NOTES AND MODIFICATIONS

Throw-in and goal-kick countdown protocol 

Introduction

This protocol relates to the five-second countdown in Laws 15 and 16 to prevent time-wasting and disruption to the tempo of the match at throw-ins and goal kicks. If the time limit is exceeded, the restart is taken by the opposing team.

Procedure

    When the referee determines that a throw-in/goal kick is being deliberately delayed by the team taking the restart:

    • The referee may use their whistle and/or voice to indicate that the player should hurry up/not delay the restart.
    • To start the five-second countdown (which may start without the above cue) the referee will:
      • blow the whistle
      • signal clearly with their hand/arm for the restart to be taken
      • visually count down from five seconds with a raised hand; this visual countdown may be accompanied by a verbal countdown where appropriate
    • If the ball is not in play at the end of the five-second countdown, the referee will:
      • award the throw-in to the opposing team, to be taken from the same position as the original throw-in; or
      • award a corner kick to the opposing team on the side of the field closest to where the goal kick was to be taken
    • Where the restart is awarded to the opposing team, a caution (yellow card) applies only if the player or a team-mate then excessively delays the restart by the opposing team.

    The referee does not have to wait for a player to have possession of the ball to start the five-second countdown. The countdown can also be started if the player deliberately causes a delay by:

    • slowly retrieving the ball
    • taking up an incorrect position at a throw-in
    • putting the ball in an incorrect position at a goal kick

    As the purpose of the countdown is to maintain the tempo of the match by preventing time-wasting at throw-ins and goal kicks, the player should not be penalised if they are in the process of throwing/kicking the ball as the referee reaches the end of the countdown.