop ball ball location where play was stopped
Improper goalkeeper change
Play does not stop until ball is next out of play as appropriate for other reason as appropriate for other reason
Play stopped to administer caution(e.g. for too many players)
 indirect free kick ball location where play was stopped
Law 4
Improper player equipment
Ref is not required to stop play; player with improper equipment is directed to leave field at next stoppage to correct equipment
Play stopped to administer caution
(e.g. player with improper eqpt. required to leave field and returns without permission)
  indirect free kick ball location where play was stopped
Law 5
LOTG 5 does not independently specify restarts ( ! )
Law 6
LOTG 6 does not independently specify restarts ( ! )
Law 7
LOTG 7 does not control any restarts
Law 8
Start of game
  kickoff center spot
Start of each period (half, extra period) of play
  kickoff center spot
After Goal Is Scored
  kickoff center spot
Any situation causing stoppage in play, the restart for which is not specified elsewhere in the LOTG (residual rule)
  drop ball ball location where play was stopped
Drop ball restart when stoppage occurred while ball was inside the goal area
  drop ball on goal area line parallel to goal line, at point nearest where ball was when play stopped
Indirect Free Kick to defenders in their own goal area
  indirect free kick anywhere within goal area
Indirect Free Kick against defenders in their own goal area
  indirect free kick on goal area line parallel to goal line, at point nearest where offense occurred
Play is interfered with on field by outside agent (in situation no goal attempted or scored), and referee stops game to intervene
  drop ball if outside agent interfered with ball, then point where interference occurred; otherwise, where ball was when play was stopped
Law 9
LOTG 9 does not control any restarts, but the following situations are noted:
1. Ball hits referee play continues as if ref is part of the field  
2. Ball hits goalpost play continues (goalposts are in-bound part of the field)  
Law 10
Outside agent deflects shot, preventing goal (deliberately or not)
  drop ball place where interference occurred
Outside agent attempts to prevent goal
1. Goal scores without agent touching ball or interfering with play kickoff (goal is allowed) center spot
2. Goal scores but agent touches ball or interferes with play drop ball (goal disallowed) place where interference occurred
Law 11
Offside
  indirect free kick place where offense occurred
Law 12
Kicking opponent
1. Outside defensive penalty area direct free kick place where offense occurred
2. Inside defensive penalty area penalty kick penalty spot
Tripping opponent
1. Outside defensive penalty area direct free kick place where offense occurred
2. Inside defensive penalty area penalty kick penalty spot
Jumping at opponent
1. Outside defensive penalty area direct free kick place where offense occurred
2. Inside defensive penalty area penalty kick penalty spot
Unfairly charging opponent
1. Outside defensive penalty area direct free kick place where offense occurred
2. Inside defensive penalty area penalty kick penalty spot
Striking opponent
1. Outside defensive penalty area direct free kick place where offense occurred
2. Inside defensive penalty area penalty kick penalty spot
Pushing opponent
1. Outside defensive penalty area direct free kick place where offense occurred
2. Inside defensive penalty area penalty kick penalty spot
Tackling opponent for possession of ball, but making contact with opponent before ball
1. Outside defensive penalty area direct free kick place where offense occurred
2. Inside defensive penalty area penalty kick penalty spot
Holding opponent
1. Outside defensive penalty area direct free kick place where offense occurred
2. Inside defensive penalty area penalty kick penalty spot
Spitting at opponent
1. Outside defensive penalty area direct free kick place where offense occurred
2. Inside defensive penalty area penalty kick penalty spot
Handling the ball deliberately
1. Outside defensive penalty area direct free kick place where offense occurred
2. Inside defensive penalty area penalty kick penalty spot
Dangerous play
  indirect free kick place where offense occurred
Illegally obstructing opponent
  indirect free kick place where offense occurred
Preventing goalkeeper from releasing ball from his or her hands
  indirect free kick place where offense occurred
Assorted offenses by goalkeeper committed within own defensive penalty area
    These include:
  1. taking more than four steps before releasing ball from their possession
  2. touching ball a second time with their hands after releasing it from their possession, without intervening touch by another player
  3. touching ball with hands after ball is deliberately kicked to goalkeeper by a teammate
  4. wasting time
 indirect free kick place where offense occurred
Play stopped to administer caution (yellow card)
if play is not also being stopped for another reason .
    Reasons to stop for caution include:
  1. unsporting behavior
  2. dissent
  3. persistent infringement of the LOTG
  4. delays restart of play
  5. deliberately leaves field without ref's permission
  6. enters or re-enters field without ref's permission
  7. fails to yield 10 yards promptly on opponent's free kicks or corner kicks
indirect free kick ball location where yellow carded offense occurred
Play stopped to administer sending-off (red card)
if play is not also being stopped for another reason .
    Reasons to stop for caution include:
  1. serious foul play
  2. violent conduct
  3. spitting at an opponent
  4. denying an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball
  5. using offensive, insulting, or abusive language
  6. receives second caution (yellow card) in the same match
indirect free kick ball location where red carded offense occurred
Law 13
On free kick, kicker touches ball a second time before another player touches the ball
  indirect free kick place where offense occurred
Opponent is still closer than 10 yards from ball when a free kick is taken, and kicker had not elected to take an immediate restart from foul
(i.e. without giving opponent a chance to move 10 yards away)
  kick retaken from whatever position(s) the original kick could legally be taken from
Free kick taken by player from inside their own defensive penalty area, and opponent fails to remain outside penalty area until ball is in play (i.e. ball clears penalty area)
  kick retaken from whatever position(s) the original kick could legally be taken from
Free kick taken by player from inside their own defensive penalty area, and kick fails to clear the penalty area
  kick retaken from whatever position(s) the original kick could legally be taken from
Free kick awarded (direct or indirect) anywhere inside team's defensive goal area
  direct or indirect free kick, as appropriate any point inside the goal area
Indirect Free Kick goes directly into opponent's goal
  goal kick (to opponent) any point inside the goal area
Direct or Indirect Free Kick goes directly into kicker's own goal
  corner kick (to opponent) corner arc on side closest to where ball went in the goal
Direct Free Kick goes directly into opponent's goal
  kickoff (goal scored !) center spot
If goalkeeper, after putting the ball into play, deliberately handles the ball before another player touches the ball
1. Inside penalty area indirect free kick place where offense occurred
2. Outside penalty area direct free kick place where offense occurred
Law 14
Situations arising during taking of a Penalty Kick
1. Kicker makes goal, but before taking kick:
 player taking the PK fails to wait for ref's signal to take it, or commits other infringement ref allows kick to proceed, but kick is retaken penalty spot
  goalkeeper moves off goal line too soon, or commits other infringement ref allows kick to proceed, and goal scores center spot
  kicker's teammate moves into penalty area, or within 10 yards of penalty spot, or in front of the penalty mark ref allows kick to proceed, but kick is retaken penalty spot
  defender moves into penalty area, or within 10 yards of penalty spot, or in front of the penalty mark ref allows kick to proceed, and goal scores center spot
2. Kicker misses goal, but before taking kick:
  player taking the PK fails to wait for ref's signal to take it, or commits other infringement play continues normally  
  goalkeeper moves off goal line too soon, or commits other infringement ref allows kick to proceed, but kick is retaken penalty spot
  kicker's teammate moves into penalty area, or within 10 yards of penalty spot, or in front of the penalty mark play continues normally  
  defender moves into penalty area, or within 10 yards of penalty spot, or in front of the penalty mark ref allows kick to proceed, but kick is retaken penalty spot
3. Kicker either makes or misses goal, but it doesn't matter in the following situations because they're determined the same regardless of outcome
  before shot is taken, players from both teams commit a violation referee stops kick (if possible), and it is retried (or retaken) penalty spot
  after shot is taken, kicker touches the ball (other than deliberate handling) a second time before another player does indirect free kick to defenders place where offense occurred
  after shot is taken, ball is touched by outside agent as it moves forward toward goal kick is retaken penalty spot
  after shot is taken, ball is touched by outside agent after the kick rebounds into the field of play from the goalkeeper, crossbars, or goalposts drop ball where ball touched outside agent
Law 15
Ball goes out of play over the touch-line
  throw-in along touch-line, within a yard of where ball went out
Player makes improper throw-in
  throw-in to opponent (same spot)along touch-line, within a yard of where ball went out
The ball, following the throw:
1. Never comes in-bounds re-throw (same spot) along touch-line, within a yard of where ball went out
2. Comes in-bounds but bounces out before touching anyone throw-in to opponent along touch-line, within a yard of where throw-in ball went out
After throw goes into play , thrower touches ball a second time before it touches anyone else
  indirect free kick place where offense occurred
Goalkeeper picks throw-in from team-mate up into hands directly from throw
1. Inside penalty area indirect free kick place where offense occurred
2. Outside penalty area direct free kick place where offense occurred
Opponent unfairly distracts or impedes thrower; ref stops play to give opponent caution
1. Ref orders play stopped before throw goes into play throw-in resumed (retaken) (same spot) along touch-line, within a yard of where ball went out
2. Ref orders play stopped but only after throw goes into play (e.g. advantage applied) indirect free kick place where offense occurred
Law 16
Ball goes out of play over attacking team's goal line, last touched by attackers
  goal kick to defending team anywhere inside goal area
Goal kick fails to clear the penalty area
  kick is retaken anywhere inside goal area
Kicker touches ball a second time before it touches another player
1. Before it clears penalty area kick is retaken anywhere inside goal area
2. After it clears penalty area indirect free kick to opponents place where offense occurred
Members of opposing team from kicker encroach into penalty area before the goal kick clears the penalty area
  kick is retaken anywhere inside goal area
Law 17
Ball goes out of play over attacking team's goal line, last touched by defenders
  corner kick corner arc closest to point where ball went out
Ball immediately goes out of play over goal line directly from the corner kick
  goal kick to defenders (ball was immediately in play when kicked in corner arc and it moved) anywhere inside goal area
After kick, kicker touches ball again before ball is touched by another player
  indirect free kick to opponents place where offense occurred
Player taking kick bends corner flag out of way to facilitate kick
1. Goal scores kick is retaken (goal disallowed) corner arc
2. Goal misses kick is retaken corner arc
BUT: if defenders immediately gain possession and safely clear the ball, some refs will let play continue to avoid perversely rewarding the kicker, and warn them later. This is not what LOTG 17 says to do, but it's what some refs may do .

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Updated October 6, 1998